By Margaret Maccoll
The community response to the new Noosa Plan has already been mixed following its adoption by Noosa Council last week.
Noosa Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association president Adrian Williams praised the plan, saying he was relieved short term accommodation (STA) was now considered an inconsistent use in low-density suburban areas.
While Noosa real estate agent Dan Neylan described the new Noosa Plan as “an assault on people’s property rights“ and believes it’s impact on Noosa’s tourism will be “incredible“.
Mr Williams commended Council for adopting the plan.
“After scare campaigns, misinformation and the State Government placing monitoring conditions on the Wellington Council’s hard line against AirBnB’s there was real concern our new Council may reject the new rules to limit the investor buyout of our suburbs,“ Mr Williams said.
He recalled a public forum held by NSRRA in 2018 he said was “heavily attended by residents unhappy their streets were being turned into tourism party precincts“.
“Aside from leaving suburban residents vulnerable to AirBnB or party house investors, if Council didn’t pass the planning scheme, four years and over $3 million dollars in ratepayer money spent on public consultation would have been wasted,“ he said.
Mr Neylan said one of the biggest complaints from tourists was the lack of 5-star accommodation in luxury houses but with Noosa Sound now a low-density zone stock will decrease further.One sale of a property on Noosa Sound has already fallen through because the prospective buyer discovered the property would not be eligible to be used for STA, he said.
Mr Neylan said some of the places where STA will be permitted will be in older units in Noosa Heads which have previously been rented longterm by hospitality staff.
Already they were being pulled out of long-term rental to be renovated and put on STA, he said.
“What was put forward to increase affordable accommodation is actually driving them out. It’s all coming to pass now,“ he said.
Mr Neylan said despite repeated requests to Council during consultation there was never evidence produced of STA being a major source of complaints from residents.
“The damage that will be done in two years will be incredible,“ he said. “It will impact people’s incomes and people’s assets. This is not the type of thing to happen in this environment.“
