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00:00:00 Speaker 1: Housing Strategy. The Housing Strategy has been founded on a comprehensive evidence base and database of information that we presented to you in December last year called the Housing Needs Analysis. And so the strategy follows that work. The strategy seeks to address in short, medium and long term ways and in a raft of actions the current housing challenge that Noosa Shire is facing. So we have very pleased to present it to you today. It has actions relating to council's regulatory role. It has actions around council as an advocate. It recommends actions as council as the planner and a raft of things that council can do. We often hear that housing isn't really local government's role, but this strategy pretty much says it's everyone's role. It's going to take everyone to have a seat at the table, some skin in the game if we're genuinely going to address the housing challenge in our community. So there are some bold recommendations in this strategy and it's going to take some strong leadership to see it through over the next two, three, four, five years. So we're very pleased to recommend it to you. We are recommending it to you as a draft for the purposes of community engagement with a proposal that it goes out for a period of time.
00:01:00 It also has a community engagement plan attached to it, which outlines a raft of activities that we're proposing to do through that consultation period. We're also recommending that council establish a housing stakeholder reference group and attached to the report is a draft terms of reference for that stakeholder reference group. And in the body of the report is a recommendation around the membership of that stakeholder reference group. So it's going to take some strong leadership to see it through over the next two, three, four, five years. So it's going to take some strong leadership to see it through over the next two, three, four, As well as recommending that the mayor and the councillor be identified today for membership on that reference group. So thank you councillors.
00:02:00 Mayor Stewart: Does anyone have any questions for Kim? I will move the recommendation on page three of the agenda with a change to item D. I appoint councillor Stewart mayor as the elected representatives and the following councillors in rotating representation as the elected representatives to be on the housing reference group. Councillor Stockwell, 1st of July 2022 to the 30th of December 2022. Councillor Finzel, 1st of January 2023 to the 30th of June 2023. Councillor Lorentson, 1st of July 2023 to end of Council term. Councillor Wilkie: Question, Madam Mayor. When we were discussing this rotation and the appointments, there was a suggestion that councillors would receive a standing invitation as observers as well. Is that?
00:03:00 Mayor Stewart: That was my understanding, Councillor Wilkie, and I believe we didn't have to put a recommendation up for that, but that is absolutely correct. So all councillors know what we do with our business round table and our Kin Kin corner. And I'm happy to second that, Madam Mayor. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Mayor Stewart: It gives me great pleasure to move the motion before us. It comes with much anticipation and unprecedented need and a willingness of all to support. First, I'd like to thank Kim Rawlings and Rowena Skinner and all of our staff who have worked tirelessly in the formation of this report. All executives who have had input as well as our CEO. I firmly believe that all of this is a good thing. I believe that all of us at Noosa Council stand firmly aligned on wanting to do something, needing to do something in this incredibly important space of housing affordability. At a very foundational level, housing is the responsibility of the state, where we all have a role to play. As Kim said, everyone has a role, and Noosa Council's draft housing strategy firmly sets out our role.
00:04:00 It's proactive, it's visionary, forward thinking, and a leader in its field. Kim and her team have acknowledged their incredible work in this area. We greatly value and appreciate it. We are facing, in this country and in this state, a housing crisis. We all know that. This draft document before us puts Noosa clearly at the forefront of every other country, if not our state government, in this space. We haven't finished, though. In fact, we've just begun. And this document is a draft. It is now up to our community to have their input, their say, and I would encourage them to do so. So all industry sectors, all residents, and all stakeholders. Now is your chance to be a part of something we can all achieve together. As I said, this report is long coming. In 2015, the newly released Noosa Social Strategy highlighted that median household incomes in Noosa were well below the Queensland average, and that median home purchases and rental
00:05:00 prices were well above the state averages. Back in 2015, some seven years ago, this same report showed that many of our residents were struggling to meet increases in cost of living and shortages of affordable housing and limited housing diversity, while contributing to homelessness and incidents of residents sleeping rough. The draft strategy before us today comes before Council for endorsement. It is the first specific housing strategy for Noosa Shire. The strategy sets a clear vision and establishes outcomes and action plan for Noosa Council about accommodating residents now and into the future. In ratifying the 2020 Noosa Plan, I'd like to acknowledge Councillor Finzel, who highlighted specifically in her amendment, monitoring the effectiveness of the plan in light of social and affordable housing, something unanimously supported by all of us. Councillor Stockwell, I know this is close to your heart, and something that you have championed over many years, and this should be a satisfying day for you too. When we agree on something, you know it's a winner. In fact, as I said, all councillors around this table are united in their approach,
00:06:00 their care, and their willingness to do what we can to do our bit. The mayoral minute, unanimously endorsed in 2020, was the beginning of a long process. It was and has been the most aggressive step that any council has taken in this space. It provided the foundation for our housing needs assessment, a technical report on the context of housing and households in Noosa Shire. The housing needs assessment, along with other council strategies and plans, have important impact on the housing strategy. This is strategic leadership by all of us, at its core. Which brings me to this document. What it does, what it plans for, and the outcomes we hope to achieve through the implementation. The housing strategy seeks to set a clear plan for the housing in Noosa Shire through to 2041. Its purpose is to set a clear vision and establish key outcomes and an action plan for Noosa Shire Council, about accommodating residents now and into the future. It is a statement to the community of how committed this council is, how we are also committed
00:07:00 to being part of the housing solution. Our vision includes facilitating different housing types and styles to ensure that people's housing needs are catered for, regardless of age, mobility, household structure or budget. Prioritising affordable living for key workers. We all know how important that is. Facilitating housing outcomes such as specific to each local area, considering their needs. Ongoing engagement and advocacy with state and federal governments. Encouraging greater public and private investment in more social and affordable housing. Partnering with developers and or registered community housing providers. The list goes on. Exploring rate concessions for properties owned or leased on a long term basis by registered housing providers. Exploring concessions and development costs. Planning scheme amendments and policy development that supports real change and outcomes. Community engagement roles and tools. Keeping the Noosa community involved and supportive of activity. And actions arising from this strategy. The outcomes of this strategy are a game changer for our most at risk, our vulnerable, our workers,
00:08:00 our businesses, our economy and our community at large. I've spoken about the draft housing strategy, but the motion before us also asks that we authorise the CEO to establish a housing reference group to work with council on the implementation of the housing strategy and a range of housing issues. This is the first housing reference group that we have established its chance to bring all stakeholders in or industry players in that include our state member, Department of Communities, Kew Shelter, Community Housing Association, registered community housing providers, residential care providers, business and tourism sector, permanent rental property managers and local housing developers and planning consultants. A broad church which will provide an important forum for ideas and discussion based on experience. The responsibilities of this group are vast. It is not however a decision making body but rather it will assist Noosa Council in the implementation of the housing strategy and associated actions through sharing of information
00:09:00 and learnings from on the ground experience. The reference group is another string to our bow in our plight to address the challenges but also the opportunities ahead. All things are on the table to address this incredible need and I'd ask everyone to support the motion. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you Madam Mayor. Thank you Madam Mayor. I support this body of work and this document going out for public consultation. I think the interesting points for me and it's made clear in the report is that it outlines Council's roles that can play in this space in advocacy, partnering, regulating and facilitating but Council is not going to become a provider of social or community housing. That's made very clear. Any social and public housing, to put it in a bigger context, that will be added to the stock of estimated to be about 395 dwelling units or homes already existing in Noosa Shire
00:10:00 Council. And according to the planning staff, the estimated increase in the population, Noosa's population, is only estimated to be in the couple of hundreds. So it's not going to blow out Noosa's population cap. It's also, just to manage expectations, it's not going to be the silver bullet because it's not going to blow out Noosa's population cap, but Noosa's going to be doing its part in helping and stepping up in this space. There are interesting recommendations or proposals for me, very sensible ones, that is preserving low, medium and high density residential zones for permanent residents, limiting accommodation businesses to tourist accommodation zones, providing both incentives and regulation to ensure new unit developments include an element of social or community housing, ensuring social housing doesn't occur in a remote location. There are concerns about the marrying ofstart料 and energy capitulations or on poor quality land prone to flooding or fire away from public transport or services, or in industrial estates where the clash of expectations and land uses would be to the detriment of both the residents and business owners.
00:11:00 But it does acknowledge that it's proposed to any live and work arrangements in industrial estates where there's no detriment to either parties will be considered. It also considers opportunities for tiny homes on Land-Zone for community facilities or relocatable There's also proposals for Kiwai Street and Lake Macdonald Drive and I encourage, this report is available online as of last week, there's still going to be several weeks before the official public consultation begins and I encourage anyone who's interested in this work to download the report, start reading it, understanding it, send through any questions you may have and if you're going to make a submission, get a head start. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Councillor Leicester, I'd like to move an amendment, B, seek Noosa Shire community feedback on the drafting housing strategy for a period of four weeks from the 10th of July 2022.
00:12:00 Councillor Jurisevic: I'll give you a second to make an amendment. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you Councillor Leicester. I could do so because, you know, this is a huge issue for our community. I initially started with a six week consultation period because of the significance of the report, but I accept that this draft is already publicly available and the consultation period is going to commence after the school holidays. So, in order for genuine and meaningful consultation, I'm proposing four weeks. And not the three weeks. So, I hope you support the extension. Mayor Stewart: Does anyone have any questions for Kim?
