DMP - For the love of Noosa

Principles

EXPLORE ACTIONS:

Improve Infrastructure and Transport solutions

Protect our Neighbourhoods

Our wellbeing is fundamental to Council’s decision making – enhancing our quality of life through better connectivity, accessibility and housing amenity.

Balanced Events Portfolio

Optimise Parking and Traffic Management

Next Principle

Noosa’s quality of life, connectivity, accessibility, and housing supply are improved by responsible tourism.

Potential Measures ofSuccess

Potential Outcomes

EXPLORE ACTIONS:

Sustainable Visitation

Management of Noosa River

Noosa Council is committed to working with the community to position Noosa as a leader in destination management, where Council policies, plans and actions enrich our environment and lifestyle through globally recognised responsible and regenerative tourism.

Champion DMP Delivery

Review Funding of Tourism

Next Principle

Previous Principle

Noosa’s lifestyle, community, environment and visitor experiences are improved by Council leadership and responsible tourism initiatives.

Potential Measures ofSuccess

Potential Outcomes

EXPLORE ACTIONS:

Joint Custodian Program(For the Love of Noosa)

Build Industry Capability and Experiences

We all share a deep love for Noosa – its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and strong community spirit. We tread lightly while we’re here, and every decision we make is guided by our commitment to keep Noosa special for current and future generations.

Our Stories Reflect Our Values

Use Smart Modes of Transport

Next Principle

Previous Principle

Noosa forever remains a special place because everyone – residents, businesses and visitors – is committed to doing their bit to keep it that way.

Potential Measures ofSuccess

Potential Outcomes

EXPLORE ACTIONS:

Enable Visitor Contributions

Regenerative Tourism Industry

We care for Noosa’s natural and built places, protect our way of life, and ensure tourism supports a healthy environment, thriving community, and helps fund the services and infrastructure that sustain us.

Lead in Destination Accreditation

Noosa’s Tourism Organisation Aligns with the DMP

Previous Principle

In Noosa, tourism is for good – enhancing, and regenerating Noosa’s environment, land, infrastructure and services.

Potential Measures ofSuccess

Potential Outcomes

How will we do this?

• Develop and implement a new events strategy that reflects community values—includes sustainable limits on the number, scale and size of events reducing disruption, supporting low-impact events, and encouraging scheduling outside peak holiday periods.
• Support events that care for the community, and the environment, celebrate Noosa’s values and give back to the region, ensuring they meet sustainability criteria while minimising impact and disruption to the community.

Together, we support events that embrace Noosa’s regenerative values, protect the environment, and bring benefits to locals.

Potential Outcomes

1. Managing Short-Term Accommodation Impacts Council tools like zoning regulation, local law enforcement, increased rates and charges for STA properties will help maintain neighbourhood character, reduce disruption for residents, and may increase housing supply. Property owners may feel unfairly targeted and reduced short-term rental options could be perceived to impact accommodation capacity and local businesses. 2. Easing Congestion through Public and Active Transport Improved transport options and active transport infrastructure encourages sustainable travel, reduces traffic, and enhance accessibility for both locals and visitors. Behaviour change may be slow, and infrastructure upgrades could be costly or delayed, limiting immediate impact

3. Fair and Efficient Access to Parking Smarter parking management will improve access in high-demand areas, reducing frustration and congestion. New parking approaches or paid parking may be unpopular or perceived as inequitable if some users are exempt, especially if not well-communicated. 4. Supporting Events Events are aligned with Noosa’s values, demonstrating environmental stewardship and community benefit. Stricter criteria may reduce the number of eligible events, potentially impacting cultural vibrancy or economic returns.

• An increase in

How will we do this?

• Make it easier, safer and more enjoyable to get around Noosa without a vehicle, to encourage more locals and visitors to commit to taking public transport, walk, scoot or ride their bikes more often in areas of high-traffic use.
• Explore innovative ways to incentivise those who choose smarter ways to travel – Park and Ride, Public Transport or Active Transport (walking or riding a bike) – with potential support from revenue from visitor contributions.

