Ambitious campaign launched for supply of $450 rentals in Noosa

A CEO behind an ambitious campaign for cheaper rentals for workers says Noosa’s “holding hands, singing Kumbaya” approach to housing has driven prices to “extreme” levels.

Aspire Property Management CEO David Langdon has launched the Noosa 450 campaign, calling for more affordable housing in the region.

An ambitious campaign has been launched seeking to increase the supply of rentals $450 or less in Noosa, as the region grapples with a housing crisis.

Noosa 450 campaign’s David Langdon said the “holding hands, singing Kumbaya” approach to housing has pushed prices to extreme levels that workers cannot afford.

With a median home rental price of $1000, he said many workers were forced to live elsewhere and travel to Noosa to work.

Mr Langdon said he felt the council had been backed into a corner in terms of urban development.

“They’ve driven Noosa on the concept of having a population cap,” he said.

“This concept of a biosphere, that we’re all nicely spread out, holding hands, and singing Kumbaya, but the problem is that’s driven prices and stock of units and houses to be so extreme that people can’t afford to live here.”

The campaign has been launched in response to the draft update of the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which estimates the need for Noosa to accommodate an additional 19,100 people by 2046, as well as increase building heights between four and eight storeys in locations across the region.

Noosa has long pushed against increasing housing, particularly in the areas of densities and high rise, vowing to protect its natural environment.

Years ago, one environmentalist famously described Maroochydore as the ‘Parramatta’ of the Coast, suggesting the southern end of the Sunshine Coast should take the population increases.

In August, a State Government proposal to more than double height limits across the Noosa Shire to accommodate an extra 10,000 residents was slammed by Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart as “incredibly worrying” and “unrealistic”.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles released the Draft South East Queensland Regional Plan which included options to increase housing diversity across Sunshine Coast and Noosa to support a growing population.

In its dwelling diversity target the draft plan suggested Noosa needs fewer low density, detached homes and more medium rise apartments of between four and eight storeys. Ms Stewart said she was “seriously concerned” about the proposal.

Parts of Noosa Junction and Noosa Business Centre are limited to three storeys and in Tewantin the height limit is two storeys – with exceptions at select sites for an extra storey for social or affordable housing.

Ms Stewart’s rebuke served as the inspiration for the Noosa 450 campaign, according to Aspire Property Management CEO Mr Langdon.

“She came out straight away and said that she’s going to defend tooth and nail the way Noosa Council currently does town planning, but offered no solution to the issue,” Mr Langdon said.

A petition has been launched calling for affordable housing for workers and residents under $450 a week.

There is a high-demand for affordable housing in Noosa.

On September 7 there were only five rentals available for less than $450 on realestate.com – with these listings mainly for one-bedroom, one-bathroom units or apartments.

Aspire Property Management CEO David Langdon. Picture: Aspire Property Management

While Mr Langdon acknowledged the logistics of delivering $450 rentals in Noosa was ambitious, he said it was essential that a solution was found.

“A lack of affordable rentals is the singular factor driving the current staff shortage in Noosa,” he said.

“Workers are forced to either leave the shire and find work elsewhere or commute excessive distances to get to work in Noosa from where they live.”

Noosa has become too expensive for many to live.

Acting Mayor Frank Wilkie said Noosa Council welcomed any community-led advocacy in the push to address housing affordability while maintaining the low-key Noosa look and feel.

“In an area of high demand like Noosa, increasing free-market supply has only delivered more small units selling for close to a million dollars,” Mr Wilkie said.

“That’s why the SEQ review’s push to increase population and dwellings won’t address affordability here, unless social housing and private industry incentives are part of the mix.”

Acting Mayor of Noosa Council Frank Wilkie.

Mr Wilkie said council is working with relevant stakeholders on affordable housing solutions in the region.

“Noosa Council is also partnering with the Queensland Government and community housing providers to build dwellings for residents and key workers on low to moderate incomes on council and state-owned land close to shops, services and public transport,” he said.

“We advocated for and have been promoting the building of secondary dwellings, to be rented to permanent residents, rooming accommodation and parking tiny homes on properties.’

“On behalf of the council, the Mayor sent a letter to owners of short-term accommodations, asking them to consider shifting to permanent letting, since February we have seen more than 60 properties shift from short term let to permanent.”

Originally published as Ambitious campaign launched for supply of $450 rentals in Noosa