00:13:00 I do. Councillor Jurisevic: Kim, do you foresee any challenges of extending the period of consultation from three to four weeks? Or staff? Speaker 1: Through the Chair? No, Councillor Jurisdict. That's fine. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Anyone else like to speak to this? Councillor Leicester. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'm going to support the extension, but I'm going to do it in a way that raises a challenge for the staff. And the challenge we've got in this consultation is engaging the most impacted demographic, the most important people we're planning for. Have in your mind, who do we normally get involved in consultation? Are they generally over 55 and generally homeowners? Are those homeowners most likely to get involved in a consultation? We've had a huge increase in their market value of their property over the last two years. Because if that's who we are going to engage, there's some research done by the state government
00:14:00 recently. The research says that 55 plus in south east Queensland are in a category they call resistant to change. They're home owners, they place focus on their local areas, and they're generally negative sentiment towards change. And this strategy just proposed change. But then you look at the next one. This is 35 to 54 year olds that we're really targeting here, and they're the disengaged and neutral, and they're renters and homeowners, they care about the environment, their focus is on the local area, the lifestyle and their family. But they're not interested unless they're directly impacted by something. In consultation we're going to really engage that group, the most important ones, the 18 to 34 year olds, the ones that are supportive of change, who are mostly renting or just entering that market, who are looking at this huge increase in market value and saying, I'll never own a house.
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00:15:00 Can you imagine when you were 18 to 35 if you were looking at a future and saying, I'll never own a house, because that's what a lot of them are doing. And they're passionate about it. They're positive about their lifestyle, they're interested in the environment, and they're positive to change. So I support the extra week, so we can have a think about what extra can we do to engage 18 to 34 year olds. How can we get those 55 plus to spend 5% of their time thinking about this strategy from self interest, and 95% thinking about the next generation and how they can assist this community go forward. Mayor Stewart: Anyone else like to speak for this amendment? No. Okay. Councillor Walton to ask a question. No, no, no, no, no, no. We'll put it to a vote. Well in fact, that is unanimous, thank you, Councillor. That was part of the original, which both myself and Councillor Walton . Councillor Wilkie: I will ask a question, and it probably goes to some of the points that Councillor Stockwell raised.
00:16:00 There's the housing stakeholder reference group proposed. How will some of the interests of the younger demographic that Councillor Stockwell raised be captured in the housing stakeholder reference group? Speaker 1: Through the Chair, we are working with an expert engagement and consultation agency. So we've just procured them to come on board with us. And early next week, we'll be starting to look at the range of ways that we do engage various groups across the Shire. So, you know, looking at clever ways to do that. The membership we've put forward for the stakeholder reference group, we've tried to do that in a way that there's representation of all of those groups.
00:17:00 You know, we've got community housing providers at the table, you know, very aware of what, you know, the most vulnerable people in our community need from a housing perspective. You know, we've already been working with them, and they've been able to share a whole lot of insights that have helped inform the strategy. We're also, you know, we've got people who are working in the sort of permanent rental space, you know, and Rowena's had quite a bit of contact with them. And they've been able to share with us what's going on from a permanent rental market. So, you know, we do feel like we've tried to cover the cross-section of the community. But, you know, we're always open to kind of other, you know, clever ways. I've got teenagers, so my households are full of teenagers all the time. So, you know, often I'll say to them, take these things to school, you know, that sort of thing.
00:18:00 So, you know, we'll be talking to schools and, you know, if we can get teenagers to engage from that perspective. You know, we're open to, you know, any ideas and suggestions as to how best to do that so that we get a comprehensive response. And we get the responses from the people who are really, you know, feeling these issues now and into the future. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'll move another amendment. And that's a motion that approves the NSWI Draft Housing Strategy Provider Attachment 1 with the changes noted below. And the changes are, one, the wording in section 6.4.4 be amended to read, work with the owners of approved aged care sites that do not require the clearing of revenant vegetation to encourage optimum outcomes and their timely development.
00:19:00 Seconded? Councillor Jurisevic: For purposes of discussion, I'll second it. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: The amendment is aimed at reinforcing the recent notice of motion where we reviewed the approved aged care site, which would require the clearing of revenant vegetation of high conservation value. You know, the action as stated would suggest that staff work with them in partnership to get them built. What I'm suggesting is if aged care sites have an approval which are, in my opinion, no longer meet what we would see as modern standards, if that is required to clear revenant vegetation, that we don't want the housing strategy to actually get staff to work in partnership. We want them to work in partnership to bring forward those developments that don't require a loss of the environment to achieve the social housing outcome. And the other one was there was another word change where the original wording talked about ensuring optimum and timely development.
00:20:00 I don't think we can ensure, I think we can only encourage. Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Wilkie: I have a question. I'm just wondering if the wording achieves what Councillor Stockwell is trying to achieve. So I'll ask a question. Are you saying you would like staff to work with the owners of approved aged care sites that do not, of aged care sites to encourage optimum outcomes that do not require the clearing of revenant vegetation and their timely development? Because the way it reads here at the moment, I'm wondering would that exclude you working with all aged care providers, the Council working with all aged care providers? Are you trying to avoid the clearing of vegetation or you're only suggesting Council works only with the aged care providers that will not be clearing the vegetation?
00:21:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: This is a latter. I believe that in my opinion there's only three sites that are approved or identified for aged care. One is on Grass Street Court, which this probably relates to. The other is on McKinnon Drive where all the clearing has already occurred. And the third is a site that's zoned for aged care community use in Cooroy, Ferrell Road and the main road end towns. And I think they're the only three aged care sites. And the Palm Lakes development in Croy as well has another stage which has an aged care facility on it. Councillor Wilkie: Sorry, could you spend more time explaining what you're hoping to achieve with this? I'm not understanding. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Sure. Councillor Wilkie: So maybe I'll wait till you speak to it. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah. I think I have it. Okay. So just clearly there's two lots in Grass Street Court. One's cleared. Councillor Wilkie: Yes.
00:22:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: We could still work with them to try and get that built as soon as possible. But it wouldn't be asking staff to, as was originally proposed, to work with the developer to try and get the aged care facility built on the other lot which is currently not cleared. So I'd be saying working with lots that don't require the clearing of the vegetation. Councillor Wilkie: Working with aged care providers that don't require. But alternatively, similarly, not working with aged care providers that do require. On those sites. The clearing of. Yes. Okay. So help in one, partnership in one aspect, non-partnership in another aspect. Depending on whether they're clearing or not. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yes. Next. I think that'd be the way to put it. If I could clarify, we clearly showed that we, in the recent motion passed by council, that we wanted to change, we wanted the staff to consider a change to the planning scheme to ensure the community had a say on the unclean section of Grass Street Court.
00:23:00 I think it'd be counter to that recommendation to then go away and work behind the scenes to try and get them to bring forward the development on that site. Councillor Wilkie: Question. Are you bringing forward this particular amendment to cope, to deal with one specific development? No. Or is this meant to be a general catch-all? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: It's worded to be general, to establish a principle. But as I said, from my understanding of the current approvals, it would largely relate to one development site. Councillor Wilkie: Okay. I'll speak to the amendment. I appreciate what Councillor Stockwell's trying to do, but the wording to me at the moment is exclusionary. And it will bar the council staff from working from applicants seeking to work in the
00:24:00 aged care space. And I don't know if that's a healthy thing, although I do note you've got the word approved aged care sites there. But despite that, I prefer a more inclusionary approach, because I believe the best outcomes come through partnerships and working collaboratively with applicants within the bounds of the law to a reasonable extent. And this would, in my mind, in my reading, prevent council staff from working with owners of aged care facilities. And I don't know if that's necessarily a good thing. Happy to consider a rewording if... Yeah. Speaker 3: Councillor? Councillor Jurisevic: I'm going to ask a question of staff, if I may. Outside of the scope of this, are there other sites potentially identified where aged care could take place other than the three within the planning scheme or within forward thinking
00:25:00 of the planning scheme where aged care sites could be considered other than the three mentioned by Councillor Stockwell? Speaker 2: Through you, Madam Chair. I wouldn't rule out aged care on other sites, particularly as, since the Royal Commission, the model is to go for smaller, more intimate, domestic-scale residential care. So you could have quite small residential care, and it could be otherwise. Councillor Jurisevic: That's a second question following on. That's why I just wanted to have the two parts of the question. I forgot what the second part of the question is. I'm not sure if you can identify them yet. So I'm going to ask you a question. I know what it was. This amendment, and even Clause 6.4.4, A6.4.4, work with the owners of sites approved
00:26:00 for aged care. Where within this strategy do we look at other opportunities for aged care facilitation? Because this only talks about approved aged care sites. Speaker 2: So it doesn't address aged care or residential care. No. We don't look specifically on any other sites. We do have one other site which is zoned for it, which hasn't got a development approval in place, but it's zoned for it. I guess we are looking for opportunities for any sort of housing choice. And when we have looked at council land assets or privately owned land, we've looked holistically for any sort of housing choice, be it residential care, group housing, or any sort of housing type housing, multiple housing, disability housing. So any sites that would lend themselves to a form of housing which broadens local housing
00:27:00 choice beyond domestic detached houses. Councillor Jurisevic: So I guess the question I'm asking, and I'm not sure if I got the answer there. Is there anywhere else within the housing strategy where we have the capacity to look at the needs for, I think you did cover it, for aged care or any other type of housing arrangements that may be put forward? Speaker 2: Councillor, there is somewhere that talks about, in 6.4, we specifically look at development and redevelopment for housing that is diverse and meeting varied and challenging needs of people across their life. So that, I'm not sure that there's a particular action that needs to be taken to address that. There is a particular action that addresses residential care, but through that table under that point,
00:28:00 we're doing just that. Broadly covered. Councillor Jurisevic: Yes. Thank you. That's all I want to clarify. Councillor Wegener: Were you anticipating talking about clearing remnant vegetation and so forth, when you were thinking of doing this housing strategy? Because it seems to me quite difficult. Speaker 1: No, not specifically. When we've looked at this housing strategy and we've looked at various sites that are capable of potentially accommodating, whether it's residential care or aged care or other, as Rowena said, other forms of housing, we consider what the land constraints of those sites are. And whether or not there is some capability of those sites suitable for housing. So, in a broader context, in terms of considering what's on land and what the constraints are,
00:29:00 whether it's environmental or flood or whatever, we've considered it at a strategic extent, but not specifically in this instance. Councillor Wegener: Thank you. First, for the CEO, considering that we're really focusing on, basically, grass-tree court here, have we opened ourselves up to a legal situation, where we're just focusing on one development? Speaker 3: Through the Chair, Councillor Wegener, ultimately, that is a decision for the Council table, while Councillor Stockwell has indicated that this would focus one particular area that is broad in its approach. So, it does look at that. It does look at any future sites that may include remnant edge clearing as well, too. So, it does, yes, deliver an impact to a current development, but, however, it is delivered
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00:30:00 intentionally on a broad basis as well, so that it does restrict other developments from getting into that situation where remnant edge would be cleared to be able to achieve this outcome. Ultimately, a matter for those external to us to be able to see if they feel that that is some sort of disadvantage. But, for this particular process that we're undertaking, amendments to the Act, it really is a matter for Council to be able to consider at the table. Councillor Lorentson: I'll speak to the amendment. I am going to support it. I'm going to reference on page 25, A6.2.6. Ensure growth in housing and population does not adversely impact on the character, lifestyle and environment. Thank you. Enjoyed by residents. And I'll go down to the third, second dot point. Growth is not at the expense of sustainable care of the environment and management of
00:31:00 waste. I think the amendment actually reflects the values that we hold really important in Noosa, and I'm happy to support. Mayor Stewart: Please, Councillor Livingstone. If anyone would like to speak to Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Wegener: The other side of the coin, what you say, it already says that, that we will be looking at that. There is no way of including gaps maintaining the environment's standards, asago. And this seems to be the double speaking, that. That concerns me. Councillor Jurisevic: Question for staff. If a site has an approved development proposal, and that includes the clearing of remnant vegetation in that, in that approval. Um, wouldn't that be the most relevant document with regard to development approval, with regard to clearing of vegetation?
