Keep Noosa Home this National Homelessness Week 3-9 August
Statistic show that many of us in Noosa Shire own our home. Some are still paying it off while others own theirs outright. While this creates security for some during a national housing crisis, the converse is that there are relatively low levels of rental housing. In Noosa Hinterland for instance less than 13% of homes were being rented at the 2021 census.
If we have it, it can be easy to take housing security for granted. Sometimes it’s the unexpected such as a flood, fire, relationship breakdown or illness to suddenly find yourself in a terrible situation. A growing number of locals, including key workers, pensioners and families, are experiencing housing stress and keeping a safe, affordable place to live is becoming very difficult.
Across our community, people are facing difficult choices. Some are considering leaving Noosa Shire and the support networks they have built over many years. Others are trying to stay close to their jobs, schools, doctors, friends and family, but in circumstances that are far from ideal. They are couch surfing, living in overcrowded homes, or sleeping in vehicles. These are challenges affecting people who contribute to our community every day, but many keep it a secret.
There are a range of services in Noosa Shire who can assist people at risk of homelessness. This National Homelessness Week 3-9 August, take a moment to learn more about their work at https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/Community/Community-support/Social-Services
A community only becomes more inclusive, resilient and liveable when everyone plays a part in making it better. As residents, we contribute by looking out for our neighbours, volunteering, supporting local initiatives, sharing resources, offering spare rooms or granny flats to rent. Small actions make a big difference.
Council is responsible for protecting and enhancing our public spaces, providing safe pathways and creating opportunities for residents and workers to fully participate in community life. Council also controls the planning environment that facilitates development of new housing. Through the Noosa Housing Strategy actions Council is seeking to expand housing choices suitable for all types of households.
Together, we can build a Shire that remains welcoming, safe and connected: a place where people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds can belong, contribute and thrive.
Noosa Housing Strategy
In response to the growing national housing crisis affecting Noosa Shire, Council undertook a Housing Needs Assessment in 2021, identifying key challenges in local housing. Since then, conditions have worsened for many residents, with some forced to leave the Shire due to lack of affordable housing.
- There is a mismatch between housing type and size and household size and needs.
- Noosa Shire enjoys a high level of home ownership but correspondingly, a relatively small rental market.
- The number of homes rented to permanent residents dropped by nearly 550 dwellings between 2011 and 2021, despite additional housing development.
- 2,461 households in Noosa Shire were in housing stress in 2021, with 1,624 of these renting.
- In the 5 years from June 2020 to 2025 median rent for a 3-bedroom house in Noosa Shire rose from $500 to $800 (over 60% increase).
- Residential vacancy rates have been below 2% in parts of the Shire since 2020.
Noosa Council prepared and endorsed a Housing Strategy In 2022 which identified various actions including planning scheme amendments, housing monitoring, financial incentives, housing partnerships and affordable housing projects.
The Queensland Government has a Regional Plan for South East Queensland which can be viewed here. Their Plan calls for almost 900,000 new homes across SEQ by 2046, an average of 34,500 new homes each year, to accommodate a projected population of nearly 6 million people. The State have set dwelling supply targets for each of the twelve local governments within SEQ. For Noosa they have set a target of 5,000 additional dwellings over the 25 years of 2021 to 2046, and specifically, over 80% of these are to be in low rise attached housing (up to 3 storeys in height).