We might be glued to the Tour de France on the TV at the moment (I certainly am), but we need to recognise the tremendous efforts and achievements of our ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast riders who have returned last month from their Euro Tour.

These riders spent eight weeks on the European circuit getting valuable tour experience and exposure to teams from around the world.

Importantly they also came home with some tremendous achievements, and I’d personally like to highlight the following:

• Cameron Scott getting to the top of the podium at the Memorial Philippe Van Coningsloo in Belgium and securing second place at the 68th annual Ronde van Overijssel.
• Chloe Moran took out both the GC and the Sprint Jersey in the two-stage Daagse Vrouwen Elite 2.15.2.
• In the Belgium Kermesse races, the team secured several wins, including Maeve Plouffe at Wilsele, Chloe Moran at Heurne-Oudenaarde and Alex Martin-Wallace at Wanzele.

Congratulations to everyone on the team. You’ve done us all proud.

Russell

PS The riders saw no rest and were quickly off to the Tour of the Tropics held on 3-10 July.

The tour consisted of 5 stages for the men & 4 stages for the women covering up to 400km and 6000m vertical meters of climbing showcasing the Tropical Far North.

Some of the highlights:

• Danielle De Francesco took out a Stage 2 victory, as well as winning a time trial by 23 seconds. Ultimately she ended up claiming overall victory.
• Cameron Scott secured second place in Stage 3.
• Kane Richards took out third place in the Elite Men category of the one day classic.
• Will Eaves took out the win in the U19s.

The post European success for our sponsored cycling team appeared first on RG Strategic.

This is just a small selection of projects out of the many the team has worked on in 2021, but these projects stick in our minds. They were either unique, challenging in a particular way, important for the local community, or just really fun to work on.

Come back throughout the month to see more projects as we add them here.

Twelfth Day – “Café Le Monde”

Since ‘86 Café Le Monde has greeted early risers, fresh from their first-morning surf, with famed coffees and delicious breakfast treats, and bid good night to many a late-night reveller at the end of our live music gigs. Working around the clock to serve tasty food at fair prices to locals and visitors alike, we’re proud of our history and honoured to be thought of as a Hastings Street icon.

RG Strategic worked with CLM and Frank Macchia, their design team, to deliver a project that befits the location, history and reputation of CLM.  Town planning applications were lodged and negotiated to deliver a new look, feel and open welcomeness to the pods and rooftop space.

Council officers supported the application with approval in December and we are now working towards a 2022 commencement of construction.

“I have contracted Russell Green for town planning matters during the past 8 years. Russell and RG Strategic are very knowledgeable and professional. They provide a thorough and effective service managing council applications. The approvals process can be stressful and costly – Russell and his team absorb a lot of the stress. They communicate well so you can sleep at night! I am happy to recommend RG Strategic.”

Ryan Taylor

Eleventh Day – “Sum Yung Guys”

RG Strategic worked with Sum Yung Guys for five years on all of their projects, looking after all approvals, liquor licensing, town planning, food premises. For their new venture we looked at the existing building the team had chosen and what was required.

An internal refresh and refurb ensuring an exceptional customer experience were paramount. Adding new external toilets provided more internal dining space, but to achieve this we required a change to the existing town planning approval for the new amenities. How this could be achieved around existing large eucalypts was one of the challenges we faced. We developed a construction management plan and techniques to minimise any disturbance to the trees and their roots helping to maintain their integrity. Council supported our approach and subsequently granted our town planning approval.

Internally we amended the existing liquor licence and transferred it to SYG, modified and improved the kitchen including a new cold room, and gaining Council food premises sign off.

The new building and ongoing partnership with SYG is one that enables the team at SYG to do what they do well. The team at RG Strategic help SYG manage and ensure operational compliance for all liquor and food licensing requirements.

The team at Sum Yung Guys has been using RG Strategic for over 5 years now with the multiple ventures we have done. Russell is always our first call when we have any questions regarding licensing, town planning, compliance and complaints or council questions. RG Strategic have always been forthcoming in answering and assisting us at Godspeed. Nothing has ever been too big or small for them to assist and accomplish for us and will continue to work with to accomplish anything we require. We look forward to continuing our relationship and having them assist us in the future and would recommend them highly to anyone needing assistance.

