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00:00:00 Mayor Stewart: Today's special meeting is to consider the Noosa Housing Strategy finalisation after community consultation. We have Principal Strategic Planner Rowena Skinner and Director of Environment and Sustainability Development Kim Rawlings here for this report. And I will now hand over to Rowena and Kim. Thank you ladies. Speaker 1: Councillor, this report seeks your endorsement of a housing strategy for Noosa Shire. The housing strategy includes objectives that support the vision of an inclusive Noosa community where everybody has access to safe, secure housing they can afford. The strategy was released to the community as a draft for feedback during July and August. Detailed analysis of that feedback is included in this report and some amendments to the strategy have been made accordingly. On balance, most of the community members were engaged, who engaged in the consultation process were supportive of initiatives that would broaden housing choice and offer secure, affordable housing for a wide cross-section of residents, especially workers and vulnerable people.
00:01:00 They could appreciate that while housing is not the responsibility of local government, there are roles for Council in being part of the solutions. There were concerns that the provision of additional housing should not be at the expense of other values held dear, such as protection of open space and conservation land, our low-scale, low-rise built form character, nor should it lead to congestion and overpopulation. There was also a strong community sentiment that the existing housing stock should be used to house residents rather than visitors. This report acknowledges the contribution of the Housing Stakeholder Reference Group, of the not-for-profit and commercial sectors in providing a wide range of housing for people, people with lower incomes in special needs, as well as wraparound services. And it acknowledges the other levels of government which are also challenged by the extent of the housing crisis
00:02:00 and who are investing in Noosa Shire. Adoption of the housing strategy should be seen as the first step in an ongoing commitment to the vision and partnership with all relevant parties. Mayor Stewart: The Noosa Shire Housing Strategy includes objectives that support the vision of an inclusive Noosa community, where everybody has access to safe, secure housing they can afford. A basic and fundamental human right. The strategy we have before us has been the culmination of much hard work by our staff, with ongoing, unanimous support from everybody around this table. We note the history of how we got here in the back of the agenda. From the mayoral minute in December 2020, putting affordable housing firmly on our agenda,
00:03:00 to the housing needs assessment, the draft housing strategy, and now the Noosa Shire housing strategy that comes before us today. Community involvement. This strategy has not been siloed. Indeed, the community has had the opportunity to be actively involved, and so they should. This is their community, their people, and it's their voice. The housing strategy provides for all of Noosa, and is very much a community-focused and minded document. There were many call-outs and media asking the community to be involved during our consultation period. Media releases, features in local newspapers, a specific electronic mail-out to all sporting and community groups, a direct electronic mail-out to businesses, direct email to professional consultants within the planning, building, design, engineering industry, extensive social media posts, posters in council buildings, local radio, and printed newspaper editorials. A call-out via the mayoral, and also a call-out via the mayoral video. At all times, the community, residents, businesses, and stakeholders were called on to be involved.
00:04:00 And so they were. Noosa Council hosted four pop-up engagement sessions with the community, two housing stakeholder reference group meetings, a planning and development industry workshop, meeting with resident ratepayer community members, and a direct briefing to the Noosa Labor Short-Term. Add to this, engagement consultants designed an online survey through council's engagement platform, of which we received 670 submissions. Written submissions were also encouraged, and we received 82 of these. All of the data captured was incredibly important, as it outlined the wishes, thoughts, concerns, and ideas that came directly from our community. Responses and ideas varied, but what was absolutely crystal clear was that a clear majority of respondents were supportive, of affordable and social housing in Noosa. A whopping 84.6% of survey respondents showed support for affordable and social housing in Noosa Shire, with only 15.4% showing no support.
00:05:00 Furthermore, 72.5% of respondents surveyed indicated support for council involvement in providing social and affordable housing. As I said, a number of issues were raised, and responses provided. Terminology. Feedback that came in suggested that there was some confusion about the different forms of housing, and who may or may not occupy them. For this reason, the housing strategy now seeks to clarify terminology around housing types, support the establishment of a doctor-worker campaign, as worker accommodation is heavily supported, and partner with the Housing Stakeholder Reference Group in embarking on an ongoing informative communication and awareness strategy, including real-life tenant stories. Population growth and capacity. We have an average household that consists of 2.4 persons, and the 2021 data showed that out of 21,847 households, two-thirds were one- or two-person households. The population work in the 90s was not based on such low occupancy rates.