00:32:00 Speaker 1: Yes, the development approval would prevail. Councillor Jurisevic: And as such would overwrite any wording in a housing strategy such as this? Speaker 1: Well, a development approval gives rights to develop land. Um, that can't be revoked, that can't be taken away. Um, if that exists, then that, the owner, applicant of that land has the right to develop that land. Um, this, the intention of what the strategy was seeking to achieve is, you know, partnerships underpin this strategy. It's right throughout the strategy. It's partnerships with our community housing providers. It's partnerships with development industry. It's partnerships... providers of the housing, types of housing we need, from residential aged care to, um, small housing. You know, partnerships underpin this. So the action was in the spirit of partnerships.
00:33:00 Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: I'll speak to the amendment. I'm not going to support the amendment. Because I think what the housing strategy does is gives us broad overviews and not down to specifics and semantics about individual sites. So, as a result of that, I think the housing strategy speech was successful. I'm happy to, uh, this is a draft going out for public consultation. I'm happy to see if the public come back with, um, um, their concerns addressed here. But as far as the broad overview of the, the strategy and the opportunity for partnerships and the like and, uh, and working towards mutually agreeable outcomes, uh, that, uh, that help facilitate, uh, the housing needs of the, uh, the region, I won't be supporting the, uh, the amendment. Councillor Wilkie: Just to clarify something you said, Ken. You're saying this amendment wouldn't, wouldn't prevent any land holder from clearing the land, uh, if they have those rights under the Planning Scheme and the Planning Act. It wouldn't prevent that? Speaker 1: That's right. If they've got, if they've got a development approval in place that allows them to clear the land for a particular use, this wouldn't prevent that.
00:34:00 Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. It would only perhaps stop staff from working with them for a greater benefit. That's a good outcome. Despite their rights. Speaker 1: That's my understanding of the intention of the amendment. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. Councillor Lorentson: Can I ask a question, Ken? Um, the Planning Act, um, in its objectives, are we looking at making amendments to include that, um, one of our objectives is to provide affordable housing? Or is it already in there? Speaker 1: Uh, we are looking... The strategy does make amendments to include that, um, one of our objectives is to provide recommendation that council does, uh, explore, um, amending its Planning Scheme, um, to, uh, include the provision of, of affordable housing, a range of affordable housing models in its Planning Scheme. So, yes, it does recommend making some amendments to the Planning Scheme.
00:35:00 This strategy in itself doesn't amend the scheme. That's a separate process and would need to go through a separate process and will, would need to come back to council before state sign-off and public consultation. But the strategy does recommend that council, um, consider making those amendments to include it into the Planning Scheme. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Yeah. Would anyone else like to speak? I just have a question. Councillor Finzel: Um, I don't know who to direct it to. I'm just wondering about, like, as council workers, maybe it's you, Scott, are we to be impartial? We're here today to, you know, engage community about development of particular housing. Because we've got a crisis. In any way, like, would this maybe obstruct or limit council's responsibility to provide impartial advice to people coming forward for development applications or discussions? Speaker 3: Um, through the Mayor, Councilor Finzel, no.
00:36:00 It, it wouldn't. It's, um, it wouldn't restrict anybody coming to council. But it, it would limit what we can consider, um, would be the amount of housing that we Councillor Jurisevic: have. I'll ask the question which I might, might, might answer it in another way. How many currently approved aged care sites do we have? That may be impacted by this. Speaker 2: Um, we have, we have, there's three different approvals. There is also a fourth property that's zoned. One of the approvals is over two different parcels. Um, so there's three approvals titling four lots. There's a fifth property that's zoned. That could accommodate. Councillor Jurisevic: But being not approved, they wouldn't come under the consideration in some ways. As far as approved goes, there are only three currently approved aged care sites that may be impacted by the wording.
00:37:00 Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: And under this amendment, uh, if this was approved, this would prevent staff from working with the owners of those particular aged care, uh, providers, uh, in the interest of getting optimum outcomes. And timely development. Speaker 2: I think the wording is somewhat awkward in that it would, the owner of, one of the owners owns two parcels, one of which would rely on clearing of remnant vegetation and one wouldn't. That, that wording would potentially restrict us from working with that owner regardless of which site. Mm. Councillor Wilkie: Mm. And if, um, a future owner, uh, was to put in an application, uh, that may involve, uh, they have the rights to clear veg to site an aged care, um, staff would not be able to work with them in the interest of optimum outcomes, which may mean saving as
00:38:00 much of the remnant vegetation as possible that remains on the site outside of their development sites. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Would it be a fair assessment? Point of order. Point of order. No, it's a, it's an argument disguised as a question. I know Councillor Wilkie doesn't mind that. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Wilkie, do you have an actual question? Councillor Wilkie: I do. I do. So, um, uh, if, if, uh, another applicant put in a, if someone put in an application and it did involve the clearing of remnant vegetation, which is their right, if we approve this, would that prevent staff from working with them to encourage optimum outcomes and timely development? Because it involves the clearing of remnant vegetation. Speaker 2: I don't believe that this would prevent staff from working with owners. Um, this is specifically instructing us to work with particular owners. It's not precluding us to working with anyone else or prohibiting staff from working with
00:39:00 anyone else. Councillor Finzel: I just have a question, and I guess it's to Councillor Stockwell. Is the intent of this intent, is your intention to add that like as a dot point in attachment two? It's an amendment. Like what's, what, I'm just trying to understand. Sure. Because you've got, for the purpose of community engagement in the consultation with the communities in relation to attachment two. So what's your, what's your, I don't understand your intent. It's just. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Sure. The, the, the current action, um, and I haven't got it in front of me, but it, it, I can, I think it reads, work with the owners of approved aged care sites, um, to ensure optimum outcomes and their timely development. Councillor Jurisevic: Delivered in a timely manner. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: And delivered in a timely manner. My intention is to reword that to say, um, that this partnership will be extended to those sites that don't require clearing, other than those sites that require clearing.
00:40:00 Councillor Wilkie: So you're, you're looking at changing the wording, Councillor Stockwell, did you say? You're looking at changing the wording to make it, help us understand what you mean? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Um, I would be welcome for those who have better literary skills to suggest a change to, to avoid some of the unintended interpretations that have come forward, but I can't do it as a mover. Councillor Wilkie: Well, we can lose it and then reword it. Councillor Lorentson: Can I throw maybe this change of wording to Brian and ask whether it achieves the intent of his amendment. So work, so proactive, um, work with the owners of sites approved of aged care to ensure optimum outcomes are delivered in a timely, are delivered in a timely manner, provided there is no clearing of remnant vegetation. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: If that clarifies it, I'm happy to. Councillor Wilkie: Well, I have another question. We just heard that, um, this doesn't stop staff working with any applicant.