Team SYG

Tenth Day – “Paradise Rum”

What’s a beautiful coastal location like ours without its own rum distillery? That was a question the founders of Paradise Rum had asked when they came to RG Strategic to help them with the establishment of a distillery come bar in Warana on the Sunshine Coast.

Our challenge was to keep the town planning to within current allowances (accepted development) in the existing industrial building. The team at RG also assisted with the establishment of the distillery including liaison with the Government for an excise licence, and a strategy for growth starting with small scale distillation with capacity and ability to grow.

The recently opened venue has enjoyed great success already and we are now assisting with applications for future expansion.

Russell and the team at RG Strategic were most helpful assisting our business Paradise Rum to navigate the challenges associated with obtaining our liquor licenses, food premise, building and plumbing approvals. The team kept us up to date with every step of the process. We will have no hesitation utilising their services with our future projects.

Chris Clyne – Paradise Rum

Ninth Day – “The Barrel”

The Barrel is an iconic tourist attraction at Clouds Vineyards Maleny. 2021 saw The Barrel receive a much-needed refurbishment and expansion with a new exterior; complete renovation, fit-out and refurbishment internally.

New indoor function areas on both levels of the building were also added along with new wine tasting and bar areas.

A new commercial kitchen was also built and an adventure playground for the kids was added as well.

RG Strategic have been working with the Clouds Group for a number of years, assisting with all aspects of town planning and development applications helping bring their vision and dreams to fruition. This has included town planning applications for their eco-resort including a function room, café and restaurant, and accommodation, liquor license applications, food premises applications, building and plumbing applications.

The Clouds Group looks to establish long term partnerships with the consultancies we use for our properties. RG Strategic and Russell Green has been the perfect fit for us now for over 5 years. Their skilled town planners are able to cover off on all aspects of our development applications including liquor licensing, food premises, building and plumbing. With Russell’s extensive local knowledge and strong tourism and development background we know all of our venues are in safe hands. We will be continuing our partnership with RG Strategic well into the future.

Clouds Group

Eighth Day – “Noosa Council Short Term Accommodation Changes”

One of the biggest jobs this year for the team has been delving into Noosa Council’s Short Term Accommodation Town Planning and Local Laws changes. From the initial period of public comment in April, analysing the proposed changes to determine the impacts on STA operators, assisting current operators meet compliance, and now, as the changes are final, helping operators and property owners meet the stringent requirements put in place by council.

Our team continues to work with operators in securing their continued operations by preparing and managing all of their application requirements as the new Local Laws commence in 2022.

You can read more about our Noosa Council Short Term Accommodation Local Laws work here.

I can’t recommend highly enough Russell Green (Town Planning Consultant) and his team at RG Strategic. Noosa is challenged currently by proposed changes to our town plan, which will potentially seriously impact our future economic growth. As a manager of one of Queensland’s largest luxury accommodation providers, based in Noosa and representing more than 200 individual property investors, Russell has been an invaluable resource as we seek to ensure they are well informed as to these proposed impacts to their property values and use. His experience as a Councillor and Planner within Council gives him unique access and insight which serves to save time and cost when seeking his advice and expertise.

Sue Willis, Managing Director, R&W Noosa Holidays

Seventh Day – “Tingirana”

Tingirana, a stunning unit complex right on the beach at Noosa, caters to both live in apartment owners and managed accommodation units.

The managers of the accommodation component wanted to provide the next level of indulgence for their guests. They approached RG Strategic to help them obtain a liquor license that would allow them to serve alcohol in the complex common areas such as the pool and reception areas.

Liquor licenses are normally not approved for strata-titled complexes unless all owners agree to the operation of bar services on the premises. RG Strategic was able to make an argument allowing the license to be granted without full owner approval.

RG Strategic delivered a rare liquor license for the management rights owners allowing them to provide alcohol in the strata-titled complex’s common areas.

Sixth Day – “Bounce Noosa”

Bounce Noosa opened its doors to visitors in 2021. The upmarket hostel-style development was the first to find a way to make an old site viable for an accommodation venture.

The unique solution involved building Noosaville’s first underground carpark using a unique solution from Flow Defense. The installation of an innovative flood barrier allowed Bounce Hostel to provide the required car parking and ensure the site aboveground stayed sympathetic to the locality and environment.

RG Strategic delivered RG Strategic the Material Change of Use (MCU) application and the Operational Works (OPW) application. We prepared and submitted all paperwork for the Liquor Licence, Food Premises Licence, Building Approval, and Plumbing Approval.

