Preliminary consultation - Feedback at a glance | New Planning Scheme Project

Planning for our region

Council asked the community for feedback about a proposed vision for the Sunshine Coast and proposed regional planning directions for the new planning scheme.

On balance, feedback received indicates support for the proposed regional planning directions and settlement pattern, giving Council confidence to proceed with drafting the new planning scheme to align with the values confirmed during the preliminary consultation. In particular, community input will help inform the drafting of the strategic framework for the new planning scheme.

Feedback at a glance

Your questions answered - Proposed Regional Planning Directions

The proposed regional planning directions and settlement pattern map prompted some common questions and concerns.

The population in the coastal corridor extending from Maroochydore to Caloundra is expected to grow because that is where many people wish to live and because many jobs and services are currently located or planned to be located there.

Council is proposing a balanced approach to accommodating future growth and is not proposing that all of our region’s forecast growth is accommodated within the coastal corridor.

Aligning with state and regional planning policy, the new planning scheme will seek to accommodate at least 60 per cent of our forecast growth within existing urban areas (including in and around our major centres as well as in urban villages – or nodes – along the coastal corridor).

The remainder of our forecast population growth is proposed to be accommodated in greenfield areas (including Palmview, Caloundra South (Aura) and, in the future, Beerwah East).

Accommodating more of our forecast population growth through carefully planned redevelopment within existing urban areas, means less reliance on new greenfield development.

This approach, which aligns with state and regional planning policy, aims to contain urban sprawl, helping to preserve our natural environment areas, our rural areas and our hinterland towns and villages.

Focusing growth in key locations maximises the efficient use of existing and planned infrastructure; concentrates new housing close to employment and services; and supports affordable living and housing diversity.

The proposed regional planning directions sought to focus opportunities for redevelopment in and around our major centres as well as in urban villages (or nodes) along the coastal corridor extending from Maroochydore to Caloundra.

Being able to move around the Sunshine Coast easily and conveniently as we grow is an important part of maintaining our way of life and promoting a sustainable future for the generations to come. Just like our current planning scheme, our new planning scheme will seek to integrate land use planning with transport planning, as set out in the Sunshine Coast Integrated Transport Strategy.

The Sunshine Coast Public Transport Project (formerly the Sunshine Coast Mass Transit Project) is evaluating options (such as bus rapid transit, trackless trams and light rail vehicles) to provide an efficient and easy-to-access public transport system as an attractive alternative to travel by car. Preparation of the new planning scheme is not dependent upon a particular type of public transport being selected – that is yet to be determined. While proposals and decisions for transport projects continue to evolve and become more resolved over time, it is important that we continue to plan for a land use pattern that supports more sustainable travel choices, both now and into the future.

In addition to recognising the role of public transport improvements in supporting the growth of our region, the new planning scheme will also be based on other important planning principles such as containing urban sprawl to protect our environment and rural landscape, enhancing access to economic and community infrastructure and increasing the diversity of housing available in the region.

Planning for our local areas

The Sunshine Coast is recognised as a ‘community of communities’ with distinct and separate towns, villages, suburbs and urban areas, surrounded by natural and rural landscapes. The diversity and uniqueness of our communities is one of the reasons our region is so special.

Proposed local planning directions

To ensure the new planning scheme is not one-size-fits-all, council proposed 18 new local plan areas to cover the whole of the Sunshine Coast. Council invited community input on proposed local planning directions for each of the 18 local plan areas.

Feedback indicates the proposed local planning directions generally offer good guiding principles for the local planning provisions in the new planning scheme.

Feedback at a glance

Concerns raised will be carefully considered in drafting the local plan area provisions, allocating zones and nominating maximum allowable building heights in different localities.

Many people were keen to see more detail, which will be available once a draft version of the new planning scheme is prepared and released for community consultation.

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Proposed local plan area boundaries

The proposed local planning approach was well supported and there was minimal feedback about the boundaries for most of the 18 proposed local plan areas. Having carefully considered the feedback received, the below minor changes to the proposed local plan area boundaries have been made. These boundaries may be subject to further refinement as detailed drafting for the new planning scheme progresses.

Previous proposed new Local Plan Areas: Previous Proposed New Local Plan Areas

Amended proposed new Local Plan Areas: After preliminary consultation

LPA map legend

Proposed local plan areas

Your questions answered - Proposed Local Planning Directions

Some proposed local planning directions identified areas for low-medium density residential development such as dual occupancies or town houses. Generally, it is intended that low-medium density residential areas accommodate buildings up to two storeys in height, with potentially up to three storeys in some areas.

Depending on where you are from, the term ‘high-rise’ can mean different things to different people. On the Sunshine Coast, high-rise typically refers to buildings over six storeys in height.

As part of the preliminary consultation, Council did not indicate proposed maximum building heights in the local planning directions as this level of detail has yet to be determined. The proposed planning directions did specify where no or minimal change in maximum allowable building heights was proposed.

Feedback received is providing valuable input into drafting the local plan area provisions, including maximum allowable building heights. Once drafted, this detail will be included in a draft version of the new planning scheme and will be subject to future community consultation.

Figure: How high is high - Building heights explained

Hot planning topics

Based on previous community feedback and the operation of the current planning scheme, council identified 10 'hot planning topics’ and invited community feedback and input on these topics.

Affordable living and housing affordability
Car parking
Carports
Climate change
Design of multiple dwellings
Dual occupancies and secondary dwellings
Service stations
Short-term accommodation
Supply and use of industrial land
Uses in rural areas.

Most feedback was supportive of what Council proposed to do in the new planning scheme to address these topics and many respondents offered further suggestions for Council to consider.

Feedback received will help inform the detailed drafting of the new planning scheme, including the strategic framework, local planning provisions and development codes.

Need more detail

Related documents for the Preliminary Consultation Program outcomes

Have Your Say

Preliminary consultation - Feedback at a glance

Planning for our region

Feedback at a glance

Planning for our local areas

Proposed local planning directions

Proposed local planning directions

Feedback at a glance

There were some common themes...

Strongest support was for those directions relating to the protection of the environment…

...and local character.

Opinions varied in relation to where future population growth and new housing should be directed. Notable local planning concerns included…

Increases in density or building height along key transport corridors in the coastal corridor, particularly in the Kawana Waters and Mooloolaba – Alexandra Headland local plan areas.

Additional low-medium density residential development (duplexes and town houses) within some existing suburbs.

Conversion of some rural residential or rural land to urban residential uses.

Resilience to flooding.

Improving design outcomes.

Preserving the character and identity of each of our local communities.

Traffic congestion and parking associated with growth and change.

Concerns raised will be carefully considered in drafting the local plan area provisions, allocating zones and nominating maximum allowable building heights in different localities.

Many people were keen to see more detail, which will be available once a draft version of the new planning scheme is prepared and released for community consultation.

There will be a further opportunity for you to have your say when a draft version of the new planning scheme is released for public consultation.

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Proposed local plan area boundaries

Proposed local plan area boundaries

Proposed local plan areas

Hot planning topics

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