A new report on the region’s escalating housing crisis has highlighted the importance of Noosa Council playing its part through a multi-faceted approach, Mayor Frank Wilkie said.
“The community has clearly said all levels of government and industry must play their part to address this crisis,’’ Cr Wilkie said.
“There’s no single solution, so we’re amending our planning scheme and using advocacy and partnerships to create more housing opportunities and choice.
“Rental stress is no longer confined to lower income-earners – it’s affecting professionals, essential workers, and middle-income families who can’t keep up with soaring rents.
“This is why we remain steadfast in our resolve to deliver on our housing strategy commitments, while holding fast to the responsible planning principles that have shaped the Noosa community over many decades.’’
Priced Out – An Index of Affordable Rentals for Australian Voters revealed the Sunshine Coast, including Noosa Shire, was among the least affordable areas to rent in Australia.
The report found renters earning $100,000 per year – well above the median income of $72,592 – were struggling to afford housing across Australia.
In Queensland, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, including Noosa Shire, were among the country’s least affordable areas.
Council is implementing 48 actions from its Noosa Housing Strategy and has adopted a new monitoring program to better track emerging housing challenges.
It sets targets and measures for housing stock and building approvals, median rents, rental vacancies, social housing, land use planning, housing stress and unmet housing need, plus rental affordability for low-to-moderate income households.
“Some of these targets strive to make entry level units attainable for our key workers and residents. We’re also striving for rental vacancy rates of three per cent within Noosa Shire, increasing social housing tenancies by 10 per cent by 2036 and decreasing social housing tenancies considered under-occupied and overcrowded by 20 per cent.”
Council adopted its housing strategy in 2022 to drive more housing choice and more social and affordable housing. It includes planning scheme amendments to encourage more small dwellings and housing choice within larger centres.
“The amendments will prevent new properties being approved for short-term accommodation in all residential areas and business centres and ensure that our medium and high-density residential zones work as intended, to provide multiple dwellings for permanent residents,” the Mayor said.
“These amendments will also assist Council’s work with church and other community organisations to use their land for transitional and emergency housing.
“Council is also helping community housing provider Coast2Bay to deliver affordable housing on a Council site in Cooroy, plus working with the state to facilitate more social housing on state owned land across the shire and on a large site at Doonella Street, Tewantin.”
Baseline data from the Noosa Housing Monitoring Program will be reported to Council later this year.
“While many elements aren’t within Council’s control, the monitoring program will help us measure the extent of the housing crisis and advocate to other levels of government for action.”
