As mentioned in our March 2025 Noosa 360 update, in response to Sandy’s Question Without Notice on 12 March 2025, the Deputy Premier provided assurances that the development of new regional plans would be actioned as soon as possible in consultation with local councils.

The ShapingSEQ Regional Plan 2023 in its current form has understandably created enormous concern for the Noosa electorate and shire due to the unmanageable and unsustainable population targets set by the previous state government, as well the international, interstate and regional visitors who each year seek to experience Noosa’s unique offerings that have been hard fought for over many decades.

Mandatory overarching amendments across Queensland do not accommodate the necessity for local governments to customise to the unique needs and vision of their communities. A one size fits all approach would be detrimental, and it is vital that exemptions from state government mandated changes be given to any local governments who have demonstrated through their housing strategies and a Housing Supply Statement that they have sensibly and sustainably met their community’s need to mid-range population projections.

Sandy wrote to the Deputy Premier in May 2025 requesting consideration be given to views raised by Noosa residents including the unsustainable population targets mentioned earlier, dwelling diversity and density requirements, lack of infrastructure and transport services to accommodate and recognition of Noosa’s demography, topography, identity and more. We have now received the following response in italics:

I appreciate your recent Question without Notice on 12 March 2025 and your support for the Queensland Government’s recent announcement to deliver new regional plans, with supporting infrastructure plans, covering every corner of Queensland to deliver one million homes by 2044.

As mentioned in my response to your question in parliament, it is my priority to closely and respectfully partner with Local Governments on each upcoming regional plan review. I look forward to resetting the planning partnership with yourself and the Noosa Shire Council (the Council) through the review of ShapingSEQ 2023.

I appreciate the time you have taken to outline key considerations as a part of an upcoming ShapingSEQ 2023 review, specifically in relation to population projections in the Noosa Local Government Area (LGA), dwelling targets and general housing and transport policy outcomes within the regional plan.

Under the Securing our Housing Foundations plan, the Crisafulli Government has committed to delivering one million new homes in Queensland by 2044. However, to build the homes Queenslanders need sooner we need to work closely with Local Governments to streamline approvals and boost investment in housing infrastructure.

As the Chair of the Cabinet Ministerial Housing Taskforce, I will be overseeing housing reforms to facilitate delivery of this Statewide housing target. Through a review of ShapingSEQ 2023, I look forward to working with you and the Council to understand how we can work together across all levels of government to facilitate the delivery of housing in the Noosa LGA to meet local demand and improve housing affordability.

The Minister for Transport and Main Roads has also provided a response including that TransLink will consider opportunities we have highlighted as part of future network reviews. For our latest update on our transport service advocacy, please visit www.sandybolton.com/north-coast-rail-services-including-cooroy-gympie-north-update-april-2025.

We will continue to monitor this review and keep the community informed.

Further information

For those wishing to also advocate with the relevant Queensland Ministers directly regarding, please email the following and copy in our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au as well forward us any response you receive.

Our previous Noosa 360 updates on the ShapingSEQ Plan are available at www.sandybolton.com/?s=Regional+plan.