Margie Maccoll
A deputation to Noosa Council from resident David McCready and wildlife supporters further cemented the position recommended by Council staff that a block of land at 30 Toulambi Street, Noosaville should not be cleared to make way for social housing.
The Council-owned block was one of two locations, a second at 62 Lake McDonald Drive, Cooroy, identified from its land holdings as a possible site for the construction of affordable housing.
A Council investigation found the Noosaville site to be unsuitable due to constraints in relation to vegetation, hydrology, bushfire risk, the slope of the land, its closeness to a flying fox colony and the lot being considered by neighbours to be part of Pinaroo Park.
Mr McCready told Monday’s General Meeting how neighbours had been devastated to hear the site they valued as parkland had been rezoned residential and may be cleared for the construction of a five-bedroom affordable house.
For more than 20 years David and Dianna McCready have taken on a voluntary caretaking role of Pinaroo Park, weeding and revegetating the parkland including block 30 and at times been assisted by Council in their endeavours.
Cr Amelia Lorentson said Council needed to acknowledge the work and dedication of the local community and rezone the land for environmental conservation, as well as improve measures in future to tap into local knowledge and consult with the community.
Mayor Clare Stewart acknowledged the unsuitability of the site and the toll the investigation of the site had taken on residents.
She also supported staff recommendations to continue investigations on other Council owned sites and to work in partnership with Coast2Bay Housing Group through a Memorandum of Understanding to deliver social housing in the shire.
If they could help just one person into housing they would be doing better than had been done before, she said.
Cr Frank Wilkie said the housing situation had to be considered in a broader context that included state and federal government measures.
He said Noosa Shire was home to 392 social housing properties in which there were an estimated 150 bedrooms unoccupied. Of those properties 80 per cent of households had only one or two persons living in them. He said 73 per cent were under occupied and 43 houses with 3-4 bedrooms had only one person living in them. To exacerbate the situation the federal government had plans to phase out the national rental assistance scheme, he said.
“It’s important we find out more about this situation,” he said. “The least we can do is no harm to the community.”
Cr Brian Stockwell agreed the housing crisis would only be resolved with the funding and support of all levels of government.
Council last year identified the shire to be in the grip of a housing crisis that was impacting the economy, community liveability and the ability of business to attract and retain staff, a situation confirmed by a recently completed Housing Needs Analysis.
To address the situation Council staff were tasked with investigating its land holdings to identify suitable sites to be used to meet some of the housing needs.
Councillors voted unanimously on Monday against the use of 30 Toulambi Street for social housing.
“It’s exactly what we wanted – to return it to what it was,” Mr McCready said. “It’s a victory for sense and the park and for trees and for nature – everyone wins. We think it’s the right decision.”
Council will make a final decision on the issue at its Ordinary Meeting on Thursday evening.
