Noosa council to decide on community housing rebate policy

Council’s bold attempt to tackle the region’s renting crisis will be voted on by local government later this month.

Noosa Council building. Photo: Noosa Council.

A plan to introduce more rebates for community and social housing in Noosa will be voted on by the local government as they attempt to tackle the region’s renting crisis.

According to the proposal, presented to the Noosa Council’s planning and environment committee on Tuesday, community housing built by a registered provider would be eligible for a full rebate on infrastructure charges.

The council already issues a 50 per cent rebate on infrastructure charges on secondary dwellings, in order to address Noosa’s housing crisis, as well as rebates on aged care, emergency accommodation and residential care.

The policy would require the developments be “managed by a registered community housing provider, as long-term rental housing for a minimum of 20 years”.

The developments must also remain affordable to renters.

The report stated the policy review came as rental shortages in the region had reached “crisis point”.

“The lack of affordable housing, particularly rental accommodation in Noosa and the broader region is at crisis point and is affecting the local economy and social fabric,” the report stated.

“While local residents, including workers, are resorting to sleeping rough, it also has the potential to affect the local amenity and create environmental damage.”

The report states the rebate scheme would help keep costs from being passed on to those in need of housing.

“Additional multi-residential development is part of the solution, however given the high cost of land and construction, without subsidies and assistance, the ultimate end user of the new housing will bear the cost, and affordability cannot be achieved,” the report stated.

“The recommendations within this report present a way for a relatively small portion of development costs to be spread across the broader community in exchange for outcomes that advance local affordable housing choice and benefit to community as a whole.”

A Noosa Council spokesman said the council would vote on the proposal at the general committee on Monday, May 12.