00:06:00 We understand, however, that population and growth must be monitored very closely, and mindful that infrastructure resources and road network carrying capacity will all be strained as numbers increase. That is why this housing strategy seeks to prioritise actions that utilise existing stock more efficiently and effectively, including the encouragement of more self-contained granny flats and units into the permanent rental market, and any new developments to include a greater number of smaller dwellings. Specific sites and areas. The draft housing strategy referred to a few potential sites that could potentially be re-zoned for affordable housing. Of these sites, one in particular, Leslie Drive, Noosa Springs, received much feedback. This land has considerable history, and currently zoned environment management and conservation. Back in 2018, the then Council sought to have part of the land included in the community facility zone for the purpose of aged care. However, the State did not agree.
00:07:00 It was clear from the feedback we received that the community wanted this land not to be developed for housing, and as such, this site has been removed from the housing strategy. Open spaces are very important to maintain. Centres. On balance, there was support for the redevelopment of Council-owned central car parks to include housing above car parks, particularly in Noosa Junction. There were also calls for increased attached housing in Noosa Business Centre, including social and affordable housing. The housing strategy calls for planning scheme amendments which will allow further small dwellings and housing choice within larger centres, and reinforces intent for Council to partner with other stakeholders in development at Council-owned car parks in Tewantin and Noosa Junction. The recent acquisition by the State Government in Tewantin is a welcome one, and one which our Council staff have worked incredibly hard to achieve alongside State Government officers. Secondary dwellings. After advocacy from our Council and other Councils, the State have now made planning changes in this regard
00:08:00 to allow secondary dwellings to be rented out to persons outside their household. Our housing strategy supports the State in this regard and will work with State to provide clear information to homeowners and property managers. Short-term accommodation was cited as a real concern by many as a reason for lack of long-term accommodation. Specifically, there was concern about the quantum of short-term accommodation around the Shire. Under the 2020 Town Plan, Council made short-term accommodation an inconsistent use in the low-density residential zone. Indeed, most recent STAs which have come before Council have been unanimously supported by all Councillors in refusal of them. We have also introduced a local law to manage the operation of short-term accommodation and home-home hosted accommodation, and being the first Council in Queensland, or has been following us this year, in introducing a rating system that increases the payable rates on transitory or short-term accommodation. Inclusionary zoning. The housing strategy recommends planning scheme amendments
00:09:00 that increase proportion of small and more accessible dwellings, affordable and social housing through multiple housing developments. Using incentives to make them economically viable. This was supported by the community, who stated that the development of social or affordable housing occur across the region and not in one specific area. The housing strategy makes it clear that the housing crisis across Queensland and Australia is not limited or solvable by one level of government. Indeed, for any success to be achieved, to have any real and meaningful outcomes, all levels of government must work together. We all can and do have a role to play. The Noosa Shire housing strategy is our most aggressive and progressive step in playing our part by delivering, facilitating, partnering and advocating for real and tangible outcomes for our community to ensure that everybody, man, woman and child, has access to safe, secure housing they can afford. To finish, I'd like to acknowledge the incredible work that Kim Rawlings and Rowena and Glen and all the team
00:10:00 have done on getting us to this point. The State have acknowledged that Noosa Council is very much leading the way in this space, and it is because of all of the hard work of all of you. Your dedication, your knowledge and commitment to the cause. I'd also like to thank our CEO, Scott Waters, for his continuous support in this area and to all councillors around this table who are united in the cause of addressing our housing crisis and willing to take action. Not just talking the talk, but walking the walk. As Mahatma Gandhi said, the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members. This strategy goes a long way in helping our most vulnerable members. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you, Madam Mayor. Speaker 1: Hello all after our interesting discussion today. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Where are you going, Roy? I have no idea where that's coming from. Councillor Finzel: I looked up a couple of class language definitions. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I think they're reading out the email.