• Maintain and prioritise public open spaces for recreation use, not carparking (e.g., Noosa Heads Lions Park) unless there is an overriding community benefit to do so.
• Trial innovative approaches that prioritise pedestrians and enhance the experience for all in congested areas at high peak times.

Fact Sheet

Together, we commit to reduce congestion in high-use traffic areas by using smarter ways to move around Noosa and continuing our strong advocacy for improved public transport.

How will we do this?

• Work with the State Government and Local Government in other key tourism destinations to pilot a visitor contribution model, that enables revenue generated to be directed towards such things as community priorities, infrastructure, resilience initiatives and regenerative tourism.
• Investigate the establishment of a new Community & Environment Benefit Fund, as a mechanism to ensure transparent allocation of funds from such revenue sources as visitor contributions to local initiatives that benefit Noosa.
• Encourage online booking platforms, to contribute financially to each year from revenue generated in Noosa, ensuring they are supporting a destination that supports their business.

Fact Sheet

Together, we advocate for user-pay contributions and partnerships, so visitors are directly supporting local projects that protect nature, enhance community spaces, and improve shared infrastructure.

How will we do this?

• Pilot a range of user-pay models to shift how tourism is funded, such as: – Regulated and timed paid parking in high-traffic areas – A fee for driving into and therefore contributing to congestion in high-traffic areas – A visitor levy on overnight stays (subject to State Government approval)
• Collaborate with major booking platforms, such as Airbnb, to contribute to environmental and community initiatives that matter most to locals.
• Review all elements of the Tourism Noosa Funding Agreement to ensure its purpose, model and funding are aligned to achieve the outcomes of the Destination Management Plan (DMP).

Together, we support alternative ways to fund tourism – for example through visitor contributions and other user-pays options.

How will we do this?

• Strengthen the tools available to Council—like planning rules, local laws (Noosa Short Stay Letting and Home Hosted Accommodation 2021), rates, and compliance to manage and mitigate the impacts of short-term accommodation on our neighbourhoods. This includes addressing issues like waste management and protecting the peaceful character of residential areas.

• Encourage and incentivise an opt out program for short-stay rentals in residential areas on the coast and in Noosa’s hinterland, to revert back to affordable long-term rentals or permanent for locals.

• Advocate to the State Government for a state-wide register of STA properties and seek legislative changes in relation to STA use rights and capping STA numbers in residential zones.
• Work with existing and future tourism accommodation providers to ensure any development respects Noosa’s Design Principles, ensuring that new developments or upgrades to existing accommodation reflect local values, improve access and inclusivity and fit with Noosa’s character.

Together, we manage the impacts of short-term accommodation in our neighbourhoods – using Council tools like rates and charges to help keep Noosa’s neighbourhoods liveable for locals.

How will we do this?

• Work with partners including State Government to explore ways to sustainably manage access and congestion at our most iconic and sensitive locations (e.g., Noosa North Shore, Noosa River, Cooloola Recreation Area, Teewah Beach, Noosa Heads National Park) so that nature can rest and the experience for all is preserved.
• Explore the use of new technologies (e.g., mobility sensors and real time APPs) to ensure visitor numbers and activities are sustainable and within an established carrying capacity of Noosa’s environment, waterways and infrastructure.
• Develop a local Surf Management Plan to help everyone enjoy the waves safely and respectfully – ensuring Noosa’s World Surfing Reserve stays special for future surfers and ocean lovers to come.
• Work with Research partners and State Government to improve our understanding and response to climate and disaster risks to Noosa’s iconic places and tourism industry.

Fact Sheet

Together, we advocate for responsible management of Noosa’s most sensitive areas – supporting managed access to preserve the experience for all and encouraging improved behaviours in areas where nature needs to rest.

How will we do this?

• Council together with the Tourism Industry lead the way in investing in programs to achieve responsible, regenerative tourism – including lasting initiatives that support the 2032 Brisbane Olympics net zero commitment, and deliver regenerative experiences, that help our residents and visitors give back.
• Partner with the Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation (KKPAC) to support local tourism operators in learning and sharing Kabi Kabi traditions, stories and culture—as taught and entrusted by KKPAC.

