Social housing development proposed

from Cooroy Rag 15 June 2022 edition

The face behind Humans of the Hinterland

BY ALEX PURCELL

THE applicant of a proposed social housing development for Cooroy is calling on the support of Council and the community.

An application for a material change of use of 55 and 70 Carpenters Road, Cooroy, to build 33 not-for-profit modular units to provide housing for single women over the age of 50 has been lodged with Noosa Council.

Applicant, Eco Cottages Director, Greg Phipps, said that the proposed development is an emergency response to the current housing crisis.

“This proposed project is about taking action. The current crisis in social housing and rental availability is in a very serious and dangerous situation now for the entire community. Of concern is the lack of on the ground action now.

“This proposed development will provide a diverse mix of 33 individual small, fully furnished, sustainable high-quality homes, comprising 13 two-bedroom dwellings and 20 one-bedroom dwellings on individual allotments on the sixacre block on Carpenters Road.”

Greg said this is an innovative project and one that could be utilised as a “pilot study” for planning development for social housing projects going forward.

“All sites and dwellings will only be sold to or leased to not-forprofit (NFP) organisations and or approved registered Community Housing Providers (CHP) to provide perpetuity for social, affordable and sustainable housing on this site in the Noosa Shire for those in the community with the greatest need. That includes those suffering from domestic violence, single women over 50 and essential workers.”

Greg is calling on Council and the community to get behind this project.

“In Noosa Council’s Technical Report ‘Noosa Housing Needs Assessment 2021’, it is very evident that the Noosa Council is fully aware of the seriousness of the current crisis in social housing and has stated its desire to take action.

“This project is about taking action. It’s not intended as a precedent to undermine the intent of the Noosa Plan 2020 or as a proposal that will ignore strategies to be developed by Noosa Council’s Strategic Planning Team for social housing.

“We really need Council’s support. It is a moral obligation.”

Council's Development Assessment Manager, Kerri Coyle said that Council has issued the applicant with a request for additional information

“Council officers have issued a detailed information request to the applicant, seeking additional information about the site's suitability, given the site's existing constrained access, flooding in the

Eco Cottages Director, Greg Phipps is calling on council and the community to support a proposed social housing development in Cooroy. Picture: Travis Macfarlane.

area, limited access to services and the site's location in proximity to land intended to be developed for industrial uses in the future.

“Officers have also raised concerns about the potential impact of the nearby sewage treatment plant on future residents. The information request was sent to the applicant on 13 April 2022 and is available on Council's website. “The applicant has three months in which to respond to Council's information request, which may be extended by agreement with Council should the applicant require additional time to address the issues raised. “Once the applicant responds to the information request, the application must be publicly notified for comment from the community, and then the application will be assessed and reported to a future Council meeting,” Kerri said. Greg is asking the community to write a letter of support when the application is publicly notified for comment. “Please show Council your support of this application. Letters can be addressed directly to Noosa Shire Council or via Eco Cottages.”

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