00:11:00 Speaker 1: That's very good. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So it's a time to celebrate and be happy because what we're doing today is we're looking at what the community told us and we're saying we had some ideas about the strategic direction ahead to address the most pressing issue in our Shire this year, last year and probably for the coming decade. And what I'm going to do is step through some of that feedback and look at the response in the strategy. And so the obvious big one, which was mentioned by Rowena, our matriarch of planning, and I think it's really good to start there, matriarch of strategic planning, Rowena Skinner, is the author of this strategy. She was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed graduate planner that helped write that 1997 strategic plan that people talk about setting the population cap.
00:12:00 And that's where I'm going to start. Because one of the big concerns that came out of my lot, the baby boomers who've been here a while, was there was concern that Noosa is already at capacity and building more houses at the loss of green space or low density amenity would be unacceptable. They also said there was a notable concern that any increase in residential densities or expansion of residential development to new areas will lead to a level of population that has not been planned for and is therefore beyond the planned carrying capacity for the Shire. Given how carefully Noosa Shire has controlled population growth over the last 25 years, this is a reasonable concern. Councillor Wegener: Okay. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: And so what, Madam Skinner? Um, identified is in terms of resident people, Noosa Shire has an average household size currently of 2.4 persons. This is even lower in the coastal part of the Shire.
00:13:00 The 2021 census indicated that out of 21,847 households, two-thirds, 66%, were one- or two-person households. The population capacity work of the mid-1990s was not based on assumptions of such low occupancy rates. So the bottom line is we ain't there yet. Now, I acknowledge that we are exceeding the carrying capacity of our local road network near peak tourism spots and schools. I acknowledge that probably the Lower Noosa River is being used beyond its carrying capacity. But in terms of resident population, we are not approaching the cap that was set in 1997. So what is this cap? And if you can bring up the strategy in section 6.2.6, please.
00:14:00 Now, that's the cap. In fact, I'm going to make it the Noosa Planning Promise. As you know, I've been involved in Scouts for a long time. And when we go through big events like this, we get youth members and adults to restate their promise. You know, I promise to do my best to do my duty. And I'm sure the Chair will be happy if you want to be upstanding and join me, both councillors and planners, if you'd like to upstand and do the Noosa Planning Promise. And it says, I promise to do my best and do my duty to Noosa by ensuring growth in housing and population does not adversely impact on the character, lifestyle, and environment enjoyed by residents. I promise that growth is consistent with the capacity to cater for traffic and car parking, water and sewage, and other infrastructure. I promise growth is not at the expense of sustainable care of the environment and management of waste. And I promise that growth is sympathetic to the heritage
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00:15:00 and character of local communities, and that locality-specific approaches are going to be necessary. That is at the heart of that 1997 Strategic Plan. By doing that, we do set a limit on population. Every time we do planning, we set a limit. But they're what we want to achieve. And that's what this strategy does. It doesn't offend that. And I think that's really important to understand. And that should be something that every time we get a new planner or a new councillor, that they say that promise. The other thing we're not doing, we're not sprawling, we're not saying we're going to go out at the edge, we're going to push the urban land containment boundaries set by the regional plan. What we're saying is we're trying to get, in Section 6.3.3, to ensure a high proportion of new housing is within 400 metres of activity centres, schools and public transport, assisting residents to be less reliant on the private motor vehicle with easy access to what they need.
