Changes to allow for more affordable housing, tiny homes, a greater supply of smaller dwellings and limits on short-term accommodation in all residential zones are among the updates to the Noosa Planning scheme passed this week.
This is part of delivering on our promise to those who don’t have a voice in the public debate, the least advantaged people in our community; those that don’t have the basic human right of a roof over their heads.
The amendments take effect from 26 September, following more than seven weeks of community consultation and two State interest checks over three years.
The changes are key to delivering Council’s Housing Strategy goals- council’s response to the national housing crisis- and the Short-Term Accommodation Monitoring Report’s recommendations.
These changes provide for a greater range and supply of housing, including more smaller and affordable dwellings, including tiny homes.
The changes ensure there is no increase in short-term accommodation in our Medium and High Density residential zones and most Business Centre zones. Short-term accommodation continues to be allowed in the Rural and Rural Residential zones, but only where the resident remains on-site, such as cabins.
This will ensure new housing is kept for permanent residents and prevents further loss of housing to short-term accommodation.
Affordable rental premises, tiny homes and other relocatable housing can be placed on community facilities zoned and church-owned land, to provide temporary and affordable accommodation for families, women and children in crisis and need.
Part of the Tourist Accommodation zone will be rezoned to Residential and Centre zones so new development in these areas delivers housing for the residents and key workers.
The changes apply to the Noosa Business Centre zone to create an integrated village that offers both housing and job opportunities.
They allow for a health and wellbeing precinct at Noosa District Sports Complex to support sports medicine, expansion of the Noosa Junction food and drink outlet trading hours and they improve resident amenity by reducing the height of large sheds close to property boundaries in urban areas from close to eight metres high to 3.5 metres.
The Deputy Premier’s approval was subject to several conditions to drive delivery of the variety and size of new dwellings.
This included a change limiting duplexes in Medium Density Residential zones to sites under 600 square metres.
It means lots of 600sqm or more in the Medium Density Residential zone must house three or more dwellings, rather than a duplex.
In response to community feedback, we had sought to allow duplexes on medium density lots up to 1000sqm in size.
But the Minister’s condition will drive an increase in the variety and size of dwellings and ensure better use of Medium Density zoned land, which meets the housing strategy objectives we’ve been seeking.
The other Queensland council undergoing scheme changes, Sunshine Coast Council, is proposing similar provisions in its medium density zones in response to dwelling shortages.
Existing use rights of property owners in the medium density zone are protected. Owners can renovate on their existing housing footprint or over the next 12 months plan a larger home by making an application under the superseded planning scheme process.
Among the extensive list of changes included in these amendments, it’s acknowledged this aspect was the most contentious.
Some called for the whole raft of changes to be scrapped, because of this element.
There were strategic, financial, reputational and social risks with not approving the amendments.
The changes responded to dwelling targets set by the State Government, under the South-East Queensland Regional Plan review.
The State can, and has, stripped away council control of planning, as they did in Redlands City Council, when changes to provide more dwellings are not being acted upon.
If not approved, the red-tape reductions on planning processes for homes would not happen, businesses may continue to cut hours or close because staff can’t find accommodation, and the strategic aims of the Noosa Housing Strategy and Short-Term Monitoring report would be lost.
The ratepayer funds spent in the three-year process and the diligent work by skilled and dedicated council officers would have been wasted.
Our least advantaged would have been facing a future with fewer prospects of ever having the dignity of proper shelter.
Considering the broader context, the decision is responsible, pragmatic and honours a promise.
