Transformational change is what the community has called for during consultation on Noosa’s proposed Destination Management Plan (DMP).
The challenge for the DMP is to manage the Shire in a manner that achieves harmony between community enjoyment of amenity and lifestyle and visitor satisfaction.
Key issues raised during consultation were traffic congestion and parking, over tourism, the need to protect the natural environment, population growth and the shire’s carrying capacity, the need to transition to more sustainable waste management, affordable accommodation and short-term rentals and the provision of youth activities and facilities.
Council’s six-week community engagement from 15 September to 29 October heard from 800 people who responded to two online surveys, 300 people who attended workshops, coffee chats and stakeholder meetings, and received 67 direct submissions (including eight from community groups, five from peak organisations and 51 from residents).
“Our community dedicated about 1300 hours of their time to provide feedback and we certainly appreciate the input,” Mayor Clare Stewart said.
“This is such an important conversation with our community, so it’s pleasing to see the level of interest and the community’s strong directive for transformative change,” she said.
“It was quite clear that the community want transformative change and are keen to be part of the process,” the Mayor said.
“Our consultants are still analysing the data to get more information around key themes, but it’s important as a council we take onboard the sentiment from the community, who want a noticeable, positive and lasting alteration to how the shire is managed as a tourist destination,” she said.
“This clear direction for decisive transformational change provides the basis to develop a good, community-orientated plan early next year,” Cr Stewart said.
Cr Joe Jurisevic said it was a conversation the community had been asking Council to champion for some time.
Independent consultant Tourism Colab, who facilitated the community engagement process in liaison with council staff, labelled Noosa’s process amongst the deepest and most wide-reaching the consultancy has ever seen in Australia.
Strategy and Sustainability Director Kim Rawlings said there were fantastic and innovative ideas shared by the community.
“We have seen the tourism landscape change significantly since 2019, so developing a draft DMP is certainly timely, relevant and critical to allow us as a community to respond to the opportunities and impacts of tourism and continuing to enhance the liveability across Noosa Shire,” Ms Rawlings said.
“There is still a lot of work to do so we can come up with a draft document before seeking more community feedback,” she said.
The report describes Noosa Shire as a place highly prized by residents and as a holiday destination for its pristine landscapes, contemporary coastal and hinterland lifestyle, strong environmental values, and a warm year-round climate.
“It is recognised internationally by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, a place where the community lives in harmony with nature and provides a home and employment to a resident population of almost 57,000 people,” it says.
The tourism sector is one of the Shire’s most valuable economic sectors, employing many locals and generating significant economic benefit to our economy. It is also responsible for a number of the services and amenities that residents enjoy and for the strong national and international brand reputation with which Noosa businesses and products are associated.
With the local government elections scheduled for March 2024, Council officers will continue to develop a draft DMP which will be reviewed by the newly elected council before further community engagement, scheduled for mid-next year.