00:16:00 And that's really consistent with the modern planning approach that we're talking about here and back. Nearly everything you need in your daily life by walking 10 minutes and back. And it's also not just about council. It's about what the private sector and the government can do and have an important role in helping achieve a sustainable community. So in Section 6.3, it talks about encouraging large business and government departments that are developing or redeveloping their own land to include a component of employee housing for key workers. And we've already started doing that. Every larger developer we've talked to in the last six months, we've said, have you thought about putting employee accommodation? And we know there's one development application where they're looking at buying a whole new block of land to put their employees. And one of the things we're also doing is that was, you know, when we looked at another response, that $250,000, which is the life majority of the responders to the survey, they strongly agreed amending the planning scheme
00:17:00 to encourage and incentivise all new housing developments to include a portion of social and affordable housing. So there's a clear mandate to have some sort of carrot within the planning scheme to get more social and affordable housing. So you can see how we're doing that. And we're doing that by strengthening regulatory provisions in the NURSA Plan, which will look at inclusionary planning provisions and achieve this through mechanisms such as development programs and bonuses and incentives, such as an increased developer floor area. And at the moment it says, or heighten major sentences. And I foreshadow I'm going to do an amendment to just clarify what we mean there. So it's important to recognise that we're going to do it by incentive with developers. And there's some key sites where we're hoping to achieve that. But we're also looking into the future about what has been the response through a lot of people, and particularly young people. And that is investigating about the Small is Beautiful future. That we're going to move away from McMansions
00:18:00 and catering for oversized homes. And we're going to look at reviewing the planning scheme provisions for more affordable models of housing, including tiny homes. And what a lot of people, before they buy their own home, about how room accommodation can be achieved, which looks like the traditional family home, but which provides a house for multiple individuals or couples. The majority of respondents also strongly agreed that the delivery of housing be prioritised over the delivery of car parking. And if there's ever an ambition that is a sign of the times, it's saying people before cars. Because planning and government since the 1970s have put cars here and the social housing of their residents down here. Cars are really that part of planning that hasn't been called out for many decades. It's really saying the emperor has no clothes.
00:19:00 That everything we do in this council around the private motor vehicle has to be reviewed. And we have to say what's more important? Multi-level car parking? Or social housing and community housing above our existing car parks? And what we're saying is we're looking at a couple of key sites where we're doing that. Making better advantage of the public land we've already got. So I think that's important. And we're not going to say that we are going to build that housing. What we're saying is we're going to go in partnership with the state government. That must be if they think my time's up. I think we're going to with the state government we're going to look at and going with community housing providers. So we're not going to be the developer. We're going to be the landlord. And 72 and a half percent of respondents indicated that they supported that sort of involvement. And one thing that I'm really great
00:20:00 glad to see is a concept that we're really going to take the development potential of 62 Lake Macdonald Drive and cry seriously. It's probably the biggest bit of council land that has the opportunity for community housing. It was one that I listed as number one over three years ago when I was looking at ways that council could look at making its land earn revenue for its residents. And that is the model. While we'll be trying to support and incentivise and discount we're not saying that we're going to do all this for free. We are going to look at is there long term revenue streams that can offset the costs or even add positively to the bottom line through long term leases of council land. And the other thing that the community clearly said is they thought there was a clear issue driving the lack of housing availability. And we know from briefings yesterday that they're right. The housing strategy emphasises that the role of low, medium and high density zones
00:21:00 for housing permanent residents and identifies the changes to the zone provisions are necessary to protect housing availability for prominent residents. So what a lot of people will be really happy to hear is in 7.3 we're saying short term accommodation and inconsistent use making it an inconsistent use in the medium and high density residential zones. So councillors, I think the staff response to the community's concerns has been very good but I'm going to finish by moving an amendment and that's on the wall and it's two items and I'm going to turn it over to the CEO to make minor changes to the housing strategy prior to publishing on council's website including amending action 6.4.1 on page 16 of attachment one to read. Get a drink. Strengthened regulatory provisions in the Noosa Plan which will result in a greater delivery of small dwellings. Accessing housing, affordable housing,
00:22:00 accessible housing, affordable housing and social housing throughout the medium and high density residential zones and within major centres. Initiate changes to the planning scheme to incorporate inclusionary planning provisions and achieve this through mechanisms such as development bonuses and incentives such as increased developable floor area or one additional storey in large centres. And that's an amendment so we need a seconder. So I won't talk long. What the current one just said is about increased height and this is meant to avoid concerns that all of a sudden we're going to go up to six, eight, ten storeys. There's nothing that we're proposing that is going above the current four storey limit and it is looking at sites which are zoned for intensive development of high density residential or centre zones as we've talked about elsewhere in the strategy. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Would anyone have any questions for staff? Councillor Jurisevic: No, but I'll talk to the amendment if I may. Thank you. Madam Chair, I'll support the amendment.