00:41:00 So my question is, what's the purpose of it? Mayor Stewart: Mm. Yeah. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: The, the purpose, and if you, is, it's under a section which is, uh, about partnerships, approaches, and this. Where's that? Where is it? Oh, I'm just, if you, just bear with me. Councillor Lorentson: What do you say? What do you say? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Housing and Changing Needs and 6.4 and it's about partnering and advocating it's not about our statutory responsibilities so this action is everything outside of our statutory responsibilities and I'm saying on those sites that require the Councillor Wilkie: we don't ask staff to go the extra burden of trying to partner with them sorry where is that under six point four point four well okay so you're saying you don't partner or advocate you don't partner
00:42:00 with or advocate for owners of approved aged care sites so you're saying partner or advocate with owners of approved care sites only owners of the approved care sites that do not require the clearing of the blah blah blah yes okay look I'd be happy with that because it it's clear to me what you're actually Deputy Mayor Stockwell: so would you like to ask that's all these other minutes if the meeting Councillor Wilkie: agrees with me okay the change would be partner with and advocate for point of
00:43:00 Councillor Jurisevic: point of order is I've got my understanding if we should be voting on this as the amendment stands without trying to change the wording and if it's successful or otherwise we should then have the opportunity to make a make a further amendment I don't believe we should be changing wording on the run to something that's been moved and seconded as the seconder I don't don't approve Mayor Stewart: okay okay I look on I'm happy for this to amendment to be lost I'm gonna get Councillor Wilkie: something that actually represents what he's trying to say Councillor Finzel: well I'm just I wouldn't support this amendment because I'm not actually clear on the intent and what the necessary outcomes that councillor Stockwell is trying to reach with the amendment so yeah I won't be supporting it as it stands Deputy Mayor Stockwell: no I'll wait for the next amendment Mayor Stewart: it doesn't happen
00:44:00 Councillor Wegener: oh you don't have to Mayor Stewart: we can put it to a vote now okay so I'll wait for the next amendment okay so that's lost unanimously I'd like to have a vote okay so would you like to try amendment number three councillor Stockwell? Councillor Wilkie: I can't madam mayor Deputy Mayor Stockwell: you say that the wording be changed to that council partner with and advocate for approved aged care sites to encourage the young people with disabilities to get To partner with and advocate for owners of approved aged care sites to encourage optimum outcomes and timely development
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00:45:00 providing SAP sites do not require the clearing of remnant vegetation. I do so is what we're talking about in this particular action is going above and beyond what we've tried to do as a development assessor and it's saying we and the the intent is to get to that point at the end which is the timely development and what I'm saying is I would
00:46:00 not like staff to spend time trying to bring forward to get more timely development on sites that require the clearing of native vegetation particularly if they're historic approvals. I believe that we should be doing our minimum set requirements and no more. I don't support trying to bring forward developments which I believe no longer meet what we would currently require under the current planning scheme and no longer meet what is I think an acceptable standard and I also think it's important to clarify as Councillor Mullian suggested that we're not going down this housing approach because we are paying respects to the fundamental principles of what makes Noosa different. If you think it is appropriate for the staff to go in and work with the developer to try and bring forward the clearing of remnant vegetation of high conservation significance then don't vote against the amendment. If you think it's okay that the staff go away and
00:47:00 the timely development of the sites that require clearing vegetation then don't vote for it. It's really clear it's just saying to staff we're happy for you to work with sites but we don't want you to be helping develop applications if we think it's in an area that is going to be against the Councillor Finzel: community's interest. I've got a question for the CEO. Is this the way that council would normally operate to give direction to council staff without any workshop back or staff saying we need support or council to make a decision around you know our time and how we manage our planning department? It feels to me like this is a bit of a on the run. Speaker 3: Through the Mayor Councillor Finzel, ultimately the direction that's set by this table is for me as the CEO to be able to undertake. So by majority the council table whether our matter has been
00:48:00 workshopped or not or time has been spent or not is a decision for the council to be able to make but once the council makes a decision by majority it's my role as the CEO to undertake that regardless of the process. Officers are here to be able to provide reports and advice based on their technical experience but this council as representatives of the community are the ones that will make the decision. That decision that's made by majority is my role and responsibility to carry that out through the administration. Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: There is a reason I didn't second this. It's because I didn't like it the first time and I like it just as little the second time. I appreciate the intent of what you're trying to do here Brian but I don't think this is the way to do it. There are sites that staff have identified that are currently approved and other sites potentially that are I don't know whether they need remnant vegetation cleared. How much remnant vegetation, what if one tree needs to be moved? Does that prevent them from doing it? I think it's a bold
00:49:00 statement and it's a bold concept but I don't think it works in the realms of the planning scheme. I think the sites that have been chosen by the planning scheme have gone out for public consultation. The community has approved these sites for these things and we've got to acknowledge that they sit in the planning scheme. Staff work with the applicant who has every right to turn around and put an application in for an aged care facility on a site that's been designated as such to work around the parameters and the challenges of that site to deliver an outcome and I think our staff do that admirably on every application that comes before them. They challenge the developer wherever they can to minimise the amount of remnant vegetation that is removed and I appreciate the work they put in in that regard but once sites are identified and in the planning scheme, I think it's the development application and what the developer goes to put forward in that regard that needs to be assessed, not whether there's a tree of remnant vegetation or the
00:50:00 elements of remnant vegetation to be managed or not managed in that process. I have a question, Councillor Lorentson: maybe I'm missing something but we're looking at a housing strategy and the housing strategy is to incentivise developers to enter into the space, provide accessible housing, social housing and be part of the solution. So I like the amendment and am I sorry so my question is this amendment is only applicable if I've read this right this amendment's only applicable if an owner of an aged care facility is requesting bonus provisions or decrease in GFA. Have I read
00:51:00 Speaker 1: that correctly? No, no, so unfortunately Councillor Lorentson and that's not that linkage is not required for this action. This action specifically sits under an objective that is to ensure that the that reads development and redevelopment for housing is diverse, meeting varied varied and changing needs of people across their life. So the you know bonus provisions, development incentives, yes that is captured in the housing strategy under another objective but this objective has a number of actions under it that relate to planning for and the provision of a varied range of housing needs across the lifespan, which is a very important part of the housing strategy. I think it's a very, very important part of the housing strategy. you know and one of those is we have some existing approved aged care sites that is a housing need in our community um going back to the principle of partnering this action is to reflect let's partner to get those housing outcomes
00:52:00 Councillor Finzel: can I just have a question then for staff um through the chair it seems that the in what way will this help staff do their jobs better at a technical level or whatever level do they identify that this will help them advocate and partner more efficiently and better to get the outcomes that we're striving for today Speaker 2: the the action was intended we have uh at least well we we actually have three approvals that have been sitting there for a long time three approved residential care facilities that have been approved for some time um for any range of reasons they haven't advanced
00:53:00 and this was about staff being able to actually approach the owners and say what is the hold-up what what is what is happening at your end that you have not done this development yet is there a hold-up? what do we need to discuss so it was about sort of talking to them and proactively encouraging them to move on their proposal do they need to redesign their proposal do they need to downscale their proposal and stage it incrementally basically having opening up a conversation with those landowners to encourage them to to move towards developing these sites or um yeah explain why they're not currently developing them Councillor Finzel: thank you so i've just had a question from chair so just to clarify without this amendment does
00:54:00 staff mean that they can't currently do the things that was just raised by the staff member without this amendment can you um not proceed forward no we we could this Speaker 1: is the current um strategy says that we would work with owners of the approved sites so this if this amendment doesn't get up it doesn't stop us from doing that thank you but if the amendment got up it would stop it no it would stop us in the instance where those sites were to be developed for h care and had to clear remnant vegetation in that in that instance it it would stop us Councillor Wegener: but if it wasn't aged care say they wanted to put something else there would that stop us is it is it
00:55:00 just absolutely focused at aged care and only aged care education um that's probably a question for the Speaker 1: for the council at stockwell um that's probably a question for the for the council at stockwell council stock has taken an action that's in the draft plan that currently reads work with the owners of sites approved for aged care to ensure optimum outcomes are delivered in a timely manner rowena has just explained why we felt that this action was important to bring to the fore we've got a housing need in our community we've got sites approved development ready to deliver these housing needs as officers and as council we think we should understand why they're not being delivered and what it is we can do to help get these how these this housing type delivered for our community that was the intention of this action Councillor Lorentson: so i go back to the word draft so if we approved this um nothing's going to happen
00:56:00 until this goes to community consultation then it goes to the state for us state test and it comes back for another consultation process and if any amendments are made um so so what i'm saying it's a draft so potentially could um could this amendment have the effect of achieving the outcome you just sought which is telling these guys step up provide the housing otherwise if this gets approved um you you may lose that opportunity um question this is simply a draft if it gets It's approved or not approved. It has no effect in the law. Speaker 1: Yes, this is a draft. It's a draft housing strategy. Just need to clarify that it's not a planning scheme change. So it doesn't need to go to the state government. It doesn't need state sign-off. This is a council strategy.
00:57:00 It needs to be decided and ratified at this table. This doesn't require sign-off from state government. This will inform changes to the planning scheme that will come subsequently. So yes, it's a draft. None of this is going to be actioned. Although we are working in this space already. We are working with housing providers. Developments are getting approved. There's things happening in this space at the moment. But the intention is that it goes out for consultation. It then comes back to council for final sign-off. Before it's then formally implemented, and then we take action under it. Councillor Wilkie: I have a question perhaps for the mover of the amendment. And that is, does Councillor Stockwell also intend to move a similar proviso to providers of social or community housing? Are we only going to advocate and partner with them,
00:58:00 providing there's no removal of remnant vegetation? And if not, why not? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: A very simple note. This particular action deals with three specific approvals. One of them is 16 years old. And proposes clearing remnant vegetation of state environmental significance. If you want staff to go and do everything that Rowena said they'd be doing, to bring forward that clearing of that vegetation, that state environment significant, that priority habitat, don't vote for this amendment. If you don't vote for this amendment, don't vote for this amendment, don't vote for this amendment. If you do want staff to go out there and bring forward that development to clear the land, to wipe out the gossy black feed trees, stay with the staff recommendation. Councillor Wilkie: Question for staff. Are there other blocks of land that perhaps we're looking at for social and community housing that has remnant vegetation on the state map that may be cleared as a result of this strategy proceeds?
00:59:00 Or the development that's intended to be facilitated by this development, this strategy proceeds? Speaker 1: Now, through the Chair, what this strategy does is seek to provide, the Mayor said it, you know, everything's on the table, it's going to take us to look at everything. So, you know, we're inviting community housing providers to come forward, we're inviting the development industry to come forward, so, you know, it's a strategy that should see us out for the next 10 years. So, potentially, it's going to take us to the next 10 years. So, potentially, yes. Does it specifically identify sites that have remnant vegetation in it? No, it doesn't, it doesn't, but does it, like I said, you know, say we, there are a range of opportunities we need to look at,
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01:00:00 there's a range of housing needs we have, we've got, you know, come and talk to us about those things. So, potentially, yes, but not specifically. Okay. Councillor Wilkie: So, perhaps a question again for Brian. Brian, if there was a social and community housing project proposed for land that has remnant vegetation on it, would you also be seeking a similar restriction on staff's work, partnering with or advocating for those providers? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Any future site that comes up that hasn't got planning approval would have to go through the Noosa Plan 2020. I'm confident that the within the Noosa Plan 2020 will take these issues into consideration. The only ones that we don't have to consider. Noosa Plan 2020 is those that have got historic approvals. Councillor Finzel: I have a question. I guess it's to Councillor Stockwell. He wrote the amendment here today. Is this about addressing land banking in the Shire?
