Public consultation has commenced for proposed backpacker accommodation that has already raised concerns with a local council and ignited an online petition against the proposal.
An application was lodged with Noosa Council in January to redevelop and extend an existing building to accommodate up to 60 guests near the Noosa River Holiday Park.
The property, at 17 Russell Street, Noosaville, is currently home to a block of three units approved as short-term accommodation for up to 18 people.
Adapt Town Planning lodged the application, which is impact assessable, on behalf of property owners Mathew and Stephni Haydok.
But the council raised concerns during the information request stage about the scale and density of the proposed development.
“Council is highly concerned in relation to the intensity of the use (for 60 guests) and the need for such a high-intensity backpackers in a residential zone,” the documentation stated.
“The scale of the use is an overdevelopment of the relatively small site, for 60 guests on a site of 607sqm.
“The proposed use is intensive and leaves little onsite space to manage or mitigate amenity issues.”
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
In response, revised plans were submitted to the council on June 23 that reduced the accommodation’s capacity from 60 guests to 48.
Changes were also made to refine landscaping and address balcony and rooftop terrace concerns.
Public notification opened on July 7 and will run until July 28, with formal submissions to be made directly to the council.
One Noosa resident has hit back at the proposal and launched an online petition against the development.
Ruth King created the ‘Block Development of Backpackers Accommodation on Russell St’ petition on July 8.
She claimed via the petition that backpacker accommodation would put the “cherished way of life under threat” for nearby residents.
“Currently, Russell Street is home to some short-term accommodations already, and the addition of 48 more transient visitors would only escalate the strain on the existing infrastructure,” the petition stated.
“The street itself is narrow, and traffic safety and efficiency are already a growing concern among residents.
“The influx of backpackers promises not only to exacerbate these traffic issues but also to disrupt the peaceful lifestyle of permanent residents who contribute to the vibrancy of our neighbourhood daily.
“Moreover, the proposed accommodation stands in stark contrast to the needs and desires of the local residents.”
However, other residents have thrown their support behind the development’s location via social media and said the street was already “busy” from the caravan park, which attracted more than 20,000 visitors in the 2023-24 financial year.
“This is directly opposite the caravan park in an area dominated by ‘resort’ apartment complexes. There is literally no better location for a backpackers,” Ian Pratt said via Ms King’s post to a community Facebook group.
Heidi Stevens said: “In my opinion Russell Street is the perfect location for a backpackers … Russell Street isn’t a quiet residential street by any means.
“The caravan park is there so it’s already full of holiday people. There used to be a backpacker a street over that got knocked down years ago for upmarket apartments. I’m glad they are replacing it with another one. Noosa needs to cater to people of all ages.”
Submissions on the development can be made direct to Noosa Council.