00:23:00 I think that what Councillor Stockwell has added here is road clarity to ensure for residents that we're not talking about increasing the density beyond one additional storey and only in the larger centre areas. Thank you for clarifying that point. I don't think it was alluded to sufficiently in the proposal in the recommendation of the talks. Councillor Finzel: Thank you, Councillor. Yeah, I think it's great that we can add this because it gives us clarification and certainty because what we're navigating is the biggest challenge I think for everyone now is change and I think this is great because what we can do is provide reassurance to our community that this is strategic planning at its best and that we want to ensure that everyone who comes along on the journey feels a part of it and can clearly identify where we're heading. So, thank you for the focus.
00:24:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: When I first got in in 1988, one of the first big things that council did was reduce the height limit from six storeys to four storeys and that's what we're saying. We're not going above four storeys. That's part of that Noosa planning promise. Mayor Stewart: Yeah, thank you. Put the amendment to a vote all in favour. That is unanimous. Thank you, Councillor Jurisevic: Mr Mayor. We do have a four storey limit in areas. Does one additional storey in larger centres potentially take that to five storeys? Speaker 1: Well, the largest centres that we were looking at are Noosa Junction, Noosa Business Centre and Tewantin District Centre.
00:25:00 All of those, none of those have a four storey. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you, just wanted to clarify that. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councillor. Mayor Stewart: Councillor, would you like to speak to the original? Councillor Jurisevic: No, I'd like to speak to the original and then I'll move on. In the same way that Councillor Stockwell did. Mayor Stewart: You're the only person who has spoken, myself and Councillor Stockwell, to the original. Would you like to speak to that? Councillor Jurisevic: I'll hit it while I can. Look, I'd like to thank the staff for the amount of time, and I'd also like to thank our community for their input. I think it's a significant document, a significant move forward. We are all challenged, not just here in Noosa Shire, across the state and across the country, with regard to housing availability and housing affordability. What has been recognised by the community and in the report is elements of the thought coming to the previous planning schemes where short-stay accommodation and residential accommodation conflict. And there's talk in here, and Brian alluded to it,
00:26:00 of reviewing where short-stays can come. And one of the things that that does for me is clarify a position I had back in 2019. I didn't support the idea of short-stays being inconsistent in low-density residential areas only. I said it should be in medium and high-density residential areas as well. And the reason I had that position back then was because, as we can see, a large proportion of our STAs are in those areas and continue to go in those areas. So the only way to prevent that from happening is to make it inconsistent in those areas. So I'm glad to see that a position that I supported three years ago is now coming back to the fore to prevent the further expansion of short-stays in residential areas. So, again, these are some of the issues with regard to the conflicts that arise from short-stays being in residential areas.
00:27:00 And the shortcomings of the planning schemes of the past that did not allocate tourism development in particular areas and residential development in particular areas, but only other two to work together within the same complex. I'm glad to see here that we have... ..addressed the areas... ..of concern raised by residents. But one of the ones that I don't think we have is with regard to the transport needs and the congestion in the area. And I'll move an amendment to that regard shortly. But one of the points that Brian raised there with regard to population capacity, the figures state that the population capacity of the... ..the national population carrying capacity of the planning scheme to 2041 is 65,000. Currently, we have 56,800 residents.
00:28:00 So, there is scope and capacity to grow within that. So, we must understand that the planning scheme does enable it. So, in speaking to that, I mean, that's as far as I need to go. I think what's been spoken about here tells us the story behind why we have the housing needs assessment. We've got to partner with the elements that, like the state and the housing providers, to try and facilitate the needs. The reason that this came forward is because residents and businesses were telling us the challenges are there. We need to address this. Again, we're not alone, but we need... You know, we've got the shortcomings of the state in this in not having provided a lot of housing choices. For mine, when, during COVID, when the stimulus was there, the stimulus package for the building industry was there, it should have focused on social needs housing rather than making it a free-for-all.