Read more about the project in our Bounce Noosa Town Planning Case Study.

“We have worked with Russell and his team for the last four years on a project in Noosaville. The level of service, guidance and regular advice helped navigate the way through a complicated project. I can highly recommend RG Strategic and I look forward to working with them in the future.”

Mark Baldwin – Bounce Noosa

Fifth Day – “Belvedere on Pearl”

Belvedere on Pearl is a stunning new townhouse development in Cooroy nestled in the Noosa Hinterland.

An exclusive collection of 11 residences is being developed where the focus is on a low maintenance lifestyle without compromise.

In addition to all town planning, operational works applications, and conditions negotiations specific to the development, we were able to solve major stormwater site issues. It allowed the developer to proceed with the development while still meeting all local council stipulations.

Russell and the Team at RG Strategic went above and beyond to ensure a smooth and efficient application and approval process on our townhouse development in Cooroy. Russell helped solve significant stormwater issues by coordinating meetings and correspondence with the Councils engineering team ultimately leading to operation works approval far quicker than our program allowed for. I highly recommend Russell to anyone seeking planning advice on the Sunshine Coast.

Josh Overell – Belvedere on Pearl

Fourth Day – “The Junction Coolum”

The developers of The Junction Coolum presented RG Strategic with a town planning challenge. The previous development application had lapsed but the developer’s timeline meant there was no time to run through a new application process.

The team at RG reviewed the lapsed application and council requirements and delivered a solution cutting the usual development application timeline by months.

Read more about the project in our The Junction Coolum overview.

RG Strategic delivered all town planning application requirements including the Change of Use application to deliver the project efficiently, and the Operational Works Application.

“The prompt advice and expertise of the RG Strategic team at the town planning stage, has allowed us to push forward with our developments far quicker than we had expected, through a far shorter Council approval process, and this has resulted in significant cost savings. This prompt and valuable advice has extended to the operational works and hydraulics requirements of the development, and we look forward to a long relationship with RG Strategic.”

Hayden Rooney – The Junction Coolum

Third Day – “Noosa Enduro”

Noosa Enduro is a chance for Noosa to shine on the national cycling stage. Having been on hiatus for 10 years the event returned for a COVID-19 shortened run in 2021.

The event is back for 2022 and RG Strategic has again come onboard providing tourism and event advice and support

By supporting Noosa Enduro with risk management, permits, and approvals, we help the organisers focus on what they are good at… putting on a world-class event right here in our own backyard.

“When we made the decision to re-launch the Noosa Enduro, Russell and his team at RG Strategic was the first phone call we made. Russell’s immense knowledge of the local council landscape and processes were vital to our event to ensure correct planning, applications and permits were in place. The professionalism shown throughout all of our high-level dealings and documents elevated our event and helped provide confidence to all key stakeholders. I’m thrilled we made the decision to engage Russell and the team at RG Strategic and I will remain a client for many years to come.”

Matt Wilson – Noosa Enduro

Second Day – “Noosa Learn to Surf”

Noosa Learn to Surf school was established in 1995 by former 2 x Australian and World Pro Am Champion, Merrick Davis and is Noosa’s longest-running surf school.

Merrick and his team deliver undoubtedly some of the best surf lessons in Australia. We jumped at the chance to assist Noosa Learn to Surf secure commercial access to public lands to continue what is an iconic Noosa business.

RG Strategic undertook the preparation of their 2021 tender application to Noosa Council for a permit to have commercial use of public lands for their surf school. This included preparation and collation of all council tender document requirements including developing a new Environmental Procurement Policy.

We have had the pleasure of working with Russell and his team for over 8 years. Russell has been instrumental in helping us secure many Council tender submissions which can be extremely stressful, daunting and time-consuming when done on your own. Russell’s knowledge of local council laws and processes are second to none. We have confidently recommended RG Strategic to other businesses in the past and will continue to do so. Russell is the utmost professional, easy to talk to and overall a great guy. We look forward to engaging Russell in our next Council tender application.”

Merrick & Elissa Davis – Noosa Learn to Surf

First Day – “BIRD  .”

BIRD . is without a doubt the finest in charcoal chicken Noosa and the Sunshine Coast has to offer. We spoke to Chris and Peter about their uncompromising vision and what their dream was when conceiving BIRD.

