Queensland councils can prepare a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) to respond quickly to changing or emerging planning issues. A TLPI addresses a specific, often localised planning matter. It must be approved by the State Planning Minister before it can proceed.

Sunshine Coast Council is proposing a TLPI to amend the planning framework for Birtinya Town Centre. The TLPI focuses on delivering more residential development in the town centre in response to the housing crisis on the Sunshine Coast.

Birtinya Town Centre is the last remaining greenfield site in the area covered by the Development Control Plan for Kawana Waters (DCP) and has always been intended as a Major Regional Activity Centre with retailing, offices and high-density residential development as permitted by the Approved Master Plan No. 100. It is an ideal location to provide more residential density as it already has the infrastructure capacity to support additional development and does not directly adjoin any low-rise residential neighbourhoods.

The TLPI will:

• allow the maximum building height across the town centre to be increased from 10 storeys to 15 storeys, and up to three taller buildings of no more than 18 storeys
• require new residential developments to contribute to the supply of housing diversity and affordability
• shift unutilised population allocations from the already fully developed DCP precincts to the town centre, so the total population allowed under the Kawana Waters DCP will remain unchanged
• allow for the development of hotel accommodation at Eastbank – next to Sportsmans Parade – to capitalise on the region’s tourism needs now, and as we prepare to co-host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Using a TLPI to make the changes to the DCP is considered appropriate given the urgent need to respond to the housing crisis and capitalise on the opportunities presented by the Kawana Sports Precinct in the lead up to and during the 2032 Games.

Please share your feedback by Tuesday 12 November 2024 to help inform Council’s decision. Click on the ‘Feedback Form’ tab at the top of the page to leave your views.

The process Council must follow when making a TLPI is set out in the Planning Act 2016 and the Minister’s Guidelines and Rules 2023.

The process does not mandate consultation as a step in the plan-making process. However, we would like to hear our community’s view on the proposed TLPI to help inform our decision. This feedback will be one component of other targeted consultation that is being conducted.

Between 9am on Wednesday 16 October and 5pm on Tuesday 12 November 2024, our community is invited to comment on the proposed TLPI via an online feedback form on the next tab.

There will also be two 2-hour-long pop-up stalls at Birtinya Shopping Centre where community members can speak to the project team, ask questions and provide feedback.

• Pop-up session 1: 10am – 12pm, Saturday 26 October 2024 at Birtinya Shopping Centre
• Pop-up session 2: 3pm to 5pm, Thursday 7 November 2024 at Birtinya Shopping Centre

Once community feedback has been considered, Council will decide whether to proceed with the TLPI. If so, it will be submitted to the State Planning Minister for approval. Subject to receiving the Planning Minister’s approval, Council can adopt the TLPI and it will apply for a period of up to two years. During this time Council is required to amend the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme to reflect the provisions if they are to be made permanent.