Policy Progress in Noosa Underscores Bigger Regional Challenges

Noosa Shire has just announced planning changes aimed at easing the housing crisis, including more flexible provisions for tiny homes, affordable rentals, and secondary dwellings. It’s a small but welcome step in the right direction.

We applaud Noosa Council for taking action to unlock more affordable housing options. It’s a positive move and one that we hope will inspire other councils to rethink how they approach housing supply. But let’s be clear: while it’s progress, it’s nowhere near enough.

We’re still trying to solve a housing crisis using the same tools and thinking that caused it.

Despite the clear need for bold reform, other local governments,  including Noosa’s southern neighbour, the Sunshine Coast, remain stuck. Interestingly, the Sunshine Coast Mayor recently called for “real solutions” to the growing homelessness crisis. But we’ve been offering them for years.

In fact, we predicted this crisis more than 15 years ago, including the rise of permanent shanty towns if urgent action wasn’t taken. Since then, we’ve continued to explain, advise, and raise the alarm. We’ve put forward practical solutions time and again. And yet, we’re still trying to get through to the very people now claiming to be searching for answers.

When it comes to affordable housing, rental supply, and homelessness, there’s a fundamental misunderstanding at the heart of the issue:

Residential developers and property investors are not the problem. They are the only thing keeping the rental market alive.

More than 90% of rental housing is provided by the private market. But policy continues to penalise the very people willing to invest in new supply. The result? Declining rental stock, rising rents, and more pressure on the people our leaders claim they want to help.

Governments at all levels have proven their inability to fix this housing crisis. Populist policies do more harm than good, hurting the people trying to be part of the solution while claiming their votes.

It’s time for real leadership using evidence-based decision-making.

Residential property investors are the solution to the housing crisis and we should do more to support them, not less. While not a ‘popular’ opinion, we challenge anyone to bring their data. We’re up for the fight and have the hard evidence at hand.

Back to you. You are part of the real solution regardless of the current circumstances. The worsening affordability = increasing prices and rents for a generation (at least) allowing you to grow your own future at the same time helping others. And we can show you how, while at the same time being ready for market changes, including the likely dumb policies to come from uniformed pollies.

Book a free strategy session or download our Property Investment Guides to see how you can make the real insights work for you.