Residents unite to save 'desirable address' from Airbnb

Residents of an area "long regarded as one of the Coast's most desirable addresses” are campaigning to stop it being over-run by short-term rentals.

Little Cove

LITTLE Cove locals want out from having to share their lives with short-stay renters.

Twenty-two residents have petitioned Noosa Council to exclude their exclusive addresses of Mitti, Kareela and Pandanus streets to exclude them from the downsides that can come from the boom in online rentals.

And they want to reinforce the point by having the new planning scheme "introduce regulations that specifically prohibit short-term rentals in this area.

Mayor Tony Wellington presented the petition on behalf of residents at the last council meeting for the CEO Brett de Chastel to take appropriate action.

The mayor read out the concerns which included:

"We the undersigned residents of Little Cove declare that the proposed rezoning of Little Cove to small scale visitor accommodation is totally inappropriate as it will fundamentally change the nature of the character of an area that has been established and recognised as a traditional residential zone for more than 50 years.

"It is part of Noosa's heritage and long regarded as one of the most desirable addresses in Noosa.

"Your proposal will facilitate the area's conversion to a tourist zone, an investment target and destroy its community and residential appeal.

"If this proposed change is affected it will bring a net loss to the stock of permanent residential accommodation in Noosa.

"We urge the Noosa Council to exclude Mitti, Kareela and Pandanus streets from the proposed small scale visitor accommodation zone, retain zoning in this area that encourages retention of the community characteristics to which the area has long been recognised and introduce regulations that specifically prohibit short term rentals such as Airbnb and Stayz in this area.”