• Support, facilitate and promote nature-based and eco-certified businesses that actively contribute to environmental protection and enhance community and visitor wellbeing.
• Support and show case local food and beverage producers to develop regenerative experiences that deliver fresh, nutrient rich and locally grown food and beverage that helps sustain and promote the wellbeing of locals and visitors while in Noosa.

Together we improve the Noosa experience by supporting programs that build the knowledge and capability of our tourism businesses so that they can demonstrate leadership in promoting regenerative practices, environmental accreditation, and authentic cultural traditions and storytelling.

How will we know if we are succeeding?

• A year-on-year increase in business and residents signing up to the 'For the Love of Noosa' - Joint Custodian Program.
• An increase in the number of regenerative and cultural tourism practices and experiences available in Noosa.
• Increase in participation of visitors in regenerative tourism experiences (including cultural).
• Congestion is reduced in high-demand areas during peak periods.
• An increase in emissions reduction programs and carbon zero outcomes.

How will we do this?

• Support our tourism industry and businesses to lead by example in sustainable and regenerative practises – reducing energy, waste and water use and incentivise regenerative behavioural change in locals and visitors, with Noosa Council-operated tourism assets, such as the Noosa Holiday Parks, leading by example.
• In partnership with Tourism Noosa and our business community lead the transition away from single-use plastics to reduce waste to landfill, reduce plastics pollution, encourage compostable products and to encourage and incentivise behaviour change.
• Embed regenerative practices that actively support water security, reduce waste to landfill, and promote a circular economy— as an example, by partnering with initiatives like Give a Sheet, which transforms discarded linen (used hotel sheets, towels, napkins) into valuable raw materials that can be re-used.

Together, we adopt sustainable and regenerative practices by developing and delivering programs that helps the tourism industry to lead the way and encourages everyone to contribute.

How will we know if we are succeeding?

• An increase in availability and participation in smarter ways to travel - park and ride, public transport or active transport (walking or riding a bicycle).
• All events meet sustainability criteria and improved results of community sentiment.
• Parking is easier to access at the places we want to go to.
• An increase in accessible and inclusive accommodation.
• An increase in the number of properties reverting to long-term rental or permanent housing supply.

How will we do this?

• Partner with Tourism Noosa (and other stakeholders) to ensure funding, marketing and programs reflect community values and align with the direction of this DMP.

• Ensure Tourism Noosa delivers programs and industry development to both grow and improve the experiences and offerings that reflect Noosa’s values and provide opportunities for visitors to contribute positively to the protection of Noosa’s lifestyle and character.

Together, we support the alignment of Noosa’s regenerative tourism approach, and the DMP, reflecting community values and protecting Noosa’s lifestyle and character.

How will we do this?

• Work together as locals and visitors to earn global recognition for Noosa due to a genuine community-led approach, and commitment to leave this place better than we found it.
• Understand and demonstrate the true value of Noosa’s natural assets when we tell our story, by showcasing how our beaches, bush, and river significantly contribute to community wellbeing, cultural richness and to a thriving, sustainable economy.

Together, we commit to leaving Noosa better than we found it working towards global accreditation for the destination in acknowledgement of a commitment to our values.

How will we do this?

• Review dynamic parking systems (including timed and regulated parking) and introduce trials of paid parking in high-demand areas that are tailored to support and prioritise resident needs (considering free or low-cost rates for local residents and workers) while also accommodating visitors.
• Use innovative parking management tools (e.g., vehicle recognition technology) to improve vehicle turnover in parking areas, which can improve parking availability and support the economic success of local businesses.
• Upgrade bus services and transport hubs, including exploring options for faster bus routes, dedicated bus lanes (including investigation of a one-way bus lane), and ensure all tourism marketing promotes sustainable travel options.

Fact Sheet

Together we ensure fair and efficient access to parking and reduce congestion in high-demand areas.

