Noosa Plan 2020 proposed amendment No 2 has reached a crucial milestone where the final step remains for councillors to either adopt the package along with eight Ministerial conditional requirements or not adopt, setting it aside to continue with the existing planning scheme.
The proposed amendment, which was on the agenda of Tuesday’s Planning and Environment Meeting, is the result of more than three years of work, discussions, workshops, submissions and community consultations and has been signed off by the state government with eight conditions from the Minister.
According to the report delivered to council, proposed amendment No.2 implements the recommendations of Noosa Housing Strategy and Short-term Accommodation Monitoring Report.
It seeks to ensure sufficient land is available for permanent residential housing, facilitates improved housing security, choice, diversity and affordability to meet the housing needs of Noosa Shire residents and establishes a pathway for the delivery of affordable housing.
It defines clear outcomes for Noosa Business Centre (Noosa Civic) as an integrated village combining diverse housing and employment opportunities and supports the future of sports medicine through the creation of a health and wellbeing precinct within the Noosa District Sports Complex.
Among the eight conditions applied by the Minister several relate to issues that have raised debate in the community.
Condition 3 restricts dual occupancies to lots smaller than 600sqm meaning lots 600sqm or greater need to develop as multiple dwelling developments of three or more dwellings.
Condition 4 allows for an existing dwelling in the Community Facilities zone (such as a caretaker’s accommodation or presbytery) to be used more broadly as a dwelling house, where the occupant is not necessarily associated with the community use on the site.
Condition 7 applies amplified music provision only to outdoor spaces. The condition no longer provides the option for extending hours for amplified music to occur in outdoor areas beyond set hours where acoustically treated. Therefore for business uses, amplified music will need to cease in outdoor spaces in Hastings St mixed use precinct or Noosa Junction’s hospitality precinct by 9pm Sunday through Thursday and by 10pm Friday and Saturday.
Condition 8 removes the requirement for dwellings immediately adjoining Major Centre Zones to be acoustically treated and incorporate privacy measures to reduce amenity impacts from adjoining business uses.
At the meeting Mayor Frank Wilkie said the changes to the planning scheme had been a long time coming and community and industry had been waiting for it.
He viewed one of the most significant changes to be the provision to allow tiny homes or crisis accommodation on church land for which there was a great need.
Other changes he considered significant included restrictions for development in medium density zones to permanent residents further limiting their loss to short term accommodation, the provision for residential development in Noosa Civic and allowing allied health services to set up and support members at Noosa District Sports Complex.
Cr Amelia Lorentson said she was unable to support the amendment which restricted property owners from building a dwelling house on land over 500sqm or building dual occupancy on land over 600sqm. “The ability to build a home or develop a lot is an expectation of land owners,” she said.
Staff said there was no ability to challenge the minister’s conditions at this stage in the planning process but councillors could use the next round of amendments to put on the table what they wanted to amend.
Staff said the planning scheme was an evolving process and more changes may be required to the Noosa Plan to meet the SEQ regional plan, after the state government recently announced a review under the new government, prioritising housing and employment.
Noosa Plan Amendment No 2 was referred to council’s general meeting next Monday for further discussion with a decision to be finalised at council’s ordinary meeting the following Thursday.
Staff said if adopted the new planning regulations would commence on 26 September, but applicants would have 12 months to apply for developments under the superseded planning scheme.
