Proposed Amendment No.2 to Noosa Plan 2020

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Thank you for your feedback, Noosa!

Following extensive community consultation and engagement, two comprehensive State Government reviews and Ministerial approval, Council has adopted Amendment No. 2 to Noosa Plan 2020.

A report was submitted to the Planning and Environment Committee on 9 September 2025 seeking Council adoption of the amendment, which was approved at Council’s Ordinary meeting on 18 September 2025. The Amendment was subsequently gazetted and commenced on Friday 26 September 2025.

Follow this link to view amended Noosa Plan 2020.

What does Amendment No. 2 to Noosa Plan 2020 achieve?

The amendments ensure sufficient land is available for permanent residential housing and facilitates improved housing security, choice, diversity and affordability to meet the housing needs of Noosa Shire residents. It also sets up a pathway for the delivery of affordable housing and prioritises permanent residents in Residential zones and key Centre zones by restricting further short-term accommodation uses.

Key elements of the amendment include:

  • Restricting future development in Medium and High Density Residential zones and most Centre zones to permanent housing, excluding short-term accommodation.
  • Rezoning parts of the Tourist Accommodation zone to Residential or Centre zones to support permanent housing.
  • Increasing housing diversity and choice particularly around small dwellings.
  • Allowing visitor accommodation such as cabins in Rural and Rural Residential zones, provided the permanent resident remains onsite in their dwelling.

Additionally, the amendment:

  • Defines clear outcomes for Noosa Business Centre as an integrated village combining diverse housing and employment opportunities.
  • Establishes guidelines for development within the Innovation Zone.
  • Expands allowable trading hours for food and drink outlets in the Noosa Junction Hospitality Precinct, with a new definition for amplified music.
  • Supports the future of sports medicine through the creation of a health and wellbeing precinct within the Noosa District Sports Complex.
  • Improves the planning scheme’s operation by correcting minor errors and ensuring consistent terminology

How was Amendment No. 2 developed and consulted?

Following the preparation of Noosa Housing Strategy and Short Term Accommodation Monitoring Report in 2022, both of which made recommendations to amend Noosa Plan 2020, draft amendments were prepared. The State Government and Minister approved the proposed amendments for public notification.

The proposed amendments and explanatory material were released for public notification on 31 May 2024 for a 6-week period, which was extended for a further 2 weeks.

During the public notification period, there were various opportunities for the community to engage with planners, access information and make submissions. A total of 475 submissions were received including an online petition with 600 unique signatories.

As required by the Planning Act 2016 and Minister’s Guidelines and Rules, a Consultation Report was prepared. The report provides an overview of the public notification and community engagement activities undertaken for proposed Amendment No. 2 and outlines how Council considered each properly made submission. This report includes Council’s decision on each specific issue.

What we heard from the community

While there was a range of issues raised in submissions from the community, there were ten (10) key issue areas, some of which resulted in recommended changes to the proposed amendments. Some of the changes are listed below but for further details, refer to the report to Council's Special Meeting on 12 December which can be viewed here.

Key changes made to the public notification version in response to submissions and forwarded to the State Government included:

  • Dwelling houses will be a consistent use in Medium and High-Density Residential zones on lots less than 500sqm
  • Dual occupancies will be a consistent use in the Medium Density Residential zone on lots less than 1000sqm (Note: The Minister did not support this change and conditioned that dual occupancies will only be a consistent use on lots less than 600sqm).
  • Small dwellings will revert to existing size up to 100sqm
  • It will not be mandatory to construct small dwellings in the Medium and High-Density Residential zones but rather the current opt-in bonus provisions for small dwellings will be retained;
  • the proposed affordable rental bonus provisions will be removed from the Medium and High-Density Residential zones except on the key sites being the former Noosa Bowls Club site and Noosa Business Centre;
  • 48 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads (Nomads Noosa Hostel) will allow additional uses to the proposed High Density Residential zone of short-term accommodation where specifically low cost, being motel and backpackers over no more than 40% of the site and subject to a masterplan;
  • the current Tourist Accommodation zone at 3 Hilton Terrace, Tewantin (Noosa Lakes Resort) and lots fronting Gympie Terrace, Noosaville at the Islander Resort will be retained;
  • Note other changes not listed above are also proposed as outlined in the Council report and minutes.

Changes were made to Proposed Amendment No.2 consistent with Council’s decision, including consequential changes, and forwarded to the State Government for Ministerial approval for adoption, together with the Consultation Report .

What were the Minister’s approval conditions?

The Minister approved Amendment No. 2 for Council adoption on 7 August 2025 with 8 conditions.

Of particular note, the Minister did not support the change to allow dual occupancies on lots less than 1000sqm in Medium Density Residential zone. The Minister conditioned that dual occupancies are only a consistent use on lots less than 600sqm.

This condition means that lots 600sqm or greater are to be developed for multiple dwellings (3 or more dwellings). There is no limit on the size of these dwellings, unless the small dwelling (< 100sqm) bonus gross floor area provisions are taken up.

