Why Noosa‘s highest median price suburbs face climate change threat

Noosa Council is grappling with how to manage climate change risks to suburbs with some of Queensland’s highest property prices without risking its best assets. Find out why here.

Noosa Council is grappling with how to manage the threat of coastal erosion to some of Queensland’s hottest property markets.

The latest coastal hazard report showed erosion and inundation risks were “very high” to Noosa Heads Main Beach, as well as Sunshine, Sunrise and Peregian beaches.

According to REIQ – Sunshine Beach, Noosa Heads and Noosaville have among the top five highest median house prices in regional Queensland with values of $1.9m, $1.6m and $1.5m respectively.

The latest council report takes on-board feedback and community opposition revealed in more than 200 submissions on the first draft coastal hazard adaptation plan (CHAP) from early 2021.

Mayor Clare Stewart said the new draft report had a “far more reasonable” approach with more “measured” wording.

School holiday crowds pack into Noosa Main Beach. Picture: Lachie Millard

As an example she said the word “likely” was changed to “potential” or “projected” when considering risks to properties and infrastructure.

Studies found without intervention coastal erosion would have an increasing impact through to the year 2100 on some privately owned assets as well as council infrastructure and the beaches themselves.

The report says areas along the lower Noosa River – Noosa Heads, Tewantin, Noosaville and Noosa North Shore – will be increasingly at risk due to inundation from rising sea levels.

“The assessment of coastal erosion risks in Noosa Heads show the level of risk to all built assets along the Noosa Main Beach beachfront is already considered intolerable,” the report says.

The report ruled out buried seawalls as a protection measure because it was estimated to cost billions in tourism losses.

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

A cost-benefit analysis found losses of $2.7b for Peregian to Sunshine Beach and $67m for Teewah Beach.

It said the implementation costs would be very high and the physical barrier would impact on scenic amenity, tourism, recreational and environmental attributes that were considered of high value to Noosa.

It said development controls could be implemented to reduce the risks to some areas.

During a special meeting on the new report councillor Brian Stockwell said it was important to not underestimate the risk.

He also backed the use of Representative Concentration Pathway for mapping and estimates on inundation and erosion.

“It is really important to understand this is logical, realistic and risks are very real,” he said.

The second draft will be released for further community input after councillors unanimously endorsed the plan.

“We had six very productive roundtable meetings which helped clarify some of the concerns with the CHAP and identify potential workable solutions,” Ms Stewart said.

“We have certainly taken on-board community views,” she said.

Sunshine Beach has a median house price of $1.9m. Picture: Tom Offermann Real Estate

Ms Stewart said the plan also addressed the confusion over the involvement of the planning scheme.

“One of the misconceptions with the draft CHAP is that it impacts on private use rights, but that is not the case at all,” she said.

“Based on feedback from the community, the draft CHAP has been changed to a stepped monitor-manage-review approach to help inform appropriate land use planning responses.

“We have listened, reviewed and carefully considered all the feedback to develop a much more balanced, workable document for our community.”

Residents have until Monday, November 1 to review the document and provide further comment on the revised draft CHAP.

To have your say, visit yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au.

Originally published as Why Noosa‘s highest median price suburbs face climate change threat