Potential Outcomes

3. Use Smart Modes of Transport More sustainable travel options can reduce congestion and improve accessibility for residents and visitors. Infrastructure limitations, lack of funding and investment in active transport infrastructure and public transport and / or lack of behavioural change may hinder uptake, resulting in minimal impact on traffic issues. 4. Our Stories Reflect Our Values Consistent messaging will reinforce Noosa’s identity and encourage respectful visitor behaviour aligned with community values. Overuse or lack of authenticity in messaging may lead to scepticism or disengagement from locals and visitors.

1. Joint Custodian Program The program can encourage shared responsibility among locals, businesses, and visitors, fostering stronger stewardship of Noosa’s environment and culture. Engagement or take-up may be uneven, with limited participation from certain sectors or visitors, reducing the overall impact of the program. 2. Build Industry Capability and Experience Enhances the sustainability credentials of tourism operators, leading to richer, more authentic visitor experiences. Smaller businesses may struggle to access or implement training and accreditation, creating a gap in capability across the sector.

Potential outcomes

• An increase in

How will we know if we are succeeding?

• Destination Stewardship Council established and driving action in line with DMP.
• Community sentiment and satisfaction rate with tourism management improved.
• Alternative funding sources, including visitor contributions, are supporting Tourism and Destination management.
• We understand the carrying capacity of our most sensitive places, and we manage access to these to ensure the experience is preserved for all.

How will we do this?

• Work closely with State Government, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) and river users to ensure the health and quality of the waterways are enhanced, to improve the biodiversity, aquatic health and scenic amenity of our much-loved river.
• Support MSQ in removing abandoned vessels and regulating vessel use to ensure limits to permanent occupation of vessels and use of vessels for short stay letting.
• Develop programs to engage landowners to support regenerative agriculture to protect Noosa’s River system – supporting landholders practises, reducing soil and pollutant runoff, enhancing sustainable and local food production.

Together, we advocate for a quality Noosa River experience through sustainable river management and working with relevant authorities to ensure the rivers health is prioritised.

How will we do this?

• Establish a Destination Stewardship Council with the ability and influence to help drive the successful delivery of key DMP actions – helping to implement, monitor and measure DMP progress.
• Establish a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to measure DMP progress ensuring actions are successfully delivered within agreed timelines.
• Measure Community Sentiment on the DMP every two years to ensure DMP actions are dynamic and reflect current community sentiment and values.

Together, we establish a Destination Stewardship Council comprising individuals with the expertise and influence to champion the successful delivery of Noosa's DMP.

Potential Outcomes

1. Enable Visitor Contributions User-pays models can generate sustainable funding for local projects, enhancing community infrastructure and environmental protection. Visitors may perceive the contributions as additional fees, potentially affecting satisfaction or willingness to return. Residents may see the contribution as inadequate to offset the impacts and costs to rate payers. 2. Regenerative Tourism Industry Programs that support sustainable practices can elevate Noosa’s tourism sector, attracting environmentally conscious travellers and fostering industry leadership. Implementation may be inconsistent, with some operators lacking resources or motivation to adopt regenerative practices, leading to inconsistent outcomes and not meeting regenerative tourism outcomes.

3. Noosa’s Tourism Organisation Aligns with the DMP Alignment with the Destination Management Plan ensures tourism promotion and marketing reflect community values and protect Noosa’s unique character. 4. Lead in Destination Accreditation Achieving global accreditation will enhance Noosa’s international reputation and validate its commitment to community wellbeing and becoming a regeneration destination. The accreditation process may be resource-intensive, costly and maintaining standards over time could require ongoing resource and financial commitments.

How will we do this?

• Develop and implement a Noosa Custodian Program (For the Love of Noosa) encouraging locals, businesses and visitors to become ambassadors in ways to care for Noosa and leave it better than they found it.
• Promote opportunities that are easy for local and visitors to participate in – such as tree planting, bush care, beach clean-ups and cultural walks recognising that everyone can play a part in protecting Noosa.
• Encourage creative and engaging ways for visitors and residents to be involved and reward behaviour change, such as the promotion of ‘voluntourism’ opportunities where visitors participate in voluntary programs that support our community and environment.
• Assist local businesses and community groups to create unique experiences that showcase Noosa’s natural beauty, history, and culture—through local food, art, live music, and traditions—to offer authentic Noosa experiences for locals and visitors.

