Noosa tried to cap its population at 56,500. It’s already over, with more to come.

by Tony Moore, published in smh.com.au

Noosa’s famous 1995 population cap of about 56,500 looks dead in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, according to new population estimates of 75,500 by 2046 from Queensland government planners.

Noosa’s population was 57,397 as of June 30, 2022.

The proposed increase is 19,100 more people than former mayor Noel Playford imagined when he put forward the idea of capping Noosa’s population at 56,500 people in 1995.

What does modern Noosa say?

“I am seriously concerned about the state’s plan to pack another 19,100 people into Noosa by 2046 which is outlined in the draft South-East Qld Regional Plan put forward yesterday [Wednesday] by the Qld State Government,” Noosa’s mayor Clare Stewart writes on her Facebook page.

“The draft SEQ Regional Plan has raised huge concerns for Noosa Council.

“What is particularly concerning is that it is our belief that the state expects us to accommodate more than half of that growth, close to a staggering 10,000 people, in just the next two-to-three years.

“This is unrealistic and would place huge strain on our environment, our infrastructure, and our amenity.

“Similarly, the suggestion that our height restrictions could be lifted to 4-8 stories in some locations is incredibly worrying. If this were to occur, it would greatly impact the character and look and feel of Noosa.”

How did Noosa’s population cap arrive?

The 56,500 population cap idea came from its former mayor Noel Playford in 1995 – as an extension of the limits to growth concepts of sixties planning, fuelled by the pro-environment ethos of the National Parks Association.

It lasted in-principle until the council amalgamation wars of 2008, when Noosa amalgamated with Noosa and Maroochydore shires to form the Sunshine Coast Council.

Can a population cap be realistically enforced?

Griffith University’s senior lecturer in urban planning Dr Tony Matthews says no.

“It is largely meaningless, there is no mechanism for doing it,” he says.

Read the full article at https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/noosa-tried-to-cap-its-population-at-56-500-it-s-already-over-with-more-to-come-20230803-p5dtkt.html