00:29:00 That was my personal opinion. So, the legacies go on and we have to deal with them and address them here. But I'd like to move an amendment to add item G to read, request the CEO to accelerate the comprehensive integrated transport and land use study of Noosa Shire to review the capacity of the road network and public transport system, particularly focusing on urban areas, having regard to the growth and development allowed for in the Noosa plan, including amendments proposed to support greater housing choice. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: I do so because what I heard and read in the survey was the concerns of residents around congestion. Congestion is an issue that constantly comes up and I think it's time that we had that overarching review
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00:30:00 of not only our road network but our public transport system. I think we need to bring the state on this journey with us if we're going to change. Again, it's been alluded to within the study. AE 6.2.6 says ensure growth in housing and population does not adversely impact the character, lifestyle and environment enjoyed by residents and that growth is consistent with the capacity to cater for traffic and car parking, water, sewage and other infrastructure. AE 6.3.2 says concentrating new housing in areas with good proximity to services and advocate for improved public transport in these areas. That's what I'm suggesting that this amendment focuses, the CEO and the staff to look at, the opportunities to advocate, the opportunities to bring those providers that we're talking to, with regard to housing needs, to also look at the other elements that go hand in hand with that and that is traffic congestion and all those other infrastructure services
00:31:00 and so that's why I'm moving the amendment today. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah, I'll support the amendment. I think it's really good to understand that housing is, that the affordability of housing is one aspect of affordable living. The other aspect of affordable living, or one of the other aspects, is affordable forms of transport. And what we're going down the path of in this strategy, which is occurring elsewhere in Australia and the world, is looking at smaller housing, closer to major centres, closer to work sites, which may obviate the need for people owning a car. Now there's studies that show that you can take off multiple years, off your mortgage, if you don't have to buy a car park. You can take $40,000 off if it's taking out an underground car park.
00:32:00 But we need to integrate what we're doing in terms of trying to get what Noosa may look like around these major centres, that were mentioned by Rowena, with the transport, both passive and public and active transport, not passive transport, active and public transport. I also think it's important to acknowledge that this probably also has a focus on that residential priority of the high and medium density residential zone. And I thought since Councillor Jurisevic mentioned that what he didn't do in 2019, and this is a historic occasion today, that I'll admit that I was wrong in 2019. And that's because I did suggest that we should keep allowing short stay accommodation in areas where they traditionally were in the medium and high density zones.
00:33:00 I also obviously was the one who changed the position and made them inconsistent in the low density, so I was half right. But just for the record. But to me, by bringing in transport, by bringing in housing, we're looking at how do we make Noosa a more sustainable community. And I think, you know, we have a reputation by the fact that Noosa's got a really high level of ecological integrity. But that needs to be combined with economic opportunity, which is linked to transport, as well as social equity, which is a housing component to be a real sustainability community. Councillor Finzel: Any others want to speak to the amendment? Yeah, I'm happy to speak to that. Yeah, I'm happy to support this. I agree that, transport is definitely, you know, a tool and a resource that we can use to, you know, have flourishing and connected communities. Social isolation is a huge issue and given the mental health concerns that we have post COVID
00:34:00 and the recent flood and disaster events, I think it's really, really a high priority that we do look at integrating this easy access transport across the Shire for all people, regardless of like their capacity to earn, whether they're employed or what phase of life they're in. I think equitable access to public transport is paramount in, you know, having a flourishing community across the Shire. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Kinsey. Any others have something to say? Councillor Tim. Councillor Wegener: No, not to this question. Mayor Stewart: Just close, John. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, well, just to allude, I didn't want to put the cat among the pigeons and frighten staff to turn around and say, here's another study and more funding that we require. My understanding is that we already have the comprehensive integrated transport and land use study underway and partially funded. What I'd like to see is that we don't partially fund it, we fully fund it and we continue to deliver on the needs and the requirements of a transport and land use study for the Shire
00:35:00 so that we can be fully informed and that the decisions that we make going forward are well informed and meet the needs, the future needs, of the Shire as a whole. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Griswitch. I'll put it to a vote. All in favour? That is unanimous. Thank you, Linda. That brings us back to the standard of motion and Councillor Joe, Councillor Brian and myself have spoken to it. Councillor Wegener: Do you want to go, Amelia? I'll wait. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Councillor Wegener: This is not a prepared speech because I was the last to jump on board to support this, but I have actually come to realise that this is the very best of the New State Council. It comes from, the staff especially, it comes from a vision of the future which is clear and if you have that vision that's shared amongst staff and amongst the people and amongst councillors, then you're, you can go forward