Together, we ensure that Noosa is kept special for future generations, by participating in a Joint Custodian Program that invites visitors, businesses and locals to actively support Noosa’s regenerative tourism values and actions.

How will we do this?

• Showcase local businesses that care for Noosa – those that are actively protecting, enhancing the environment and contributing to the community’s long-term wellbeing.
• Share Noosa’s story to inspire and unite locals and visitors, honouring and celebrating how everyone contributes to making this place so special, from our pioneer families to our living legends and young people – capturing how this place feels like home whether you’re here for a day or for a lifetime.
• Work with and advocate strongly to the State Government to support seasonal rest periods and establish sustainable carrying capacities for in our most sensitive natural areas, giving these places time to recover and stay resilient to improve and preserve the wilderness experience for all.

• Help more people understand what Noosa’s most loved places need, to stay healthy by working with our dedicated volunteer and community groups and using our promotions and marketing to share practical, everyday tips that support their protection and long-term care.

• Ensure our promotions of Noosa reflect and respect Kabi Kabi Peoples, ensuring their knowledge, culture, and care for Country guide how we look after this place and share Noosa’s story.
• Celebrate Noosa’s unique character by enhancing and regenerating our special places in ways that reflect our rich history, vibrant culture, and local creativity—from food and drink to art and live performance and other experiences that capture the spirit of Noosa.

Together, we embed Noosa’s regenerative aspirations and expectations of respectful, responsible visitor behaviour in every story we share about Noosa.

How will we know if we are succeeding?

• A fund is established which is supporting a range of community priorities with revenue generated by visitor user pays.
• Increase in the number of tourism businesses in Noosa that have an environmental certification or accreditation.
• Noosa achieves Gold Global Destination Certification through EarthCheck, with community-led initiatives contributing to the certification.
• Noosa is a single-use plastic-free destination.

Potential Outcomes

1. Sustainable VisitationManaged access to sensitive areas will protect ecosystems and maintain the quality of a place for the community and visitor experiences. Managed access could mean you need to plan and book ahead to experience a location. Restrictions may frustrate visitors or reduce tourism activity in popular areas, potentially impacting local businesses and causing frustration. 2. Management of Noosa River Collaboration across local and state government on river management can improve the water quality, biodiversity outcomes, safety, and recreational access and value for both locals and tourists. Coordination across multiple authorities may take time or be inconsistent, potentially delaying improvements and creating confusion about responsibilities.

3. Review Funding of TourismVisitor contributions and user-pays models can provide funding for environmental and community projects, help maintain infrastructure and provide a way to fund tourism marketing and initiatives The tourism body is self-sustainable and does not rely on rate payer funds. The user-pays models may be perceived as exclusionary or just another cost, especially if not linked to visible community benefits. 4. Champion DMP Delivery A Destination Stewardship Council that has the right representatives will ensure strategic leadership and accountability in delivering Noosa’s Destination Management Plan (DMP). If not inclusive or transparent, the council may face criticism or lack community trust, limiting its effectiveness.

How will we do this?

• Prioritise investment in footpaths, trails and bike lanes to make walking, bike riding, and scootering safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
• Strengthen advocacy to State Government for improved public transport in Noosa—more services, better routes and connectivity, and more suitable (electric) modes—and partner with business to deliver smart options like a subsidised ferry and airport transfers.
• Encourage and incentivise locals and visitors to walk, ride or Park and Ride by making it easier, more convenient and faster to leave their vehicles outside high-traffic areas.
• Ensure we build back better when renewing or upgrading infrastructure, so our places are more resilient and able to withstand climate impacts and disasters.

Fact Sheet

Together, we ease congestion by making public and active transport more reliable, accessible, and appealing for locals and visitors.