Friday, 23 July, 2021
Thinking of selling? You know who to call
12504880-SN30-21
MP’s motorcycle crash
Bud does it for kids
Jumping into marriage
36-page liftout Property Guide
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INSIDE
PR OP ER TY
Georgia takes on Survivor Noosa’s own forensic psychologist Georgia Ray, 35, is using her profession to play the most mentally calculated game Australian Survivor has seen. Read her full story on page 14
Housing report 12497020-DL22-21
An independent report into Noosa’s housing situation will be commissioned by Noosa Council. The request for a “detailed, independent, data-driven analysis on potential short, medium and long term solutions” to an identified “housing crisis” in Noosa, in part due to an increased migration since Covid of almost 50 per cent, won unanimous support at last Thursday’s Ordinary Meeting. The move followed Monday meeting’s vote to write to the state government for permission to make a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) to make short-term accom-
modation an inconsistent use in medium and high density residential zones. On Monday Cr Amelia Lorentson said the reason behind the request was that STAs were depleting the housing supply for permanent residents and posing a “significant risk of serious adverse economic and social conditions in Noosa Shire”. On Thursday Mayor Clare Stewart said it was fundamental to obtain empirical data from industry, experts and government partners to find what was really going on in the housing market. Where is the evidence STA has any impact
on housing, what are the impacts to visitors, tourism, she said. “We can’t assume it if we don’t know,” she said. “This is no time to make any policy on the run. “We can’t fix this crisis on our own, it needs a lot more money from state and federal governments, but we are facing a housing emergency that is having an impact on the economy, on our businesses and affecting the liveability of our communities.” Cr Brian Stockwell said while the respon-
sibility of housing rested with higher levels of government, council’s involvement in community housing was new. Cr Stewart acknowledged it was not council’s space but, in addition to advocating for more investment from state and federal governments, it was a space they needed to be in. Council has been investigating options for community and emergency housing on community land to target the most affected demographics such as hospitality, health and other essential workers. Continued page 4