Margie Maccoll
“The reality is there is no silver bullet,“ staff told Council’s general meeting on Monday when providing an update on the Noosa Housing Strategy that was adopted 12 months ago with a “vision of an inclusive Noosa community where everybody has access to safe, secure housing they can afford“.
Among the housing strategy’s 48 actions were amendments to the Noosa Plan 2020 awaiting sign-off by state government and yet to be publicly considered, and a staff prepared and lodged Housing Supply Statement that meets the dwelling targets of the Draft Shaping SEQ 2023 Update.
Council has been working on several fronts, with community housing providers, state government and not for profit sectors to try not only to increase supply and diversity of housing but use stock in more affective ways, staff told the meeting.
“Vacancy rates remain very low,“ staff said.
The housing strategy update revealed “Noosa Shire, like many other communities is struggling with the availability and affordability of housing options“ which is “affecting many parts of our community, particularly low to medium income earners, but also employment sectors trying to attract and retain staff“.
“Noosa Shire is a popular place to live and visit and it has a limited amount of developable land. The supply of housing can not and will not keep up with demand.“
Mayor Clare Stewart said council had committed to various actions to advance the vision of an inclusive Noosa community.
“We formed the Housing Stakeholder Reference Group which provided input into the housing strategy. We held a housing forum to personalise housing crisis through real examples. We have written to 900 home owners to encourage them to consider renting to permanent home owners. Since then 108 dwellings have become permanent rentals”, she said.
“Our role is as an advocate, regulator, partner and planner. We supplied amendments to the Noosa Plan, introduced a transitory rating category, introduced a local letting law for short term accommodation, have tiny homes on our land partnering with a charity, are working with housing providers to house the most vulnerable and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with housing provider Coast2Bay housing, she said.
“We are certainly doing our bit,“ she said.
The Housing Strategy identified 48 actions which included Council partnering with community housing providers, being an advocate, a monitor, making available land holdings, using levers such as rates and application fees, and reviewing its Noosa Plan 2020, but not being a direct housing provider.
Council land is being investigated for potential dwellings at Council’s carparks at Bottlebrush Avenue, Noosa Junction and Sidoni Street and Doonella Street Tewantin and at land at 62 Lake Macdonald Drive, Cooroy.
Cr Frank Wilkie said the site in central Tewantin could yield 30 housing units.
The update showed Council had reviewed its Noosa Plan 2020 and proposed amendments to improve housing supply, housing choice, sustainable design, housing affordability, and housing diversity with the amendments under review by the state government.
The update revealed that in October, in response to the state government’s Draft ShapingSEQ 2023 (draft regional plan) Council staff prepared and lodged a Housing Supply Statement required by the State which showed Noosa Shire could meet the dwelling targets within the Draft ShapingSEQ 2023 Update with “neither expansion of the urban footprint nor significant departure from existing policy in terms of the Low or Medium Density Residential zones“.
The update reveals one of the draft regional plan drivers effectively ensures planning schemes and planning processes would not create barriers for delivering more housing fast. Council staff prepared and lodged a robust submission to the draft regional plan and have participated in many meetings with DSDILGP, SEQ Council of Mayors and LGAQ on its content, especially population projections, dwelling supply and diversity targets, the update says.
The final ShapingSEQ 2023 update is anticipated to be released in December with final dwelling targets.
In August population projections for Noosa Shire under the draft SEQ regional plan indicated an increase by 18,677 (33 per cent) between 2021 and 2046, from 56,873 to 75,550.
Cr Brian Stockwell described the housing strategy as one of the most significant policies in this term of council.
“The housing crisis hit early and hit very hard on this Shire,“ he said. “Where we’ve endeavoured to make progress it is disappointing that 10 months after we submitted the planning scheme review that largely resolved around implementing the actions within the housing strategy, we haven’t been able to advertise those scheme amendments for public comment yet.“
Council has prepared “considerable explanatory material“ to accompany the amendments following the state government’s response with public consultation expected to occur in 2024.
“It is anticipated this will be catalytic for development applications to come forward including small dwellings and affordable housing,“ the update says.
Council plans next year to carry out a communication exercise with the community, drawing on resources prepared by the State Government and local designers and on the expertise of members of the Housing Stakeholder Reference Group and the broader housing and community sectors “to improve understanding and appreciation for the need for greater housing choice in the various community across the Shire, and to involve the community in the planning process“.
Staff say they will be working collaboratively with the State Government and the LGAQ in finalising a Local Housing Action Plan as required for a consistent State-wide approach.
