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Business gets a breather under Noosa Plan amendments

Proposed amendments to the Noosa Plan, the planning scheme for the former Shire of Noosa, is good news for current and prospective business operators.

“This is a significant improvement to business access, representing a wonderful step towards easing the restrictions on business while still respecting the values of the original planning scheme,” says Division 12 Cr Lew Brennan, whose portfolio resides in Economic Development and Council Entrepreneurship.

Common-place uses for a town or village centre, such as commercial offices, medical centres, shops and cafés, will now become self-assessable where they are established in an existing building already approved for any one of those uses.

“So where a new business operator wants to start up a café in a building previously used as a shop or an office, they won’t need town planning approval for a change of use, providing they meet the code provisions,” explains Cr Brennan.

The Industry Zone also follows this path where someone looking to establish a warehouse or a new industrial use within an existing building will no longer need to apply for a material change of use, providing they meet the code provisions and are not expanding the building or use area.

“For instance, you could establish a manufacturing and packaging operation where there was previously a warehouse or service operation.

“Clearly these changes are good news for the business sector and will provide immediate results on the local economy, cutting though red tape and expenses for local, enterprising people,” says Cr Brennan.

Some of the other key changes are:

  • New provisions for professional offices will allow people to establish businesses in some places where broader commercial offices that rely on a high volume of walk-in clients, would not have been appropriate.
  • Trade related adult education/vocational training will become a consistent use in the industrial estates
  • Significant Home Bases Businesses that may include noise-generating activities can involve up to six people in town with no set limit out of town.
  • Bed and Breakfast accommodation businesses will no longer require impact assessment in the Rural Zone.
  • Height limit in the Industry Zone will be raised to 10 metres with no specific requirement regarding roof pitch, allowing for greater building flexibility.
  • Small dwelling units for permanent residents will become consistent uses in the Business Centre Zones at Cooroy, Tewantin, Noosa Junction and in Mary Street/Thomas Street Noosaville that may result in shop top housing for key workers.
  • New provisions that facilitate access to business include improved accessibility to public transport, designated motorbike and scooter parking, bike racks, showers and lockers.

The Proposed amendments can downloaded online or you can talk to Strategic Planning staff on 5449 5162. Written submissions on any aspect of the proposed amendments can be made to Council by 5 September 2008.

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