For us, this project hinged on their vision… from the specific rotisserie imported direct from Spain (that had to be installed before the front wall of the shop could be constructed), the select chickens and charcoal… and the fact that you can pick up a bottle of Montrachet wine with your chook endeared the team wholeheartedly to this project.

A great project and a great addition to the Noosa culinary selections.

RG Strategic provided assistance with Food Premises, Liquor Licensing, Plumbing Applications, and Project Management.

“Working with Russell was a breeze. We weren’t on-site every day. But we just let it run, and they all knew what to do. It was a very pleasant experience.”

BIRD  .

Start your 2022 project right…

Talk to the team at RG Strategic about your town planning, liquor licensing, building development, or tourism and event needs today.

The post Our 12 Days of Projects 2021 appeared first on RG Strategic.

Not only are there three new courses over the 2-day event, but Noosa Enduro 2022 also introduces the Auscycling Gravel National Championships.

RG Strategic have again come onboard to help out the organisers with tourism and event consultancy support.

By supporting Noosa Enduro with risk management, permits, and approvals, we help the organisers focus on what they are good at… putting on a world-class event right here in our own backyard.

Check out the wrap video from last year below. Tickets and registration is available now at noosaenduro.com.

The post Noosa Enduro Returns in 2022 appeared first on RG Strategic.

RG Strategic’s town planners have been poring over the documents to date but, while we are happy to start seeing some details, we still have questions. These new laws are not something to be taken lightly as interpreting and implementing them incorrectly can cost you your opportunity to operate short term accommodation in Noosa.

We’ve already met with council to further understand council’s requirements and it goes without saying that there’s a lot of info and it can be quite confusing.

Below we have summarised the current requirements as we have been able to document them. But until the final application form is released, we can only make an informed judgment on the requirements.

Note that a one-off application for approval is required for all short stay let properties, requiring an annual renewal while the property continues to be used for short-stay letting.

It should be noted that council separate short term accommodation and home-hosted accommodation, which includes bed and breakfast style offerings or hosting people in a spare room. An application is still required for these types of operations but some requirements are different. Find out more on council’s website. The information required for an application is very similar to STA applications with only minor omissions such as contact person information for complaints as it is expected there will be a person onsite to direct any complaint to initially.

24/7 Complaints

The change with a big impost is one we highlight here. The requirement of individual operators living within 20km of the property that we raised our concern about in our original discussion of these changes is still there. This effectively means that anyone who operates STA will need to live within 20 kilometres of the premise or they will have to engage a property manager within that radius who will become the nominated contact. This will add an extra impost to the cost of operating STA.

Once approved, you will be required to display a notice showing approval at the front of the property. If you are in a complex you will need to abide by body corporate laws. The notice will need to include a 24/7 complaints hotline number and approval number.

In the first instance, all complaints will be directed to Council’s 24/7 hotline. Council will then contact the responsible person for the property. This person must attend to the complaint within 30 minutes of them receiving the complaint.

Naturally, this raises a number of additional concerns.

If there is more than one property offering STA in a complex, how will the complainant know which specific property is the cause of their complaint? How will council address the issues when they receive a complaint about a whole unit block and not an individual property? How will council address vexatious complainants who may just be protesting an approved STA operator?

There are a lot of questions yet to be answered but we have some serious concerns about how this complaints process will be administered.

Our Other Questions and Concerns

The new local laws require you to submit a site plan for the property that you are applying for. This includes the requirement to show each window and door of any adjoining residence.

To date no information has been provided as to the detail required in these plans or what council, in this instance, classifies as an adjoining residence. What detail is required in these site plans of the neighbouring properties? Will operators be required to gain access to neighbouring properties to accurately survey windows and doors and document precisely placements and measurements, or is a “mud map” acceptable?

Currently, how accurate these plans need to be and the level of detail has not been stipulated.

There’s also a requirement for full public liability insurance for an amount of at least $10 million. Now some, if not all, residential building insurance policies include a legal liability cover but in many cases, they also include exclusions if you are operating a business from the premises insured. We would advise all operators to discuss their insurance cover with their provider to ensure they have the appropriate cover required by council.

Once we see the final application form (due early next year) we can provide concrete advice and assistance when progressing an application for short term accommodation in Noosa. Until then we’ll continue to liaise with council to ensure we have the latest information to help our clients get all their ducks in a row before applications open.