01:01:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: No. Councillor Finzel: Within the wording, you're talking about specific sites. How come you haven't included them in your wording when you're directly talking about? The site with the blue care development. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: The action as stated in the draft housing strategy took that approved aged care sites. The development approval over the grass-free court has two different sites. As I hope this has clarified, I've got no problem with staff working and partnering to bring timely development of the cleared site. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Councillor Jurisdict and Councillor Stockwell are the only two who have spoken to this amendment. No, only two. Would anyone else at the table like to speak to this amendment?
01:02:00 Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Dynaston. I will speak to this amendment. I'm going to approve it because I really want this to be considered as part of our community consultation. I'd like to hear what the community thinks about the amendment. This is a huge body of work and thank you, Kin and Rowena. It's a huge body of work and it's got some serious implications for our Shire. When I entered Council, I think what I learned very early on is we've got to consider short-term, medium-term, long-term consequences of all of our decisions. I'm looking 20 years down the track. We are at Council. We've got a lot of work to do. This is a social investment, but I think there is a danger sometimes to have housing at all costs. We need to understand the social implications, the environmental implications of all our decisions.
01:03:00 And again, I go back to what I said earlier when I supported the amendment, that we can't forget who we are and what we value. So I'm going to approve this and I'm hoping the community can help us with the answer. Thank you. Councillor Wegener: Councillor Stockwell, so you're confident that this is not giving false hope to the people that want to stop the grass-free development from going forward? Yes. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'm confident that all this does is indicate to staff who we want to partner with and on what sites. I'm confident it's saying that we don't want to do more than we have to statutorily, under
01:04:00 the Planning Act, in terms of other sites that may have existing approvals for aged care sites that require the clearing of retina vegetation. We're not saying we're not discharging our statutory responsibility. What we're saying is we don't want staff to go and take an extra effort to focus on those sites. Councillor Wegener: I'm going to support the motion, but I'm very worried that it's going to derail the incredible positive intent and all the masterful things that are in this piece going up for consultation. And I'm also worried that this will pull the grass-free court situation into the limelight and derail, yeah, good conversations, good feedback. But just the same, it's already here. Whether it's in it or not, people are going to be talking about it. So I can expose that for a little bit.
01:05:00 Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Wegener. Councillor Wilkie or Finzel? Councillor Wilkie: Look, Councillor Wegener is right, this has turned this talk about the housing strategy into a targeted approach. It's signalling to Blue Care what we think our approach shall be on grass-free court. And it raises the unintended expectation and question about is there going to be a similar obstacle to public housing? That may be involved land which has remnant vegetation on. There are protections under the Act and the Planning Scheme, but there are also rights for property owners to clear remnant vegetation, unfortunately.
01:06:00 So I'm going to support it. But the inordinate amount of time that we've spent on it here is sort of a bit of a testament to the amount of thought that we've had. I'm going to support it. If we support this, it's a statement of this Council about how we propose to approach our partnership, approach any application with Blue Care that we may receive into the future. But I'd like to echo Councillor Wegener's view that there's a lot of great work in the housing strategy and hopefully there'll be more debate around the content of the strategy more broadly. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Wilkie, Councillor Finzel's question.
01:07:00 Councillor Finzel: Yes, thank you. Look, this is challenging. I'm challenged here because, you know, like what Councillor Thomas said and Councillor Frank reiterated, you know, to me this has sideswiped what the expectation that we were going to go into a positive look at, you know, housing strategies and engaging the community on this. Some way, I personally feel like we haven't... Remained on our focus today. I think there was other mechanisms and ways that we could address this without putting it in this, make an amendment on this today. Yeah, I'm not sure that this is something I support. You know, when I go to ask questions, I think that they should be open-ended questions, that we let community make their own decisions.
01:08:00 Without guidance from us, I'm satisfied that on page 27 of 46 of the A6.4.4, work with the owners of sites approved for aged care to ensure optimum outcomes are delivered in a timely manner fits the requirement of this community engagement and what's been putting out. I think it's up to the community to have an open-ended question or a document where they can choose what they want to do. I'm not going to support this. I don't think that this is the time and the place to put this out there, especially if I was blue care or someone that's partnering with council already. You know, is this the way that we want this debated out here now? You know, I don't know if staff have spoken to them or what's happening. I just feel that it's limiting. I feel that we need a broader, wider, more open and transparent dialogue with our community without drilling down to specifics.
01:09:00 I feel that what the staff put here in the report was adequate for the community to use their own intent, their own thought process and how they want to approach this consultation and what they would like to say. So I'm not supporting this today in its current wording. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. I do echo what Councillor Finzel said there and Councillor Wegener and Wilkie, that we have been a little bit sidetracked today. Today is a great day and there is a huge amount of work and a great amount of work in this document. I'll support this on the basis that this is purely a draft. I think that's what we have to keep remembering. This is a draft going out to our community. I'll be interested to hear the feedback from the community and hear what they specifically have to say. Councillor Finzel, you will be heartened to know that only myself and Councillor Wegener and Wilkie have spoken to the original motion, so there is five other councillors who
01:10:00 I hope really do speak to the full body of the work, which is our draft housing strategy this afternoon. We still have some time. So I will be supporting this, but as I said, it's a draft and I'll be interested to hear what our community have to say. Thank you. I will close. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: And I totally accept the argument that we've had a long debate and this wasn't intended. And I certainly also reiterate that I hope this doesn't become a tangent where people go down. It's not the intent. The intent is to be really clear about what we want staff to do in this arena. The intent is to say, yes, we want to partner with sites that don't have a significant constraint. And I will respond to Councillor Jurisevic. The community has had their chance. They've had their say and it's true. On one of these sites, the community last had a chance to say in 2006, and every five years, it senses about 30% of our population changes over, so you can do a map to how many
01:11:00 of the locals that have input. So I do want us to be very specific about where staff have left their time. And yes, it was last minute, I saw it on my second reading of the strategy, I picked it up. And because it's something that I feel very strongly about, I feel obliged that it should state what I think is the right approach. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. I will put amendment number three to a vote. All in favour? That is, Councillors Wegener, Stockwell, Logby, Lawrence. Is that this one here, sorry? This one, amendment three. Oh, we just talked about it. Against? Councillor Bruce Fitch and Councillor Finzel. And I'm just, before I move my name in. Yes, thank you. I'm just going to hand over to the Chair. Sure. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Madam Mayor. So do we have, someone else would like to speak to the original motion or move an amendment?
01:12:00 Councillor Lorentson: I'd like to move an amendment. Amendment E. I'm sorry, I'll just pop it up. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Councillor Wegener: I'm sorry. Councillor Lorentson: Be that council explore the feasibility of establishing a community land trust in Anissa Shire as a way of delivering affordable housing solutions and then report back to council with recommendations. I'm going to keep this quite brief and I'll start off with what I'm intending. Conversation here today is about putting everything on the table. Let's leave no stone unturned. So for that reason I've thrown this into the conversation because I think we actually need to consider and explore alternate ways of delivering housing to our community.
01:13:00 What was raised in conversation today around this table is that for a lot of people in our community there may never be an opportunity for them to purchase a home. CLTs or community land trusts is possibly the one real chance for our most vulnerable to own land. Not own land, sorry, own a house. I'm not an expert in community land trusts and that's why I've asked and worded my amendment that I request that council actually set up a community land trust. So that we can seek some information and come back to council with some information on community land trusts. I know that other councils down in Byron Bay and Port Phillip, the CEO informed me just a little while ago, which some days also have community land trusts and they're working. And overseas in the United States and UK they're actually addressing issues of homelessness
01:14:00 and domestic violence. So again in the spirit of let's leave no stone unturned, I hope that you'll support this amendment. If you want to ask me some questions about community land trusts I've got to print out here. But I may even ask if Scott could perhaps stand up and just give an overview of his understanding of community land trusts. He'll probably do a better job than I do. But I've been immersed. I've been interested in community land trusts for a little bit of time. And I just think it's an opportunity that at least we need to explore at the minimum. Speaker 3: Through the Mayor and thank you, Councillor Lorentson. But the community land trust is just another mechanism to be able to provide social and or affordable housing on council owned land. It would sit separate to the council.
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01:15:00 I think the question and the explore the feasibility and particularly before our council takes on the table is does our council, how heavily do we become involved within social and affordable housing? Exploring the feasibility by our strategic planning team gives us the ability to come back to council, have a fully informed position around that. But it does go to the spirit of what Councillor Lorentson said. Leave no stone unturned. This is a crisis and a crisis that needs to be addressed from all possible angles. So putting a lot of effort into it. This particular amendment forward. I think Councillor Lorentson is wanting to be able to explore what the opportunities might be with council land that may be available. And another mechanism in which affordable and social housing can be delivered. But it can also lead to a pathway to ownership as well too. So there's a number of elements to this. And if this amendment is successful by the majority, our team will go away.
01:16:00 And as part of what we're delivering with the feedback and consultation on the draft scheme, we'll provide some advice around CLTs and what they can deliver. Thank you, Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Jurisevic: Is there any mention of community land trusts anywhere in the housing, draft housing strategy? And if not, is adding E on its own sufficient to explain to the community what a housing land trust is? Speaker 1: No, there isn't any mention of community land trust in the strategy at the moment. As I understand it, the amendment is an action for staff by the CEO to explore the feasibility of the community land trust. Councillor Jurisevic: I'm going to go back to ABC and D then, because I can't see it on my screen anymore. Speaker 1: So simply, Councillor Pritchard.
