Independent Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton MP raised in Parliament this week the issue of the upcoming development of new regional plans during Question Time, which could provide an avenue to address the excessive population targets thrust onto Noosa in the ShapingSEQ 2023 Plan by the former Government.
“The Deputy Premier Jarrod during my Question without Notice (QWN) gave reassurances that the development of new regional plans would be actioned as soon as possible in consultation with local councils. That this could include a review of the excessive population targets for Noosa that we raised is extremely positive,” Ms Bolton said.
In addition, with community consultation closing on the Tewantin State Facilitated Development (SFD), the Noosa MP submitted a Question on Notice (QON) on whether the Government will review and revise the SFD legislation and regulations including the definitions for ‘affordability’ to deliver outcomes in line with community expectations.
“When I spoke back in 2024 in opposition to the legislation that facilitated the SFD pathway, I was very clear that without a legislated definition, or definitions, on what is affordable, we would end up where we currently are, not where we need to be and that is with genuine, affordable housing for our workers.”
She furthered, “This affordability can be achieved by State Government and the private and not for profit sectors working together with our community, not against it.”
Having fought for genuine affordable housing for our workers and families for some seven years, Ms Bolton said that the SFD process when first implemented in April 2024 should have been similar to Ministerial Infrastructure Designations (MIDs) where State Government works with local governments first to ‘hash out’ projects and negotiate for an outcome that benefits all, prior to community consultation.
In response to advocacy from the Noosa MP and others, legislation was passed in November 2024 to amend the Planning Act allowing the Minister for Planning to revise or revoke SFD designations/ applications, which was needed and welcomed to address applications that contravened local planning schemes.
The Deputy Premier in his response partially addressed Sandy’s QON, stating that any developers who use the SFD process must work with local governments and their planning schemes as well take the community along with them, and that if they don’t, the new Government would cancel their applications.
“These responses from the Deputy Premier are welcomed and appreciated, and I thank him for the commitment demonstrated, with a full response expected to the QON in the coming weeks.”
“This should give reassurance to our community regarding the concerns on the Tewantin SFD application, as well a furture avenue to have the excessive and unsustainable population targets set for Noosa in the ShapingSEQ Plan reduced in a revised regional plan. We encourage all residents to stay updated and remain clear on expectations for the Noosa electorate and our future,” Ms Bolton said.