What information is required to make an application for STA approval?

An application form must be completed and application fees paid*.

The following information must also be provided with the application:

• A plan of the premises
  • a site plan showing the location of all buildings including any outdoor entertainment area, swimming pool or spa, vehicle parking area and the location of each window and door opening of any adjoining residence;
  • a floor plan showing the use of each room and the maximum number of people to be accommodated in each bedroom.
• Confirmation the premises can be lawfully used for short stay letting
  • by a development approval; or
  • as accepted development or accepted development subject to requirements in Noosa Plan 2020; or
  • by existing use rights; and
  • complies with development approval conditions or if for existing use rights, the relevant planning scheme requirements at the time the short stay letting use commenced.
• Confirmation
  • the premises will not be used as a party house;
  • the premises is lawfully constructed and classified for its use;
  • a current pool safety certification has been issued by a licensed QBCC pool safety inspector; and
  • a current electrical safety certification for the smoke alarms has been issued by a licensed electrical contractor.
• Contact person information
  • name and telephone number of the contact person responsible for the premises (may include an individual, letting agency, property manager, security firm or the like);
  • confirmation the contact person is:
  • available 24 hours a day 7 days per week;
  • within 20km of the premises; and
  • responsible for the premises including addressing complaints and visitor queries.

*Fees have been waived until June 30, 2022

The bullets above outline the information required for the application. As discussed we await more specific detail about some of these points.

We also note that currently there are additional requirements not highlighted in the application process such as the development of a Code of Conduct for guests. You also need to make available upon request a register of complaints and a register of guests.

Short Stay and Short Term Accommodation Town Planning Consultants

We still have questions and we continue to engage with council to clarify some of the questions we have raised today and in the past. As we get closer and closer to the implementation of these new laws we can understand why many operators are concerned about meeting council’s requirements precisely.

Don’t risk your STA operation. Make sure you talk to the experts at RG Strategic. We’ll handle all facets of your application and approval.

The RG Strategic town planning team have invested the time to understand the new laws and how they need to be interpreted and applied. If you have any concerns about your application, ensuring you meet requirements so you can continue your operation, talk to us today. We are here to help.

Feature Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

The post New Short Term Accommodation Laws in Noosa – What you need to Know! appeared first on RG Strategic.

That is one of the findings in a new report released this month by WeRide.

The report also found a spend of $1.2b on cycle tourism in 2020.

In 2020, WeRide, an independent national voice for cycling in Australia, commissioned Ernst & Young (E&Y) to conduct a study estimating the economic contribution of the cycling economy to Australia.

The report on this study – The Australian Cycling Economy: Estimating the size and scope of the Australian Cycling Economy in 2020 – has now been released.

As an avid cyclist, Chair of the Australian Cycling Academy, and an advocate for and active supporter of cycling events in our local area – including the Noosa Enduro – I welcome this report.

This is the first time Governments, wholesalers, retailers, bicycle-related organisations, and organisers and promotors of cycling events can gain insight into cycling and its impact on the economy.

What are Some Key Takeaways from the Report?

Overall there are some big numbers in the report. In 2020 the Australian cycling economy was estimated to have contributed $6.3 billion in direct industry output, including 34,295 direct full-time jobs.

The biggest surprise for us was that E&Y found that the economic contribution estimates of the Australian Cycling economy (estimated at $3.4b outranked the Australian Motorsport Industry (at $1b) and was equivalent to the Australian thoroughbred racing industry also at $3.4b.

On direct expenditure, bicycle purchases ranked the highest for contribution at $1.57b, but expenditure on bicycle-related tourism and services was a close second at $1.17b. This figure doesn’t factor in things like event entry fees or NRS teams.

Of cyclists who cycle at least once a month, 12% did so for mass cycling events, and another 11% did so for amateur or club races.

When you consider that 29% of the Australian adult population spent money on cycling in 2020, we start to get an impression of the size of the market for well organised, professional and accessible events.

Town Planning Impacts of Cycling in the Community

The report also found that the most significant impact local government can make to increase the number of trips undertaken by cyclists is the investment in bikeways in urban areas.

55% of people who rode at least once a fortnight would take two additional trips if government took action on this initiative. People who rode once a month would increase their trips by at least one trip.

The two equal second biggest investments to increase trips taken by cyclists was 1) more dedicated of-road and cycle trails, and 2) better connected separated bike paths to transport hubs or activity hubs.