01:17:00 No, the strategy doesn't talk about a community land trust as it currently stands. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Just to clarify, Mr CEO, by putting it as an E rather than an addition to A, it means that that particular action isn't one that's noted in the draft strategy that goes out to consultation. Is that correct? Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you. That's why I had to go back to ABC and D to see where it fit. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Is there anywhere else that we know of, any other councils that engage in community land trust? I guess that's my question to you, number one. Number two is, is there a reason why it wasn't in here, or what were your thoughts around that? Speaker 1: Scott, you might want to answer that. Speaker 3: Yeah, thank you. It was noted in the preamble from Councillor Lorentson that there are a number of councils, and Councillor Lorentson spoke to me about this particular amendment to be put before the meeting. I have had some experience with previous councils around that. Really, it's just another option for us to be able to look at that's close to home
01:18:00 for us, Byron Bay. There's a community housing company, Sun Days, that also utilise this particular model as well, too. So there are others out there that are using it, and just something for us to be able to look at and put forward as maybe potentially another way to help with social and affordable housing. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Just a question. Does community land trusts involve council delivering or providing community housing? Speaker 3: Through the chair council, Wilkie, it can. And that does then give us the situation where we, as this council, want to partner as opposed to deliver. But our component, our contribution, is the land element, as opposed to us actually building or owning any particular homes. So I think we need to be able to bring that paper back. I think we need to be able to bring that paper back. Because it does provide another option for us. Our contribution is the land.
01:19:00 Those that develop above. And generally, you would have a separate trustee or company that would sit over that, that would run that as a separate arm to the council. Councillor Wilkie: Is that a similar arrangement to what we're looking at doing under the scheme? That is, perhaps, contributing land and working in partnership with a provider to provide social housing? That is, perhaps, contributing land and working in partnership with a provider to provide Speaker 3: To the Chair Council, yes, it's just another way of doing it, but this is a specific model that's been utilised in other councils, and Councillor Lorentson has asked if council officers can explore that, and if that's the view of the council, we'll absolutely explore that and bring more information back to the table. Mayor Stewart: Kim, can I get to my second question? Just why wasn't that feature in this? Did you think about it, or was it just an addition, or did you think we're covering up with, you know, looking at the various lands we have available and looking at the housing providers?
01:20:00 Speaker 1: Yeah, thanks, Mayor. I guess from an officer's perspective and the work that we've done and the connections that we have and our understanding of the community housing providers sector, it was our proposition or our recommendation to council and the strategy that council doesn't become a deliverer of housing, so that we focus on partnering with registered housing providers who are established to do that, and that council didn't need to step into that space. There was a range of other roles council could have. That may not have been the most effective place for us to step in. From the work we had done, but there are a range of different models for delivering housing that, you know, we've looked at a number of them. You know, if council wishes us to explore alternative models, we're happy to do that.
01:21:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: The CEO mentioned it's another way to manage council land. Am I correct in understanding that perhaps it could also be a framework set up that if there was philanthropists wanting to donate land, we could do that? Speaker 3: Through the Mayor, and absolutely, Council Stockwell, that is another way that this can operate, and given we have a number of high net worths in this particular Shire, that some philanthropic contribution of this cause would be very much well looked. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. I'll support you, Mayor, because that was what I thought might be an interesting road to go down, to just have a look and see is there consent, council facilitate some more housing options by creating a framework within which others can actually provide meaningful input in regard to, you know, philanthropic donations of land, you know, bequeaths, etc. that then could be, you know, given to the community land trust as a title, and they manage that for social housing and community housing in perpetuity.
01:22:00 So I'm happy with that E. And supposed. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you, Council Stockwell. Councillor Wilkie: Under the current housing strategy, is there no capacity for Council to accommodate the donation of land for use as social community housing? Speaker 1: Well, there's nothing in the strategy that would preclude that happening. Councillor Wilkie: No. Councillor Jurisevic: I'll speak to the amendment. Look, I'm happy to support it as well. I think it's just a shame that mention of community land trust wasn't included in the housing strategy for people to understand that it's something that may be considered. But I'm happy for all of the options to be considered with regard to land options, particularly if there is philanthropic opportunities there for people that may want to donate land to community or social needs housing for the future.
01:23:00 Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. Look, I'm happy to support this as well. I just think, I'm just lamenting that it's these last minute ideas that pop up and we're only seeing them for the first time at a table. It really doesn't do the idea any justice. I don't think it's really good for group decision making that we only see these things. We don't have an opportunity to discuss them or interrogate them in any depth. But from what I understand at this very superficial level around the table, the question is, what kind of questioning are we going to be able to do in this broader meeting about a much bigger question? I'm open to the idea of exploring the feasibility of this idea. Councillor Wegener: I'm so happy this gives me the opportunity to put on my beret and say, comrades, I'm all in favour of exploring further, looking into Council providing opportunities for community.
01:24:00 Thank you. Councillor Finzel: Yeah, I'm happy to explore other opportunities. I think that's what we're all about. That's what we're here for today. So yeah, I think it's great if we get everything on the table and make sure that we leave no stone unturned. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: I'll support it too. As I said at the very beginning, everything's on the table. This is another string in our bow. So I think all things should be looked at. And I think it gives the community an opportunity to have their say as well. So I'm happy to support it. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: I'll speak to it. And first, apologies that I have left it to the last minute. I actually didn't know what it was called until some emails went to and fro last night on another matter. And some work that Brian Stockwell did in regards to finding potential land sites made me do some research. And then boom, the name came out, Community Land Trust.
01:25:00 I knew it was some type of land trust. I think it's better in than not in. And the amendment seeks information and feasibility for my own benefit as well as the benefit of council. I do want to point out that a community land trust is under community control. That's the main difference. It's going to be run by a not-for-profit. So council set up an entity, but it's actually run by a not-for-profit community organisation. So the community actually controls the vision, what it's going to look like. I also want to note, just reading this great article about community housing, which only provide rentals. I'm going to just read straight from here. The problem is that when people are no longer eligible for the rental housing, they have nothing else to move into. So what that refers to is that when a family member is offered a promotion or exceeds the
01:26:00 income threshold, normally they've got 12 months to go and find somewhere else to live. And the problem in that is that it doesn't incentivise people to actually go for career promotions or better themselves. And if they do, then the issue is, where do they go to next? So apologies for last minute, but it may be, if I didn't throw it in, it may have been a missed opportunity. So thank you for supporting the amendment. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, that's the last amendment. The amendment number four of the vote. All in favour, that it be announced. Thank you, Karen. That will be part of the original amendment number five. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So on the amendment, which is approved in the Shire Drive Housing Strategy with the changes noted below, and number two, that the wording in section 6.6.1 be amended to read, advocate the state government for improved sustainability measures for all housing to reduce energy
01:27:00 consumption and cost to households, which is the existing action, and to add to it, and to amend the planning regulations to enable council to set their own requirements in regard to the bill form requirements of a planning scheme. Councillor Jurisevic: I'll second that one. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So I do so. I have raised this numerous times before, so it's not you. This is an action in the draft strategy that's for advocacy. Currently, the state government has a position that says anything in the Australian Building Code can't be put in planning schemes, which is, in my opinion, absolute nonsense from a professional planning perspective. A community has to decide what it wants out of its built form. A community, the Australian Building Code, has to decide what it wants out of its built Why can't we require better designs? And the answer was we tried to and the State Government said no because they have this archaic concept of the Australian Building Code being all that is needed.
01:28:00 It's not a concept I support and I think if we're going to advocate we need to advocate for the systems change as well as the outcomes we're trying to get to. Councillor Jurisevic: I'll happily support this for the same reasons that Councillor Stockwell alluded to and the fact that one of the things that the Building Code doesn't do is it doesn't require solar orientation of homes. Affordable housing is not only about the cost of housing at its purchase, it's about the cost of housing for its life. And if you don't do things to reduce energy consumption and cost to households, it's a false economy at the beginning. That you're buying cheap and that because it just goes on and on and on for the life of your house that you're paying more. So if we don't consider these things up front and the State Government needs to be dragged kicking and screaming to the table to consider it instead of being in the Building Codes,
01:29:00 then I think we have a rile to play here to advocate to the State Government that they need to change their attitude. Mayor Stewart: What is the draft housing strategy to talk about housing affordability, social housing or accommodation? Is this the right place for this amendment in your opinion? Speaker 3: Mayor, I might just say it would be best if staff did not enter the debate. The opinion of the plans that we provided. I would just say that this is starting to bring stuff into the debate. Councillor Wilkie: I have a question. Do Councils have the capacity, to set their own requirements in regard to built form in a planning scheme? Speaker 2: Elements of built form such as height and setbacks and site cover, GFA.
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01:30:00 Councillor Wilkie: Then again, I have a question for Councillor Stockwell. If Councils can already set their own requirements in regard to built form of a planning scheme, what is the purpose of this amendment? And can more detail be provided so we all understand what the thrust of it is? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Certainly. I thought it was not necessarily a need for completing, but it's in regard to reducing energy consumption and cost to households. It's about the sustainability measures. If you recall, Councillor, we had a whole range of sustainability requirements in the first draft of the planning scheme, including things about passive solar design, about active requiring solar panels on the roof. It's about climate action. And it's in that context. It's about increasing that. Councillor Wilkie: So to set their own sustainability requirements in regard to the built form. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'm happy to add that in, if the seconder is in the committee.