00:36:00 to get to that vision. If there's problems along the way and when swishing around on our path to get there, we've had accommodations, well, we have, we have the need for the strategy for accommodation. We have a crisis on our hands and we're dealing with it, but because we have a common vision, especially a common vision that was written largely by Rowena back in 1997, as you said, the DNA is there to get to this vision and this piece is an absolute essential part of maintaining our step towards that vision and what happens if you have a common vision and you've got a common goal, you're already there because you get there because you're going to get there but you can't not get there if you're marching that direction so you're already there and that's how time goes backwards and forwards and that's the strength of Noosa Council and that's the unbelievable, how great this,
00:37:00 how great it is and there's so much to this so thank you very much. Rowena, thank you, Kim, thank you, councillors. Thank you, Mayor Stewart: Councillor Tom. Councillor Karen and Amelia. Councillor Lorentson: Karen? Councillor Finzel: Sure, of course. Thanks, Tom, that was a great segue into what I'd like to start with is today we are at the intersection of change and at the heart of that, you know, sits action so what I love about this council, the staff, the organisation and our community is to be engaged in the conversation so I just think it's fantastic and I'm really excited about our future moving forward. Back at a special meeting on 16 July 2020, I moved an amendment when we were presented for adoption and implementing for the ministerial feedback back to state. So the amendment read monitor over the next two years the effectiveness
00:38:00 of the provisions of the Noosa Plan 2020 in enabling the delivery of housing choice and affordability to meet the diverse needs of the community. Specifically, housing for those in need or those in our community on low incomes with special needs or in identified groups in need of community and affordable housing. The next point was to provide a report back to council on this monitoring program including any associated recommended amendments to the Noosa Plan to strengthen the provisions towards these outcomes and here we are today. It's fantastic. I just love it because, you know, I came off the campaign, I was green, I didn't know much at all and put this amendment up and it's so exciting that everyone has come together and we've seen the fruits of that today so I want to really expressly thank the staff for their hard work and I know it's been challenging but this report
00:39:00 has been one of the best reports I've seen in terms of breakdowns of what people have to say and I really appreciate. Thank you Rowena. Yeah, you are the matriarch obviously of the plan scheme today. So, you know, I just love it and along with what Councillor Weg just said is that when we're all heading in that one direction the vision's cast before us and what we can achieve when we work together for the common good. We are a society and it's emerging stronger from the recent flood and fire disasters along with the COVID pandemic and it is transforming how we think about broadening our economies and our societies and how at these points crisis becomes the driving force of change. The catalyst if you like to building back better with a focus on strengthening robust economies, community resilience and, you know, building back managing natural resources
00:40:00 along with our built environment and taking urgent action on climate change. It has been noticed that the great reset COVID calls us to embrace transformational leadership with a bird's eye view on challenges and opportunities Mayor Stewart: and ways Councillor Finzel: forward. Noting how systems change each other and how we prepare for a future where we note the consequences of failing to appreciate and manage the characteristics of complex local and global systems and problems which can be immense. And this is what we're dealing with today. Before us this report is the culmination of us as an organisation with staff and community trying to deal with the challenges that are set before us. The housing crisis sits
00:41:00 at the centre of such consequence. It has been identified across all levels of government, local, state and federal demanding a collaborative approach to assessing measures to help in identifying the people and activities most effective. Assessing how measures to help them will impact others and underlining and understanding that difficult trade-offs between health, economic, social and other goals are inevitable. And that's where we find ourselves not only around this table but in our society at that intersection where there's fundamental change that has been forced upon us due to the pandemic and to the disasters before us. While at the same time as an elected representative in local government I have learnt and collaboratively we have learnt how important it is to keep resources in reserve
00:42:00 for times when unexpected upheavals in the system prevent it from functioning normally. Furthermore given the interdependence of economic and social systems the pandemic by which we have been fundamentally changed also highlights the need for strengthened cooperation and collaboration. So what is great about this before us is this report which to me encapsulates the journey of bringing everyone along on the stories and which Rowena has you know artfully captured in the resource that speaks of what community is telling us. The arts cultural and creative sector was one of the first impacted by the global pandemic and it is anticipated it will be essential to transforming
00:43:00 and driving social change and strengthening community resilience. Speaker 1: Art led Councillor Finzel: outcomes have been recognised and prioritised through the Queensland Government 10 year vision creative together 2020-2030. Looking forward to securing a prosperous and creative future fostering the growth of bold and rich cultural experiences valuing the importance of the role they place in building identity resilience and connection. Livability and access to housing for all is essential to our collective health and wellbeing. Intentionality with a focus on robust strategic planning that considers each voice at the table is paramount for a future with equity with measured outcomes alongside courageous leadership prepared to take action engenders trust and gives hope.
