Advocacy

Noosa Chamber is committed to being a strong voice on behalf of its members and Noosa businesses, and to building trust, credibility & confidence with the three tiers of government and other key stakeholders.

Recent Noosa Chamber advocacy

Chamber calls for action to lift the Economy

Noosa’s ageing population, housing too expensive for its “productive workforce” and a low gross regional product (GRP) growth are strongly impacting Noosa’s economy and need urgent action, Noosa Chamber of Commerce president Ralph Rogers told guests at a chamber event hosted by Noosa Today last week. 

Mr Rogers told attendees these were some of the findings from the chamber’s recently completed economic and social impact study, a document prepared annually by the chamber from a range of data to understand what is going on in the local marketplace, with a comparison to neighbouring council regions.

“We put it in a document so it’s easier to digest, to understand and to be there to assess it and use it in your own business plan,” he said

“It’s important for Noosa to not only understand the economic consideration but what’s happening from a socio-economic point of view. The 40-page study is used to advocate on behalf of our members and the community, based on fact not fiction.”

Mr Rogers said among key takeaways from this year’s report was the fact the GRP (a measure of the total value of goods and services produced in a region) of the shire hasn’t got above 4 per cent in the past four years, except during Covid “when government threw a whole lot of money at the community”.

“What that demonstrates is the community is somewhat dependent on social payments,” he said.

“Of the three councils we closely monitor – Sunshine Coast, Gympie and Noosa – we have the lowest GRP growth out of the three shires.

“There’s a couple of reasons why this is happening – 36 per cent of our population is over 60 compared to the Queensland average of 22 per cent, 25-34 year olds are only 7 per cent of the population when the Queensland average is 14 per cent.

“Our average dwelling price is $1.3 million when the Queensland average is $690,000. What else needs to be considered is annually all we’re doing is approving on a 10-year-average, 336 residential dwellings a year with half of them knock downs and rebuilds.

“So what you can see is 25-34 year olds can’t afford to buy a place to live here, therefore they’re not here, therefore we’re losing our productive workforce.

“From a council point of view between 2014-15 through to 2019-20 the difference in operating expenses in council grew 25 per cent. From 2019-20 to 23-24 it grew 44 per cent. That’s from $78m in 2014 to $132m.

“Council’s got a 20 per cent vacancy rate in jobs and it’s got 16.2 per cent turnover of staff. Staffing costs 36 per cent of total revenue that comes to council.

“You need to say to yourself what does this mean.

“I’ll tell you what it means. Noosa Council is 2.55 per cent GRP every year, that’s what we pay to council, compared to 1.86 for Gympie and 1.64 for Sunshine Coast.

“The impact of not developing residential dwellings anywhere close to the average Queensland price means our productive workforce (25-34 years) can’t afford to work here.

“And it’s our view for a vibrant economy we’ve got to be able to engineer supply at a price point on Queensland average wages can afford to live here and buy, and this is such a critical issue for us we just can’t afford to give up.

“The key takeaway is for Noosa’s economy Noosa’s realities can’t be ignored.

“Council’s financial capacity does exist with $123m in the bank.

“Housing affordability will provide for our economy, 25-34 year olds can’t afford to live here.

“The only way we’ll get out of this is with collaboration, leadership, with government and the private sector working together to deliver a product of residents that can be afforded and we’ve got to take those bold steps now.”

Mr Rogers said the chamber would be taking their findings to state and local governments.

“All we can do is advocate, all we can do is put the facts in front of them. We will do that, hopefully they’ll listen,” he said.

Mr Rogers said the Noosa chamber was independently funded, receiving no support from Noosa Council, state government, or anybody else.

With 170 members the chamber is two and a half times the average-sized Queensland chamber.

Having completed its 2024 business plan and exceeded all goals and objectives, the chamber committee would be working on its 2025-28 strategic plan which would be shared with every member for consideration on its completion, he said.

State Facilitated Development for affordable housing

Queensland Parliament legislated changes to the Planning Act introducing State Facilitated Development (SFD) which means the Minister for Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works can declare a development application for affordable housing to be assessed by the Department's Chief Executive, instead of by local governments.

In light of lack of worker accommodation in Noosa resulting in small businesses having difficulty recruiting employees, Noosa Chamber made this Submission to the Minister, the Noosa MP and similar letters to the Leader of the Opposition, relevant opposition shadow ministers, and the Planning Department's SFD Team in support of state facilitated development as appropriate.

Noosa Today published Noosa Chamber's editorial State overrides Council brakes on Economy .

On 30 September 2024, the Minister declared two development applications will be assessed via the SFD pathway.

Proposed Noosa Council changes to Standing Orders

In September  2024, the Council meeting agenda recommended changes to give the Council CEO the power to veto Councillor-initiated Notified Motions and to constrain such Councillor motions to the already Council-approved Corporate Plan. Noosa Chamber was concerned that these changes were undemocratic and would diminish the ability of Councillors to be a voice on behalf of the business community.

Noosa Chamber wrote advocacy letters to the Mayor and Councillors and similar letters to the Council CEO, the State Minister for Local Government, the Noosa MP and LNP candidate, and to Chamber members and non-members.