01:31:00 Mayor Stewart: Well, we have the amendment for us. If we change it too much, we'll be coming into dangerous territory, what we did last time. So do we want to vote on this one? Councillor Wilkie: Would the seconder be happy if we put the word sustainability in front of own requirement, own sustainability requirements or? I think the word sustainability already existed here. Councillor Jurisevic: I have no objection to adding the adding of the word sustainability before requirements. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: And the standing order is actually required. It has to be a general decision Councillor Jurisevic: that the majority of people agree with. Councillor Finzel: Yes, anyone not happy with that? There's something I'd like to add if we're changing things. Can I just make a comment then? Well, okay. Well, I just wanted to get in before we start changing because I do support the overall amendment because I do think that the building code has a big effect on applications
01:32:00 that are coming before us. But what I'd like to look at is that it's about all abilities access because I think that's covered under the building code as well. And that does, does align with our, you know, accessibility of housing as part of... Mayor Stewart: Would you like that to form part of this motion? Councillor Finzel: Well, I think so because I think if we're looking at advocating to the state, we want to do the broader... Councillor Jurisevic: Point of order, Madam Chair. I believe that a minor change here of adding a word sustainability is in keeping, but anything further the council would like to do is her own option to create a further amendment to anything here or any other provision within the... Mayor Stewart: Okay, sure. Yes, thank you. So, the building, but if you'd like to add that as well, that would certainly be an important table. Councillor Jugg and Bryan, the two who have spoken to this amendment number five, would anyone else like to speak to it? Councillor Lorentson: I'll speak to it. And what I'm going to say is that it's a human right to live in a house,
01:33:00 but the Human Rights Act actually says... It goes a little bit further. It says that it's not just about having a house, but about adequate standards of living. And I think this amendment speaks to that really clearly, that we should be shifting towards more energy, better quality homes, and homes for everyone. So, I'm happy to support this. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, I'm happy to support it. It's entirely consistent with what the staff recommendation was in the first place. Councillor Finzel: Do you want to go ahead? Oh, well, I'm just waiting for a vote on this and then forward to the next one. Do you want to make a comment? Councillor Wegener: I'll just quickly speak to it and then we'll vote on it and go to the next one. Councillor Finzel: Yeah, sure, yeah. Councillor Wegener: I think this is largely an overlap of 6.6.
01:34:00 Housing is well-designed in as to safety, security, and well-being of residents. This takes it perhaps a step further. I'll support this, but I think that we're straying from what we actually were here to do today in the past. This is something that we've been wanting to do for a very long time, and maybe every opportunity we get, we put this language into anything that comes before us as being consistent. So, I'll support it. But I'm hoping that, again, this doesn't dilute what we're trying to achieve here because this is the big picture. Of course, we have the architects coming to us and bringing to us, we want to have better outcomes for development and the design strategies and so forth. And here we are putting a design strategy and things that we really want into this. But I'd also support it if you'd like a public consultation. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Kinsley,
01:35:00 did you want to speak to this? No. Councillor Finzel: No, okay. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Silver's right of way. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: We'll close it. Firstly, I think Councillor Jurisevic hit the nail on the head. And why I don't necessarily see this going off track as Councillor Wegener thinks. We're dealing with a strategy about making housing more affordable for people. There is clear evidence, in fact, the current debate on the Australian Code has done cost-benefit analysis on it, raising the star rating of houses in New South Wales and Victorian, I think, Perth. And over a 10-year period, in doing what we're asking here, actually saves hundreds of thousands of dollars. So the problem we have at the moment is if we don't address the systemic issues, stopping councils trying to get to the best outcomes in this strategy, then we're always going to be seen to be the acceptor of state government decree. And sometimes, as we've been hearing in the press, sometimes their position is affected by lobbyists.
01:36:00 And there are a particular set of lobbyists who don't like planning schemes having a say on sustainability requirements. And that's why it's so important. It's about addressing a systemic constraint on achievable, affordable living and housing in our shire. Mayor Stewart: Can I just stop for a minute to invite everyone in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you, Kat. Councillor Finzel, there is an amendment right there with your name on it. Would you like to move that? And tell me where you want to write that? Councillor Finzel: Sure. So, advocate the state government for improved sustainability measures for all housing to provide all abilities access and to reduce energy consumption. Mayor Stewart: Do we need a question? Do we need the energy consumption?
01:37:00 That's not the main paragraph of that. Sustainability. Councillor Finzel: I think it's amending that paragraph. It was in the energy consumption. It was already in there. I didn't change it. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: And then they doubt sustainability in there too. Oh, yes. Sorry. Councillor Finzel: Oh. Sorry. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I understand. You're just amending the amendment. Councillor Lorentson: Oh. Councillor Jurisevic: Just amending the words into the amendment. Councillor Lorentson: Oh, no. Sustainability is in there. Councillor Jurisevic: Sorry. Councillor Finzel: Do we need to put in relation to the building code or not? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Can I ask you a question? Councillor Finzel: Oh, yes, please. Sorry. I didn't stand up. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: This one deals with very similar territory with the one that I moved in 6.61. The one that actually builds was in that area. The one that has the construction code and building codes is 6.7.1. And I wonder whether an amendment that adds another dot point there is or isn't.
01:38:00 It talks about more financially and environmentally sustainable housing such as passive design, less reliance on power, water capture, probably fits in there as well. Councillor Finzel: Well, can I just ... Well, just to clarify, because I don't know if all abilities access for the life and infrastructure of that. It will be affordable because it will ... That build for hand rails and wheelchair access and all that goes into the initial build. So over the cost of the life, there is money saved there, and it's not an add-on further down the track. I guess the question through the chair and the staff is, do we need to actually put an actual ... Include the section of the building code that addresses that? Speaker 1: I don't think we need to be that specific. The primary purpose of this action is advocacy. So I don't think we need to be ... We couldn't be here at the table at the moment anyway.
01:39:00 We'd probably have to do a bit of research on that. But I don't think it's necessary, because this is essentially about advocacy. Okay. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Yes. That helps a lot. Thank you. Councillor Finzel: Just a question back then to Councillor Stockwell, do you think that covers the intent of it? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I think your amendment is, I think staff can interpret it. It sort of adds another dimension of sustainability outside of what was there originally, but I don't think it's that confusing. I'm quite happy to support it. Mayor Stewart: Kim, you're happy with that as it stands? Yeah. Okay, all right. That's one second for the Councillor Finzel. Councillor Stockwell, thank you. Karen Johnson. Councillor Finzel: I think we've pretty well covered it all. It's just making sure that while we're here at the table today, we leave no stone unturned. I think it's great to be in a position where we can advocate back to state government.
01:40:00 I'm sure our staff and people already do this, but just to secure that in the wording today, I think it's really beneficial to include it. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Finzel. We're going to stop to speak for amendment number six. Councillor Wegener: I just wish we could take this amendment and the previous one and retrospectively go back in time, put them into our regulations, and then deliver them to Stockwell so that the development that's going in over there reflects these aspirations. Anyone else? Mayor Stewart: Cancel all of them, Steve? No. Okay. We'll put it to you. We'll put it to close now, Councillor Finzel. Councillor Finzel: No. Mayor Stewart: All right. For amendment number six, do I all in favour? That is unanimous. Thank you. So that now forms part of the standard motion, which Councillor Wilkie and myself have spoken to, which seems a long time ago.
01:41:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Are you going to say me? Yeah. Mayor Stewart: So would anyone like to speak to the original now motion of amendment number six? Councillor Jurisevic: I'll speak, Madam Chair. I'd like to acknowledge the work that the staff have put in. I'd like to acknowledge the work that the staff have put in to get us to this point, of having a draft housing strategy to put out for community consultation. I eagerly await the input of our community, and I hope that people actually take the time to read the document and see what its intent is, what the desired future direction for housing and housing needs within our community are, that this document leads us to. I think the measures that have been documented are many, various, and opportunistic with the land uses that we have, constrained and challenged that we are, but it looks at where we may be able to meet the needs that are being, you know, that are being met at the moment, and to advocate to the State for the elements that we think may need further further consideration.
01:42:00 Some of those have been brought up in the amendments, like sustainability measures. Now, it's an important part to remember, again, with regard to housing affordability, it's not just about the cost of the house. It's about the ongoing elements there. It's about, you know, making sure that people have access and options with regard to access and all the rest of it that the amendments have been amended to. But the work and the time and the housing reference. This group in particular is something that I support, because we've been down this road before. We've been able to deliver great solutions when we work in collaboration and cooperation with other entities. So I hope that the community embrace the housing draft strategy, and we get a lot of positive feedback.
01:43:00 Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Fletcher. Thank you. Councillor Wegener: Well, it seems. We're well, once again, well ahead of the times and ahead of the curve when it comes to big social issues, big planning, environmental issues, in this case, social housing issues, because you're ahead of this and all of a sudden we've got a change of government and not that I follow federal politics, but it appears as though our current government that has come in will be very supportive of social housing. So being ahead of the curve may really help us get this funding and get these wheels to hit the ground. Also, at first I was challenged because there's not a lot of price tags and costs involved, but in retrospect, I feel these are these are very aspirational goals and that it's better to keep any sort of costs out of the arguments, because this is a visionary statement where we want to go and, and it's best for our community, for Noosa in the very, very long term, and you don't want to put a price tag and confuse, again, the arguments.
01:44:00 It's about thinking about price of things rather than thinking of a vision of where we need to go, because when I came to Noosa, again, and like Brian will say, you know, we we stayed in a very cheap place, you know, we came in and we put down roots and it's just the young people that we hope to come here, put down roots in Noosa and become leaders like we are here today. And I think it's very important to open those doors for them. So this is this is really terrific, and it's a step towards that direction. So absolutely support it. Thank you very much. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Now, I'm going to start really general about Australian values and housing, and you'll have to be a little bit generous.
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01:45:00 Now I'm going to go down to some of the specifics. Now, I mentioned before that the majority of people who are likely to come to Noosa are going to engage, you're going to say it's not council business. State, federal government matter. The world today says it's everyone's business. And I'm going to get people to start thinking about what makes Noosa different by nature. So when we talk about the population, it's about our aspiration to be a sustainable community. And you can't be a sustainable community if a large proportion of your population is in housing insecurity. We know Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The most basic physiological need is shelter. We're going to go further than that. I mentioned federal government. We can think about some of the really inspirational quotes from prime ministers. Bob Hawke, 83, any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum.
01:46:00 Underlying that is Australian culture. We talk about, you know, we're talking about, you know, we're talking about, you know, we're And just to be party non-political, John Howard during the gun debate, he said we have done something that will send a signal to people all around this country that ours is not a gun culture, ours is a culture of peaceful cooperation. And then recently, the one that will stick with me, our new Prime Minister standing up in his acceptance speech and said words to the effect, who would have thought a housing commission kid with a single mum would become the Prime Minister. It's because he had a public house to bring him up and of course he had an education that was free that allowed him to get to the highest office in this country.