Indirect Economic Benefits

Economically speaking, the numbers in the report focus on the direct, positive impact on the economy by the industry. The report does not consider other indirect benefits that cycling contributes to, including health and well-being, reducing congestion, and providing sustainable transport options. These benefits all have a significant impact on government expenditure on health, and roads and transport options.

Read more in the downloadable PDF version of The Australian Cycling Report.

Local, State or National Event Support

RG Strategic has extensive event management experience, especially when it comes to cycling events. We can support your event or organisation with event feasibility and alignment with local and regional branding, business plans, operational planning, infrastructure, budgeting support and much more.

Feel free to contact us to discuss your event needs today.

The post Tourism and Town Planning Impacts of Cycling in the Community appeared first on RG Strategic.

READ ABOUT THE PUBLISHED CHANGES TO THE STA LAWS IN OUR LATEST ARTICLE

Our team is currently poring over the document identifying any changes to the initially proposed rules and any new rules that may have appeared as well.

We expect a lot of discussion and opinions to enter the public sphere before this is tabled at Tuesday’s Planning and Environment Committee meeting.

You can download the Council report here.

Subscribe to our email newsletter and be one of the first to receive our analysis, insights, and opinion of the proposed changes.

Subscribe now here.

We’ll also publish our thoughts here as soon as we can.

The post Noosa Council Releases Short Stay Accommodation Report appeared first on RG Strategic.

Details are scant at the moment with applications opening in October but what we do know so far is that the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program will provide one-off grants of $15,000, $25,000 and $50,000 to eligible employing small, medium and large tourism and hospitality businesses. This is for businesses across Queensland that have experienced a reduction in turnover of at least 70 per cent for at least seven consecutive days between 1 July and 30 September 2021.

There will be $40 million available for businesses across the state.

The government have yet to announce how a business will verify their eligibility but we know there will be three levels of support depending on the number of staff in the business:

• Employing sole traders to small businesses (with a payroll under $1.3 million)
• Small to medium businesses (with a payroll of $1.3 million to $10 million inclusive), and
• Medium to large businesses (payroll over $10 million).

Support will ramp up in line with payroll size from $15,000 for small businesses, to $25,000 for medium businesses, and to $50,000 for large businesses. Interestingly, while employing sole traders were mentioned in the levels supported, they were omitted from the statement of the amount of support to be offered. We hope this will be clarified and that these important businesses are indeed supported by this grant.

We also note that in the statement from the state government they specifically mention “hard hit regions such as Cairns, Whitsundays and the Gold Coast”. We hope the Sunshine Coast was omitted from this statement due to oversight and not ineligibility, but perhaps Fiona Simpson, Sandy Bolton or Dan Purdie can help clarify that.

We’ll keep an eye open for when applications are available and hope to see our concerns are for naught by then.

Photo by Luisa Denu on Unsplash

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RG Strategic’s town planners worked tirelessly on the project to get it off the ground and ensure consistent progress.

Check out the video and images below. Congratulations to Bounce Noosa and Sunshine Coast commercial builders Build4U for a job well done bringing this project to life.

RG Strategic assisted with the Material Change of Use (MCU) application and the Operational Works (OPW) application. We prepared and submitted all paperwork for the Liquor Licence, Food Premises Licence, Building Approval, and Plumbing Approval.

To read more about how Bounce Noosa came to be, check out our case study on the development project, which also discusses the challenges faced by the developer, and our interview with Mark Baldwin, GM of the group developing Bounce Noosa.

The post Bounce Noosa welcoming guests appeared first on RG Strategic.

Noosa Council is working through community consultation, with a new Local Law that will provide a regulating framework governing short term accommodation offerings. This includes short-stay letting and home-hosted accommodation.

These rule changes will affect anyone operating a Short Term Accommodation (STA) operation including holiday letting, AirBnB, bed and breakfast, or similar operation.

To comply with the proposed short term accommodation requirements of the local law and the planning scheme changes, operators should ensure their particular operation is assessed against the Noosa Plan (2006 and 2020) and local law provisions. This assessment will identify what impacts the changes will have on their property and how they can mitigate those changes.

RG Strategic is currently offering free 30 minute consultations to identify and outline how these changes may impact your short term accommodation operation. You can call us on 07 5474 3873 or email us now to book this consultation.