Draft Noosa Plan Amendment 2024

During Noosa Council's public consultation in June and July, Noosa Chamber submitted this Noosa Chamber Fact Sheet and this Noosa Chamber Submission.

The key feedback provided in the submission includes:

• The proposed amendments lack detailed financial viability assessments and do not align with key strategic documents, particularly the Economic Development Strategy
• The consultation process for the proposed amendments was rushed and flawed.
  
• The proposed amendments do not adopt a locality or precinct-based approach, failing to recognize the unique characteristics and needs of different areas within Noosa.
  
• Provide for diverse housing solutions with a range of dwelling sizes and types to meet the varied needs of the community.
• Increase the height limit from 14 meters to 15 meters to allow for sensitive design and economic viability.
• Introduce flexible car parking solutions, such as contributions in lieu, shared parking arrangements, and off-site parking options.
  
• Rezoning tourist accommodation to permanent housing could negatively impact tourism and local businesses.
  
• The focus on 75 sqm units is too narrow. Allow unit sizes from 50 to 120 sqm, remove car parking requirements for small units, and provide incentives for diverse accommodations.

In July Noosa Chamber also held an event for Chamber members and non-members where Chamber President Ralph Rogers made this presentation  and Russell Green of RG Strategic made this presentation about context and issues with the Noosa Plan amendments.

Noosa Council's Draft Destination Management Plan Discussion Paper

Click to read the Noosa Chamber Submission which was submitted in response to Noosa Council’s public consultation about its draft Destination Management Plan discussion paper. 

Chamber's submission stressed that the Destination Management Plan should take into account:

• Noosa’s ongoing economic sustainability in the context of global uncertainty, South East Queensland population growth, Noosa Council’s UNESCO Biosphere and Queensland Small Business Friendly Charter commitments, and the vulnerability of Noosa’s economy.
• Tourism being a major economic driver that has a flow on effect throughout the Noosa economy.
• Noosa’s gross regional product (GRP) not keeping pace with inflation making small businesses vulnerable.
• UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere program's strategic objective “Contribute to building sustainable, healthy and equitable societies, economies and thriving human settlements in harmony with the biosphere.”
• Council’s commitment in the Small Business Friendly Charter to  “Actively engage and be mindful of small businesses, their issues and priorities when making decisions.”

Noosa Chamber also recommended that Council's Destination Management Plan include:

• Improve the road network to facilitate safe and efficient movement along main thoroughfares with linkages to park and ride sites and public transport to popular destinations.
• Facilitate construction of barely visible multilevel parking stations along transport corridors instead of sprawling tarmac car parks detrimental to the environment and visual amenity.
• Encourage and support development of five star tourist accommodation in line with the ‘value over volume’ policy.
• Exempt tourist resort unit owners from the Short Stay Letting and Home Hosted Accommodation Local Law to incentivise owners to not permanently let resort units.
• Support development of affordable housing for workers, taking innovative action such as releasing public land to community housing providers.
• Amend the Noosa Plan to allow relevant worker accommodation in industrial zones.
• Not proceed with limiting Tourism Noosa marketing to only certain businesses
• Not proceed with proposed Council interventions in the free market and the Noosa economy. 

Addressing the affordable housing crisis

At Noosa Chamber’s September 2023 Sunset Drinks networking event, Rob McCready of Altum Property Group gave an interesting fact-based presentation urging ways to increase housing supply and build more affordable housing.

As context, Rob explained, “Noosa is the most expensive local government area (LGA) in the State. The median price of detached houses is $1,295,000 and units $960,000, and little is available for rent. Key workers, who are the backbone of our community, are unable to afford or find accommodation in Noosa Shire. Many employers face challenges attracting and retaining staff due to lack of affordable housing.”

Rob McCready offered a range of approaches for addressing the critical affordable housing shortage. On the Noosa Chamber website, you can read details of Rob McCready’s presentation

You can read Noosa Chamber’s media release  Affordable Housing Supply Solutions  and Rob McCready’s presentation slides Noosa Affordable Housing and Current Housing Crisis

Statement on continuing holiday car parking at Lions Park

In April 2023

The Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry strongly supported Tewantin Noosa Lions Club's ongoing management of paid parking in Noosa Heads Lions Park during school holiday periods, public holidays and long weekends, as originally recommended by Council staff and reject 4-3 by Noosa Council.  more

Statement on the 2022-2023 Noosa Council Budget

The Chamber called for our local economy to be taken seriously, for effective implementation of the local economic plan. It called for bold leadership, the empowering of our shire’s business ecosystems, putting in place enabling infrastructure and encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation. Read more

Recent Business Chamber Queensland advocacy

Noosa Chamber is a member of the state’s peak chamber body Business Chamber Queensland (previously CCIQ) which advocates about business matters vis-à-vis the State and Federal governments.

You can read about Business Chamber Queensland advocacy initiatives here:

https://www.cciq.com.au/business-voice/

You can read Business Chamber Queensland submissions to governments here

https://www.cciq.com.au/business-voice/submissions/

Recent ACCI advocacy

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) members include state and territory chambers of commerce (such as CCIQ), national industry associations and a council of business leaders from individual enterprises. You can read ACCI submissions about Federal matters here:

https://www.australianchamber.com.au/publication_taxonomies/submissions/