Council recognises our role in helping to deliver homes, while being committed to ensuring the Sunshine Coast retains its character and feels like home.

The proposed planning scheme provides for the delivery of new homes in key locations, to preserve our natural and rural areas and iconic scenic views, by avoiding urban sprawl.

The State Government has a direct say in the future planning of the Sunshine Coast and forecasts our population will increase by 219,000 residents between 2021 and 2046, requiring at least 84,800 new homes.

A balanced approach to delivering homes

The proposed planning scheme takes a balanced approach to future growth by sharing the delivery of new homes between our existing urban areas (through ‘infill’ consolidation) and in emerging master-planned communities – creating a mix of housing choices – catering for all life stages. 

Council is required to plan for around 60 per cent of new homes to be built in existing urban areas (consolidation) and 40 per cent in new development areas (greenfield), in line with State Government targets. The State Government also sets the urban footprint, which identifies land where urban development - including greenfield housing - can occur.

Emerging master-planned communities like Caloundra South (Aura), Palmview and Beerwah East in the future will increase housing supply and diversity, but these areas alone cannot provide for all our forecast growth. A balanced approach is needed to ensure growth can be accommodated in a more sustainable way.

The proposed planning scheme’s responsible settlement pattern also provides for new housing to be delivered in areas close to centres of activity for jobs, services and leisure and where it can be serviced by existing and proposed high frequency public transport, including Maroochydore, Caloundra, Kawana, Sippy Downs, Mooloolaba, Currimundi, Nambour and Beerwah.

In the Coastal Corridor from Maroochydore to Caloundra, the proposed planning scheme provides for new housing opportunities in select and suitable locations, close to centres and transport. Over time, these areas will provide a mix of housing types in vibrant, green and walkable urban villages and neighbourhoods. New homes in the Coastal Corridor will account for approximately one-third of the total anticipated growth across the region to 2046.

Hinterland towns, especially larger centres like Beerwah and Nambour, provide an opportunity for additional housing to be delivered in keeping with the character of these towns.

Walkable urban villages and neighbourhoods

The proposed planning scheme supports more housing choice in well-connected, vibrant, green and walkable urban villages and neighbourhoods. Building new homes close to centres and existing or planned public transport makes sense and helps create vibrant people-oriented places, encourages more sustainable travel, and helps preserve our surrounding natural and rural landscape.

Integrating new housing with new and improved places for locals to work, shop, eat and play, nurtures more complete neighbourhoods and aligns with our Sunshine Coast identity as a ‘community of communities’.

Development will be required to fit the preferred character of the surrounding neighbourhood.

In the Coastal Corridor along the Nicklin Way, new beachside urban villages will create a mix of housing choices - catering for all life stages - in areas that are already popular places to live. They will also promote the creation of walkable, tree-lined and vibrant communities with live/work opportunities.

Modest increases in height and density are proposed to be focused around discrete beachside urban villages.

Areas surrounding proposed beachside urban villages will remain unchanged as traditional low-density areas, with mainly detached dwelling houses on traditional sized suburban lots.

Dual occupancies, secondary dwellings, terrace houses and houses on small lots

Different types of homes, like dual occupancies, secondary dwellings, terrace houses, and homes on small lots, help provide more housing options and support affordable living in our community. The proposed planning scheme supports a mix of well-designed homes, including secondary dwellings and dual occupancies in suburban areas, as well as some low-rise units and small lots in a new Low-Medium Density Residential Zone.

• Dual occupancy refers to a residential property that contains two dwellings, where each dwelling may have a separate land title and property owners, for example, a duplex.
• Secondary dwelling means a smaller second home, like a granny flat or tiny home, used in conjunction with a main house on the same lot. The dwellings cannot have separate land titles or property owners.
• Small lot residential homes are dwellings on lots less than 450m2.

All these types of homes are required to preserve the character and amenity of existing neighbourhoods.

Building heights

Most neighbourhoods will see minimal changes to allowable building heights under the proposed planning scheme.

In targeted areas, some increases in building heights are proposed. This will help create a future where development is focused in areas where infrastructure and transport can be most efficiently delivered and used, while also helping to provide a greater mix of housing options for our community.

This means major centres such as Maroochydore, Caloundra, Kawana Shoppingworld and Nambour and in key nodes along the Coastal Corridor will have targeted proposed increases in allowable building height.

Building height limits in the proposed planning scheme have been carefully considered and determined based on detailed local assessments.

The Height Overlay identifies the proposed maximum height for new buildings and structures on all land covered by the proposed planning scheme. For residential and business uses, building heights are proposed to be limited by the maximum number of storeys rather than metres alone. Regulating building height in storeys helps support Sunshine Coast Design principles by encouraging higher ceilings and more interesting roof lines.

Housing affordability

Housing affordability is a complex issue, and the proposed planning scheme is only one of many possible initiatives from many levels of government, which can work towards improving affordability.

The proposed planning scheme includes initiatives that work towards improving housing affordability, including by providing greater opportunities to increase housing supply and diversity in a way that is appropriate for the Sunshine Coast.

Council’s planning scheme sets the framework to support the delivery of new homes, with the delivery of this housing mainly undertaken by developers in the private sector.