With the new rules slated to come into effect early in the second half of the year, you must act now to ensure you comply fully with the new changes.

5 Star Review from Sally via Google Reviews

“Russell from RG Strategic was very knowledgeable and professional when he helped us gain Council approval for our Short Term Accommodation. I highly recommend using his service.”

The RG Strategic Short Term Accommodation Assessment Process

RG Strategic will assess your operation against the outlined requirements including:

• Existing approvals (if any) and how they apply
• Identifying any new applications required to continue operating lawfully
• Addressing the provision for Contact Person to reside within 20 minutes of the premises
• Requirement for a “Code of Conduct”
• Other administrative requirements including public liability insurance, legislated signage, guest registers, parking provisions, complaints register.
• To gain confidence that you will meet all required obligations when the new rules come into effect, take advantage of our free consultation today.

5 Star Review from Julie via Google Reviews

“Russell from RG Strategic did a great job in getting Council approval for our short-term accommodation. We found Russell very friendly and competent and really knows his stuff. Highly recommended!”

Contact us now to take advantage of our offer of this free 30-minute consultation. The new rules and requirements are slated to come into effect early in the second half of the year so act now. You can call us on 07 5474 3873 or email us now using the form below.

5 Star Review from Steven via Google Reviews

“Can’t thank Russell and the team enough for their help navigating the changes to the Noosa Plan and how they might impact our property. The service was always really prompt and a much better approach compared to trying to navigate the application process on our own. Thanks!”

The post New Noosa Short Term Accommodation (STA) Rules – Do You Comply with the Proposed Changes? appeared first on RG Strategic.

The segment highlighted the luxury cottages and other accommodation options at Clouds Montville Retreat in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, as well as the local culinary options and wine experiences at the Barrel at Clouds Vineyard.

RG Strategic have been working with Clouds, assisting with all aspects of town planning and development applications helping bring their vision and dreams to fruititon.

We have assisted with:

• town planning applications for their eco-resort including a function room, café and restaurant, and accommodation
• liquor license applications
• food premises applications
• building and plumbing applications

If you missed it and would like to see what’s on offer at Clouds Montville and The Barrel, catch the episode below.

The post Tourism development coming to life appeared first on RG Strategic.

Matt Wilson, director at Procu Sports and one of the organisers of the Noosa Enduro, said that after a “10-year hiatus, we are thrilled to be bringing back the Enduro. This iconic event is fondly remembered by all that did it and now it’s going to be bigger than ever with multiple categories and courses on offers well as an event village with kids events, entertainment, local food and craft beer, and expo stalls.”

The Noosa Enduro is a two-day cycling festival featuring six rides across gravel and over mountains. Rides include:

• 100km Noosa Enduro
• 100km Noosa Gravel Enduro
• 60km Noosa Enduro
• 90km Noosa Dirty Fondo
• 150km Noosa Dirty Fondo
• Kids Enduro

RG Strategic, through its Tourism and Event arm, is supporting the Enduro by helping with all:

• applications;
• stakeholder engagement;
• covid safe plans; and
• risk management

“Russell and his team at RG Strategic have been an invaluable part of bringing our event back to life. Their specialist expertise in in risk management, permits, approvals, applications and general problem solving approach to hurdles has allowed us to focus on what we’re good at. I can’t recommend them enough.” – Matt Wilson, Noosa Enduro

RG Strategic has knowledge and experience to leverage key stakeholders and relationships with government stakeholders and local businesses to support organisers of all shapes and sizes of tourism and event.

From high-level planning, logistics, and branding, to vital practical infrastructure provisions, financial administration, and social impact assessments, and all reporting, RG Strategic provides the core of what successful events require.

After a 10-year break, we couldn’t think of a better time for this event to make a return.

You can find out more about the Enduro through a number of channels:

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The post Supporting the Noosa Enduro 2021 appeared first on RG Strategic.

At its meeting on 9 March 2021, Noosa Shire Council’s Planning and Environment Committee considered changes to draft local laws governing the operation of short term or short stay accommodation in Noosa Shire.

We outline some of the changes and their possible impact – positive and negative – on operators and what we can do to mitigate these negative changes.

The changes result from the first round of public consultation on local laws proposed in late 2020 to regulate short stay letting in Noosa Shire. Read our article on the initial changes here.

You can view the 9 March committee agenda here. We have also taken the liberty of extracting the relevant section from the agenda, which you can download here.