Thank you for your feedback, Noosa!

Following extensive community consultation and engagement, two comprehensive State Government reviews and Ministerial approval, Council has adopted Amendment No. 2 to Noosa Plan 2020.

A report was submitted to the Planning and Environment Committee on 9 September 2025 seeking Council adoption of the amendment, which was approved at Council’s Ordinary meeting on 18 September 2025. The Amendment was subsequently gazetted and commenced on Friday 26 September 2025.

Follow this link to view amended Noosa Plan 2020.

What does Amendment No. 2 to Noosa Plan 2020 achieve?

The amendments ensure sufficient land is available for permanent residential housing and facilitates improved housing security, choice, diversity and affordability to meet the housing needs of Noosa Shire residents. It also sets up a pathway for the delivery of affordable housing and prioritises permanent residents in Residential zones and key Centre zones by restricting further short-term accommodation uses.

Key elements of the amendment include:

  • Restricting future development in Medium and High Density Residential zones and most Centre zones to permanent housing, excluding short-term accommodation.
  • Rezoning parts of the Tourist Accommodation zone to Residential or Centre zones to support permanent housing.
  • Increasing housing diversity and choice particularly around small dwellings.
  • Allowing visitor accommodation such as cabins in Rural and Rural Residential zones, provided the permanent resident remains onsite in their dwelling.

Additionally, the amendment:

  • Defines clear outcomes for Noosa Business Centre as an integrated village combining diverse housing and employment opportunities.
  • Establishes guidelines for development within the Innovation Zone.
  • Expands allowable trading hours for food and drink outlets in the Noosa Junction Hospitality Precinct, with a new definition for amplified music.
  • Supports the future of sports medicine through the creation of a health and wellbeing precinct within the Noosa District Sports Complex.
  • Improves the planning scheme’s operation by correcting minor errors and ensuring consistent terminology

How was Amendment No. 2 developed and consulted?

Following the preparation of Noosa Housing Strategy and Short Term Accommodation Monitoring Report in 2022, both of which made recommendations to amend Noosa Plan 2020, draft amendments were prepared. The State Government and Minister approved the proposed amendments for public notification.

The proposed amendments and explanatory material were released for public notification on 31 May 2024 for a 6-week period, which was extended for a further 2 weeks.

During the public notification period, there were various opportunities for the community to engage with planners, access information and make submissions. A total of 475 submissions were received including an online petition with 600 unique signatories.

As required by the Planning Act 2016 and Minister’s Guidelines and Rules, a Consultation Report was prepared. The report provides an overview of the public notification and community engagement activities undertaken for proposed Amendment No. 2 and outlines how Council considered each properly made submission. This report includes Council’s decision on each specific issue.

What we heard from the community

While there was a range of issues raised in submissions from the community, there were ten (10) key issue areas, some of which resulted in recommended changes to the proposed amendments. Some of the changes are listed below but for further details, refer to the report to Council's Special Meeting on 12 December which can be viewed here.

Key changes made to the public notification version in response to submissions and forwarded to the State Government included:

  • Dwelling houses will be a consistent use in Medium and High-Density Residential zones on lots less than 500sqm
  • Dual occupancies will be a consistent use in the Medium Density Residential zone on lots less than 1000sqm (Note: The Minister did not support this change and conditioned that dual occupancies will only be a consistent use on lots less than 600sqm).
  • Small dwellings will revert to existing size up to 100sqm
  • It will not be mandatory to construct small dwellings in the Medium and High-Density Residential zones but rather the current opt-in bonus provisions for small dwellings will be retained;
  • the proposed affordable rental bonus provisions will be removed from the Medium and High-Density Residential zones except on the key sites being the former Noosa Bowls Club site and Noosa Business Centre;
  • 48 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads (Nomads Noosa Hostel) will allow additional uses to the proposed High Density Residential zone of short-term accommodation where specifically low cost, being motel and backpackers over no more than 40% of the site and subject to a masterplan;
  • the current Tourist Accommodation zone at 3 Hilton Terrace, Tewantin (Noosa Lakes Resort) and lots fronting Gympie Terrace, Noosaville at the Islander Resort will be retained;
  • Note other changes not listed above are also proposed as outlined in the Council report and minutes.

Changes were made to Proposed Amendment No.2 consistent with Council’s decision, including consequential changes, and forwarded to the State Government for Ministerial approval for adoption, together with the Consultation Report .

What were the Minister’s approval conditions?

The Minister approved Amendment No. 2 for Council adoption on 7 August 2025 with 8 conditions.

Of particular note, the Minister did not support the change to allow dual occupancies on lots less than 1000sqm in Medium Density Residential zone. The Minister conditioned that dual occupancies are only a consistent use on lots less than 600sqm.

This condition means that lots 600sqm or greater are to be developed for multiple dwellings (3 or more dwellings). There is no limit on the size of these dwellings, unless the small dwelling (< 100sqm) bonus gross floor area provisions are taken up.

Page last updated: 26 Sep 2025, 10:07 AM