00:44:00 To thrive today Council, business, government and organisations must change more rapidly as we must be able to direct external changes from the outside in and have a built in fluidity so we can continually adapt. To focus on individual customers making core competencies dynamic and rely on teams instead of hierarchy. And I think this report again reflects the coming together of team building of collaboration and a shared vision which is really exciting because I think we can lead the way at Noosa Shire of showing how it's done and I just love that. Today the report before us does sit at the heart of what we as individuals and a society desire where everyone was treated with dignity and respect with equity with every individual able to choose where they live
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00:45:00 and how they live their best life. We can only use the levers and mechanisms before us which I can see are at times inadequate however with heart and purpose with the focus on what matters reflecting on what we value we can find assurance in the hope that we as humanity are united in love and action for the common good now and into the future. Together we strengthen communities and that's why I support this report today. Thank you Councillor Finzel. Councillor Lorentson: I'll keep mine brief. The housing crisis is about people and the housing strategy is about solutions. This is not about blame and we must be very careful not to play politics of division. It's easy
00:46:00 to blame landlords investors and STAs for rising house prices and lack of affordable housing but we must remember that they are not the ones that have been driving the housing crisis. Governments, federal, state and us, local governments and banks we have driven this crisis by failing to protect and regulate investment in residential real estate. Allowing people to buy up second or third homes sometimes to rent out sometimes to short term let sometimes to hold onto and sometimes to sell to other people for higher prices. We have allowed landlords to create havoc to tenants rights to security and contributing to the house crisis. In relation to social housing this has been for a long long time seriously neglected by state and federal government. Lack of social emergency and special needs housing
00:47:00 existed long before the pandemic. It's just got worse. And what we are dealing with and seeking to solve today is the human and social consequence of this neglect. We are living in extraordinary times and it's not going to be easy to find a way out of the crisis. This housing strategy is not the silver bullet. But we must do our bit. We have a statutory and we also have a moral obligation to do so. We are part of the problem as councillor Stockwell and Joe Jurisevic have alluded to. We are part of the problem and therefore we must be part of the solution. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the housing stakeholder reference group and to our council staff. On a personal level this has been a journey and an education
00:48:00 Mayor Stewart: There was a question posed by someone why we are doing this and I think the front cover of this says it all pretty clearly that right now there are 140 community members living up. 15 are families with children and that's just the icing on the cake. We hear constantly about how essential workers can't get accommodation, they can't find places to live, there are people crying out for accommodation or being forced out of rentals. So that's the why and the how is and as Councillor Lawrence has said we don't have a silver bullet at all. But this strategy recognises, monitors, advocates, regulates, partners and delivers. That's what it requires us as a local government to do. And I think it's, you know, we're not there yet but we're certainly one step closer. This strategy goes a long way
00:49:00 to addressing the community need. The community have told us through our corporate plan they want action, just do it as Nike says. So this is, provides real tangible outcomes and action and again thank you to the staff because this is as I said the state government has said Noosa is leading the way and that is all to do with our staff. So thank you very much. Thank you. I'll put the motion to a vote. All in favour? That is unanimous. Thank you. It is now, there are no further items on the agenda and...