The Strategic framework underpins the planning scheme and provides the ‘bigger picture’ long term vision for the region. It guides and informs subsequent parts of the planning scheme and incorporates the vision and themes our Sunshine Coast community helped develop during preliminary consultation.

What's new?

The proposed planning scheme builds on the strengths of the current planning scheme while also implementing a range of changes to help manage growth and improve the regulation of development on the Sunshine Coast into the future. This includes ensuring that we responsibly plan for the next phase of growth on the Sunshine Coast in the proposed planning scheme’s strategic framework and that it aligns with more recent state, regional and local plans and strategies.

The planning scheme uses ‘tables of assessment’ to identify what (if any) development approval is required, the type of assessment to be undertaken and the assessment benchmarks that development must be assessed against.

Using categories of development, the tables of assessment identify what is:

• accepted development does not require a development approval before it can occur; however, in some cases, this may be subject to meeting certain requirements specified in the planning scheme, or
• assessable development - requires a development approval before it can occur.

For assessable development, the category of assessment for a development application may be either code assessment (which does not require public notification) or impact assessment (which requires public notification).

Sometimes, local plans or overlays can change the category of development or category of assessment. Specific tables of assessment outline categories of assessment for these circumstances.

Refer to Planning scheme user guide information sheet for further information on the categories of development and categories of assessment for assessable development.

What's new?

Just like our current planning scheme, the proposed planning scheme seeks to apply the lowest appropriate level of assessment to the different types of development, having regard to the nature of the proposed development, the zone the development site it is located in and any overlays that may be relevant.

Each property on the Sunshine Coast is subject to zoning that indicates intended land use for a particular site or area. Zones used in Queensland planning schemes are defined by the State Government and Council may only include a zone that is provided for within the Planning Regulation 2017.

What's new?

Zoning will remain the same for most properties on the Sunshine Coast; however, changes are proposed in some areas. New or updated overlay mapping may also affect some properties. There are 25 zones in the proposed planning scheme, with the introduction of five new zones to more appropriately reflect intended land use within particular areas.

The zones for the proposed planning scheme are:

Residential zones category:

• Low Density Residential Zone
• Low-Medium Density Residential Zone (NEW)
• Medium Density Residential Zone
• High Density Residential Zone
• Mixed Use Zone (NEW)
• Tourist Accommodation Zone

Centre zones category:

• Principal Centre Zone
• Major Centre Zone
• District Centre Zone
• Local Centre Zone
• Neighbourhood Centre Zone (NEW)

Industry zones category:

• Low Impact Industry Zone
• Industry Zone (NEW)
• Waterfront and Marine Industry Zone

Recreation zones category:

• Sport and Recreation Zone
• Open Space Zone

Environmental zones category:

• Environmental Management and Conservation Zone

Other zones category:

• Community Facilities Zone
• Emerging Community Zone
• Innovation Zone (NEW)
• Limited Development Zone
• Rural Zone
• Rural Residential Zone
• Specialised Centre Zone
• Tourism Zone

Refer to the zones information sheets for further information on the zones and the land uses and form of development that can be expected in each zone.

Local plans enable localised planning in addition to zones and overlays, ensuring the planning scheme approach is not one-size-fits-all. They support the individuality of our diverse communities and outline more detailed (localised) requirements for assessing development, to help ensure it is suitable for the local area.

What’s new?

The proposed planning scheme includes 18 new local plan areas, covering both urban and rural areas, and accompanying local plans for these areas. In comparison, the current planning scheme has 27 local plan areas; however, they mainly only cover urban areas. The local planning approach recognises our ‘community of communities’ with unique provisions for development in local areas. The local plans included in the proposed planning scheme are:

Coastal local plans

• Bli Bli - Maroochy River Plains Local Plan
• Buderim and Surrounds Local Plan
• Caloundra and Surrounds Local Plan
• Coolum - Peregian Local Plan
• Kawana Waters Local Plan
• North Shore Local Plan
• Maroochydore Local Plan
• Mooloolaba - Alexandra Headland Local Plan
• Sippy Downs - Palmview Local Plan

Norther hinterland local plans

• Eumundi - Doonan Local Plan
• Yandina - Maroochy River Valley Local Plan

Central hinterland local plans

• Mooloolah Valley Local Plan
• Nambour and Surrounds Local Plan
• Woombye - Palmwoods Local Plan

Southern hinterland local plans

• Beerwah - Landsborough Local Plan
• Glasshouse - Pumicestone Local Plan

Western hinterland local plans

• Blackall Range - Maleny Local Plan
• Mary Valley - Kenilworth Local Plan

Refer to Your local area and local plan information sheets for further information on each of the proposed local plan areas, including a summary of some of the proposed changes.

Overlays identify, via mapping, physical features or values that need to be considered when developing land, in addition to zoning and local area plans. Examples include maximum building height, historic character areas and natural hazards such as flood and landslide. Each overlay has its own code with specific assessment provisions relevant to that overlay.

What’s new?

There are 13 overlays in the proposed planning scheme including one new overlay (agricultural land). There are also updates to overlay mapping based on new or better information and data. This includes updates to the overlays relating to flooding, bushfire and coastal hazards, to help Council plan for improved climate resilience.

The overlays are:

• Acid Sulfate Soils Overlay
• Agricultural Land Overlay (NEW)
• Airport Environs Overlay
• Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay
• Bushfire Hazard Overlay
• Coastal Hazards Overlay
• Extractive Resources Overlay
• Flood Hazard Overlay
• Height Overlay
• Heritage and Character Areas Overlay
• Landslide Hazard and Steep Land Overlay
• Regional Infrastructure Overlay
• Scenic Amenity Overlay

Refer to the overlay information sheets for further information on particular overlays and key changes proposed.

Codes are a set of standards that must be followed to achieve good planning outcomes.

What’s new?

The proposed planning scheme includes 23 ‘use codes’, including three new codes to improve the regulation of specific uses. Also included are 10 ‘other development codes’. Many codes have been improved and updated to include more current and best-practice standards for development and algin with more recent Council strategies (e.g. Sunshine Coast Design).

Use codes

• Business Uses Code
• Caretaker’s Accommodation Code
• Childcare Centre Code
• Community Activities Code
• Community Residence Code (NEW)
• Dual Occupancy Code
• Dwelling House Code
• Dwelling House (Small Lot) Code (NEW)
• Extractive Industry Code
• Home-Based Business Code
• Industry Uses Code
• Market Code
• Multi-Unit Residential Uses Code
• Nature and Rural Based Tourism Code
• Relocatable Home Park and Tourist Park Code
• Residential Care Facility and Retirement Facility Code
• Rooming Accommodation Code (NEW)
• Rural Activities Code
• Sales Office Code
• Service Station Code
• Short-term Accommodation Code (NEW)
• Sport and Recreation Uses Code
• Telecommunications Facility and Utility Code

Other development codes

• Advertising Devices Code
• Landscape Code
• Nuisance Code
• Reconfiguring a Lot Code
• Safety and Security Code
• Stormwater Management Code
• Transport and Parking Code
• Vegetation Management Code
• Waste Management Code
• Works, Services and Infrastructure Code

Refer to the land use and other development information sheets for further information on particular codes, including key changes proposed.

Maps show provisions relating to the strategic framework, zones, local plan precincts, overlays and structure plans that apply to the planning scheme area.

What's new?

The proposed planning scheme uses a new and improved online platform with interactive mapping and intuitive navigation, making it easier to view and explore the details.

View the proposed planning scheme in ePlan including text and interactive mapping.