Noosa Council is to take another step towards addressing the ongoing housing challenge, seeking community input into its Draft Housing Strategy.
Affordable housing is critical to the liveability and growth of communities in the shire.
Mayor Clare Stewart said the draft strategy is a key tool in addressing the challenging issue.
“There is no silver bullet, and while it is going to take investment from all levels of government, Noosa can determine its own destiny by developing actions to guide how we provide affordable housing for the future needs of the shire,” she said.
Council will seek community views in July, comprising a series of pop-in sessions, an online survey and other engagement initiatives.
A Housing Reference group will be established to work with Council on the implementation of the strategy and provide further assistance in addressing the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Cr Stewart said it’s important all sectors of the community review the draft strategy and provide thoughts on how best to tackle the current housing crisis in the shire.
This Housing Strategy, once endorsed, seeks to set a clear plan for housing in Noosa Shire through to 2041.
“In December 2020, I tabled a Mayoral Minute to start the process of investigating what we can do and how we can assist the housing industry and government to improve housing choice and affordability,” she said.
Since then, Council has completed a very technical and detailed Housing Needs Assessment of the shire and investigated potential council-owned land which could be developed for affordable housing.
Council officers have progressed positive discussions with the State Government during this time.
“The current crisis gripping our shire is having a significant social and economic impact on the community and requires action by all levels of government as well as the broader community,” Cr Stewart said.
Cr Stewart said the draft Housing Strategy is about delivering a plan so everybody within the Noosa Shire can access affordable housing into the future.
The draft strategy contains a list of bold, innovative options that look to make optimum use of the remaining capacity within the urban areas to increase housing choice.
“We want to be part of the housing solution and we need the community to have buy-in, before these social and economic impacts worsen,” Cr Stewart said.
The draft Housing Strategy will be available on council’s website with a formal community engagement program to commence on 10 July for a four week period.
