Housing in the tourism town has become, as Mayor Clare Stewart recently said to local media, a social disaster. In the space of two years, the region’s housing stock fell by almost 6 per cent as people shifted their rental accommodation into short-term accommodation for tourists.

“Residents and studies are clear that short-term accommodation (AirB&B, Stayz etc) is having an impact on the social fabric, sense of community, feelings of belonging, safety, housing supply, affordability, and residential amenity,” a recent report to the council said.

The council has acted with a housing strategy designed to increase development and redevelopment in particular areas but Noosa has another problem, young people.

Specifically, the 18-to-24 demographic, who take up all the cafe, restaurant and social service jobs, leave either for jobs or education or because they can’t afford to live there anymore.

However, it’s not all bad. Noosa Shire Council has released data which also dispels a lot of myths of the town and highlights the problems tourism presents.

For instance, while it is undoubtedly a magnet for southerners (it isn’t called Toorak North for nothing), Noosa’s big growth is in 35-to-44 year olds, not retirees, and that’s exactly the demographic that any regional town would want to attract.

People in that age bracket tend to spend up on housing and education and are at or near the peak of their earning capacity, so that’s a good problem to have.

However, a recent report to the council on accommodation said that small, affordable dwellings for key workers, particularly those supporting the tourism and hospitality industry, and the older population as well as affordable family homes “were an unmet housing need in Noosa Shire”.

“This has reached crisis point with many businesses unable to secure staff due to affordable accommodation shortages and long-term residents having to leave Noosa to find housing
elsewhere or seeking refuge in temporary accommodation,” the report said.

“It is also considered that Noosa has begun to overreach its carrying capacity, particularly during tourist peak periods and weekends, with road networks, open space, Noosa River and Main Beach often at full capacity, with negative impacts associated with this being experienced by residents and visitors.”

More than 5200 dwellings are considered to be in the short-term accommodation pool, but the number is probably much higher. Noosa Heads increased from 45 per cent to 52.7 per cent in 2 years.

So, while it continues to attract tourists in big numbers it can’t keep the young workers to serve those tourists and existing residents. Some of that will be improved by the return of backpackers, but staggeringly high airfares may also stall that.

Noosa’s problems are not ones specific to it. Covid and the huge costs of housing are presenting problems throughout the state.