The public consultation brought several issues to light, which Council has considered and addressed in the proposed changes.

There are some good changes and, as always, some changes we think are detrimental to operators and the industry.

RG Strategic is offering free 30 minute consultations to discuss how these changes may impact your short term letting operation. Call us on 07 5474 3873 or email us now to book.

The good for Short Stay Accommodation Operators

The proposed changes remove several imposts that seemed too restrictive in our eyes.

• The requirement for body corporate approval of short term letting has been removed.
• Planning scheme matters that local law cannot regulate (like occupancy and hours of use of outdoor areas) have been removed.
• Exemptions for properties using onsite letting agents have been removed, helping to level the playing field.
• among other removals and changes

The Bad

In amongst the good are some, we feel, too restrictive provisions. We outline some below.

Provision for Contact Person to reside within 20 minutes of the premises

Probably the most restrictive new inclusion in the draft local law is the requirement for the “defined contact” to be contactable 24/7 and reside within 20 minutes of the premises being offered as short stay accommodation.

This appears more a move to restrict operations of investors who may not have a local presence. These operators still employ local services like cleaners and maintenance trades, but may not live in the immediate vicinity. Naturally, we are confident that existing letting agents are eager to fill this vacuum of services providing 24-hour contact for remote operators.

However, we are also concerned that some operators who do live locally will fall into this restriction. Try getting to Noosa Heads from Kin Kin, for instance, in under 20 minutes.

Requirement for a “Code of Conduct”

Operators of short term letting premises will be required to develop a code of conduct for guest behaviour before the operator’s application is considered and approved. This needs to include items like:

• vehicle storage
• onsite use of premises like pools, spas, gyms, BBQ areas, decks and balconies
• expectations of behaviour while on premises
• management of pets
• waste management
• safety and cleanliness requirements

This code of conduct needs to be developed specifically for the premises in question and must be provided to guests on arrival.

Home Hosted accommodation now included

Activities requiring approval now include home hosted accommodation. While we understand the desire for approval requirements for commercial operations, home hosted accommodation can include operations not commercial in nature.

The draft local law defines home hosted accommodation as where the person in charge of the premises resides on those premises while the occupant uses the premises.

This can include services that charge a fee, such as Airbnb, but also those services that do not charge a fee for the accommodation provided, like CouchSurfing.com.

Other administrative requirements

The local laws outline a range of other administrative requirements operators are required to develop or provide before being approved. These items include:

• The provision of contact person details and signage at the front of relevant properties (does your property need this signage?).
• Ensuring operations do not affect existing residents’ amenity.
• Provision for guests to enter the property without causing a disturbance to other residents.
• Adequate provision for parking (what is adequate for your property?).
• Requirements for public liability insurance.
• Maintenance of a guest register available for Council inspection.
• Maintenace of a complaints register available for Council inspection.

Our concern for short stay letting operators

Our concern is that these new restrictive measures are a knee-jerk reaction to some particular fervent submissions to the first round of public consultation.

Council cites “lack of regulation and complaint management” and “negative residential amenity impacts” as justifications for these new additional requirements.

We don’t believe that residential amenity is greatly impacted due to short stay accommodation “creating a higher intensity and turnover of guests” as mentioned in the report.

If you have lived in unit developments, you’ll know that some of these issues are not particular to short term letting. Residents are often also the cause and reason for these types of complaints.

A cursory review of the proposed local law highlights how detrimental some of these changes may be to operators. While we also recognise there will be some benefits to the community as a whole, we need to balance these benefits with some of the proposed regulations’ restrictiveness.

What can you do?

If you are an operator of short stay accommodation or letting options in Noosa Shire and these proposed changes will impact you, you need to prepare a comprehensive submission to Council.

Council is looking at opening up the draft local laws for public comment and consultation for four weeks in late March or early April.

You must have your submission to Council in that timeframe to have your voice heard.

With decades of experience in local laws, RG Strategic can assist with your submission research and preparation. You need to ensure it is a considered and supported opinion outlining your concerns and the reasons for those concerns.

Contact us today to book a free 30 minutes review of how these proposed local laws could affect your operation – whether you offer single or multiple Airbnb premises, couch surfing or other forms of short term accommodation premises. We can help you determine how you will be impacted and how you can mitigate or meet the new requirements. Click here to book your appointment.

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