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Voices from Affected Community Members Highlight Short-Term Rental Pressures on the Sunshine Coast
Residents in Maroochydore and nearby suburbs describe how new rules and population growth have altered daily life and housing options.
How we reported this
Residents across the Sunshine Coast are speaking out about the strain from short-term rental properties as council rules tighten and the regional population keeps climbing.
The issue has gained urgency after the Sunshine Coast Council updated its short-term rental registration requirements in June, forcing operators to comply with new limits on high-density coastal zones. Locals say the changes arrived just as more families moved in from southern states, pushing up weekly rents in established neighbourhoods.
Daily impacts on streets and services
One long-time Maroochydore homeowner described how three neighbouring houses on Sixth Avenue now operate as holiday lets, leaving the street quiet on weekdays but noisy on weekends. A parent near Sunshine Coast University Hospital reported that staff accommodation has become harder to find because investors have converted units into Airbnb listings. Both accounts came during a public forum held at the Maroochydore Community Hall last week.
These experiences sit alongside the hospital’s own expansion project, which added 120 beds this year and drew new workers to the area. The same growth has increased demand on local roads and parking near the hospital on Hospital Road.
Numbers behind the pressure
Council data released in May showed short-term rental listings on the Sunshine Coast reached 4,850 properties, up from 3,900 two years earlier. Average weekly rent for a three-bedroom house in Maroochydore now sits at $685, according to the latest Domain rental report. Community members say these figures match what they see when trying to renew leases or find new homes for adult children.
Next month the council will accept written submissions on proposed caps for entire-home listings. Residents can email feedback to the planning department or attend the next ordinary meeting scheduled for 23 July at the Caloundra Civic Centre. Those wanting to register a property must use the council’s online portal before 31 August to avoid fines.