01:47:00 Housing is the most fundamental thing. To improve the life performance of all our young people. So in that saying of what happened in the 60s and 70s is about Australians as an egalitarian society and that's what we have to think about in this strategy. We have to think about some big picture issues that have been pushed aside during the Thatcherism era. We need to think about what are we offering to those people who are not yet in the housing market. We're also going to get people who are going to look at this and saying about their negative experiences with public housing in the past. So where I grew up, I was a housing commission kid with a single mum and I had a look on Google Maps and that housing commission estate was a whole suburb measuring about a kilometre by a kilometre. We're not proposing that. We're proposing small community housing initiatives that integrate people from various walks of life together to achieve a cohesive community.
01:48:00 We get other people that come from the home country and their thoughts go immediately to the Liverpool riots and the big high riots. It's not about cramming all people of one social demographic into a small area. It's about spreading, it's about achieving. So we might have council workers with hospitality workers with single women over 50 with young people. And with others who find it difficult or impossible to enter the housing market in the private estate. And why should we get involved? We should get involved because the housing market is imperfect. And the level of imperfection over the last two years is the largest in Queensland's history. We've never experienced this sort of evolve. So to me, it is about a very modern approach to housing. And to me, it's really important that we go down this track.
01:49:00 And now to the specifics. As mentioned, it's really good for me to sit here and look at the progression of these issues. In some ways, I like, I'm a bit of a night man, I like to go out there and do it. But the director has had the process. We've done the housing needs assessment. We've created the data. We've now gone into strategy. We're consulting it. Actually, when we go out there, I think it's probably the day we go out to consultation. It will be three years to this date that I wrote a letter to the CEO saying, here's the top three pieces of council land we should be looking at for social housing. That was July 10th. Remember? 2019. And since then, we look at the issues that arose. So we look at Actions 6.5.5 about secondary dwelling definitions. This is one argument we have with the state. And one that, you know, we've been fortunate that I gave a briefing to our local member, Sandy Welton, and she's gone into the state and prosecuted and tenderised this grant and
01:50:00 came up with a sort of half solution from their perspective. But I think we should do it head on. That we do see that secondary dwellings, as we initially envisioned in the first draft of the planning scheme, is a way to provide low cost housing. And that if we do it in any other way that will allow subdivision, it means it won't be low cost. It means we'll have two mansions sitting side by side. And we look at this, Actions 6.5.1 too. Use council land in partnership with housing cooperatives. And I said, I've done a bit of work on this. After a year, nearly, of waiting, I actually went down and did my own capability suitability report on those three top blocks. And I engaged Coastal Bay, one of the housing, and they, you know, back in July 2020, said we'd really be keen to work in partnership. And that's been developing since then. And there's another one there, Couillard Street, one of the other three. Now this is a large lot of council land that's constrained. And we tried once again in the planning scheme to put it to potential housing uses.
01:51:00 And because it's outside the urban footprint, they didn't allow us. So that is an area that we need to look at. There are going to be some justifications for looking at minor tweaks to the urban footprint to allow the sort of social and community housing that meets our demographic needs. 6.5.1, we were saying we're going to move with faith-based and community organisations. And we looked at, you know, the first example of that is just around the corner with U-Turn providing tiny houses as a transitional move out of emergency into real life. And it's something that, you know, we can look at a range of different churches and other communities and land that could be doing it. So it's a really good one. And, you know, another one, simple things like during the peak of COVID, we had the problem of backpackers being absent, the need for rooming accommodation. And we just have to realise that there's a whole lot of different living arrangements out there. And the shared housing model and the rooming accommodation, they're all things where we meet the needs of particular demographics.
01:52:00 And that's what the housing strategy does. It does it by a range of partnerships. And what hasn't received much focus is there's some really key change to the planning scheme that we're proposing. And, you know, staff have been working with the state government to try and make sure those planning scheme amendments fit with where the state government is currently thinking. And certainly, I take every opportunity to get into their minds that we're looking at and we do need to be innovative. And I think there are some innovative solutions in our planning scheme changes. I do think it is not wielding a big stick. It's making more incentive and more inducement for developers, and particularly on my side, out of the Noosa Business Centre, to actually provide social housing as part of the mix. So I'm really looking forward to the consultation. I'm going to repeat. We really need to ask people who are... really well set in their house and desire, you know, nothing's changed in their neighbourhood
01:53:00 to think about if you were once again 18, 35, like Councillor Tom. If I was that young 21-year-old still living in a Bondwood caravan with no power and water on McKinnon Drive, what would I like to see this council do? And I think that's the way to approach it. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Finzel and Councillor Alston are the two who have not yet spoken. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Okay. Our job as a local government is to fight for public housing. Like I said before, it's a human right to live in a house. Our role as local government is to partner with the right registered housing providers, people that are experts in the build and management of affordable housing. Our job is to incentivise private developers to deliver accessible and social housing.
01:54:00 And also to explore all housing models such as community land trusts. Our challenge as decision makers is to ensure that in our rush to provide for housing that we don't forget to build communities and that we protect neighbourhood character and the values that make Noosa different. I look forward to the feedback and encourage everyone in the community to participate during our consultation period. Let us know if we've done too little or too much. Whether we're doing enough to create an environment for businesses to succeed. And that includes our tourism and hospitality businesses that are in need of staff. And whether we're doing enough for our most vulnerable, our disabled and our workers to ensure that changes are going to occur in the appropriate places. Small changes in residential zones.
01:55:00 Large and more substantial changes in business activity zones such as Noosa Junction, Tewantin Business District and Noosa Civic. And if we haven't done enough, tell us. Tell us what needs to be done. Because we are all listening. Speaker 2: Thank you. Councillor Finzel: Thank you everyone and a big thank you to all the staff who have done such a magnificent job and over the last however many years. We really appreciate and value your contribution and everyone else who's had something along the way to be involved. The Noosa draft Shire Council housing strategy to me is really exciting because it is a strong commitment to action by the councillors, CEO and staff. Ensuring we play our role with all tiers of government in seeking the support and feedback of our community. In reaching its objectives. In addressing the housing crisis and ensuring that we live a flourishing and thriving future
01:56:00 where we all benefit. Adequate housing was raised as part of the standard of living in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The right to adequate housing should be seen as the right to live somewhere in security, peace and dignity. And I think we've all covered that today where our aspiration, our vision and our goal is to work together collectively to bring all those to fruition in our community. Adequate housing, as we discussed today, must provide more than four walls and a roof. These elements are just as important and fundamental as they are. We need to make sure that we have the basic supply of availability to include the security of tenure, availability of services, affordability, habitability, accessibility, location and cultural
01:57:00 adequacy. I think it's really exciting that this council and our community has come together today to reach up really high with the future vision and attempt to tick those boxes and the staff has come along for the journey. And we're all enthusiastic that we're all here to help. We can leave a world where we've done our best to close the gap. The World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report in 2021 identified the COVID-19 pandemic has raised new barriers, including building inclusivity and prosperous economic economies and societies. We have been fundamentally changed by COVID and the pre-existing gender gaps have amplified in the crisis. And when we talk about housing, you know, we want to ensure that women and children are kept safe.
01:58:00 I'm not excluding any gender in this conversation, but it is up there. It is in the top issues that we've got to face moving forward in our community. And how do we do that? And it's so wonderful to be involved in an organisation where we can get all our thinking caps on. We can all come together. We can all debate. And we can all work really hard to provide a quality of life where we all prosper. People experiencing homelessness face violations of a wide range of human rights. The person who finds themselves in a position where there is no access to adequate housing may be facing violations of the right to education, the right to liberty and security, and the right to social security, the right to freedom from discrimination, the right to vote, and many more. I'm really excited and passionate to be part of a group of individuals and a community
01:59:00 that wants to see that our rights and our quality of living is really progressed to a point where we can say that we all live to the best of our ability and that we are happy in providing for everyone, including our most vulnerable. On 16th of July 2020, I raised a proposed motion at a special meeting which was unanimously supported, as the Mayor alluded to. It was to monitor over the next two years the effectiveness of the provisions of the Noosa Plan 2020, enabling the delivery of housing choice and affordability to meet the diverse needs in the community. Specifically for housing those in our community on low incomes, with special needs, or in identified groups in need of community and affordable housing. And today here, item number G was to provide a report back to Council on monitoring program
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02:00:00 including any associated recommended amendments to the Noosa Plan to strengthen the provision towards these outcomes. And here we are today. We're all on that journey. We're all getting together and celebrating those outcomes and including our community for feedback along the way. It is a statement to the community of a committed Council to being part of the housing solution. In so doing, I believe this vision to create an exclusive Noosa community, inclusive Noosa community where everyone has access to safe, secure housing that they can afford regardless of age, mobility, household structure. Thereby promoting principles of UNESCO, Man and the Biosphere to ensure we collectively and collaboratively lead good lives in a framework that is resilient and help promote thriving communities for a bright and sustainable future for generations to come.
02:01:00 And of course, we have to have a quote because we always need a quote. I'm surprised the mayor didn't bring one. I might have missed it. It's coming. And as I said back in July, when I first raised the amendments, I said we need to have a quote. I quoted Gandhi. The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Binsell, I looked at that quote this morning and I thought of you and I thought I'm not going to use it. But I'm actually going to finish on another one. Councillor Stockwell talked about some of our Prime Ministers further across the shores and talked about a former American President, Harry Truman, who makes the point, a society will be judged by how it treats its weakest members. This strategy, this document is something that we should all be very proud of. We are firmly putting our money where our values lie and we're not just talking the talk but we're walking the walk. Now we need your help, our community.
02:02:00 We need your involvement, your feedback and your input. I'd encourage you all to take up the baton and join us in the challenges ahead. Together, we can make the changes necessary for the good of all. Thank you. I'll put the resolution to a vote. All in favour? Unanimous. Thank you, Kat. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Kim.