Moves have been made to boost affordable housing and curb short-term accommodation in a bid to ease a housing crisis in a tourist haven.
Noosa Plan 2020 amendments are set to take effect from September 26, following more than seven weeks of community consultation and two state interest checks over three years.
Mayor Frank Wilkie said the changes were key to delivering the council’s Housing Strategy goals 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,” he said.
“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.”
The mayor said the amendments meant affordable rental premises, tiny homes and other relocatable housing can be placed on community facilities zoned and church-owned land.
“This allows organisations to provide temporary and affordable accommodation for families, women and children in crisis and need.”
The amendments will see part of the tourist accommodation zone rezoned to residential and centre zones so new development in these areas delivers housing for the residents and key workers.
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“The changes also apply greater rigour for development at Noosa business centre zone to create an integrated village that offers both housing and employment opportunities,” Cr Wilkie said.
The amendments 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 improve resident amenity by reducing the height of large sheds close to property boundaries in urban areas.
“Side and rear setback provisions allowed exemptions for carports and sheds, but changes mean a shed over 3.5 metres high won’t be exempt unless on rural property,” he said.
Related story: Planning scheme changes aimed at addressing housing crisis and Noosa wants more small homes to help fix housing woes
Cr Wilkie said the deputy premier approved the amendments, 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,” he said.
“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 with the proposed amendments.
“With these amendments we’re helping to ensure we have enough land available for residential housing, improved housing security, plus greater diversity and affordability to meet Noosa’s shire’s housing needs.
“And lastly, these changes follow through on our promise to provide housing 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.”
