Sunshine Coast Council planning scheme: Early documents released for resident input

From building height limits to areas designated for duplex and unit development, the suburbs poised to see the biggest changes over the next 20 years have been revealed.

The areas poised for the most noticeable changes over coming decades have been revealed in the first glimpse into the next planning scheme which will tackle the Sunshine Coast’s population boom.

Sunshine Coast Council has released a suburb breakdown of how it will handle two decades of growth.

The documents released as part of its new planning scheme are open for public comment. 

It listed Beerwah, Maroochydore, the Sunshine Coast Airport and neighbouring land in Marcoola, Palmview and Caloundra South as suburbs which will experience the highest amount of change under the new scheme.

Nambour and surrounds, Alexandra Headland and Mooloolaba and Kawana Waters were areas listed as likely to have “moderate” changes.

It said the tourism hotspot of Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headland would be a “focus area” for increased housing densities.

It said building height increases were also being considered – but not at the Mooloolaba Spit or on top of Alexandra Headland.

The Alexandra Headland is likely to experience some changes under the Sunshine Coast Council’s new planning scheme.

Regulation of short-term accommodation is also being considered for those areas.

Increased height and densities were also listed as being considered at Kawana Waters along Nicklin Way.

However it said there would be no increased height limits along the beachfront.

It said height limits would also be reviewed at Maroochydore in particular near the CBD to “facilitate built form integration”.

However limits to buildings at Maroochydore Beach and Cotton Tree Esplanade would remain.

The council also flagged the potential to allow for residential development at the Sunshine Coast Home Centre above the ground floor and to transition Wises Rd industrial area into “large format retailing” or showrooms.

North Shore suburbs including Marcoola and Mudjimba would also face changes in particular around the Sunshine Coast Airport.

It said the council wanted to review planning for the airport and adjacent industrial land for “compatible and complementary development”.

The information was released as the council calls for early input into planning directions for the new scheme.

A community reference group has been working with council from the outset of the project, providing feedback about the best ways to engage with the community.

Mt Coolum resident Annette Chesswas pictured at Mudjimba Beach, said she hoped future development at the Sunshine Coast was sympathetic to the environment. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mt Coolum resident Annette Chesswas said she was concerned about future development on the Sunshine Coast and its impact on the environment.

“It needs to be done in a responsible way that takes into account the natural environment and wildlife because most people who moved here instead of the Gold Coast was because of the environment,” she said.

“We don’t want the big city lifestyle.

“I get Maroochydore is being focused on as a city – so living north of the Maroochy River it’s a very different type of environment and we don’t want to lose that.”

Mayor Mark Jamieson said the plan aimed to provide the foundations to support “future prosperity and liveability” of the region.

“We want to hear from our diverse range of community voices and to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard during this important preliminary engagement phase,” he said.

“The current planning scheme has been in place since 2014 and a lot has changed, but one thing that remains constant is the importance of maintaining our region's identity, character and lifestyle.”

The latest documents include 18 local plans which take in every suburb with the aim to recognise the region as a “community of communities”.

Caloundra South (Aura), Palmview and Beerwah East Major Development Area were listed as major expansion areas.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson wants residents to have their say a new planning scheme.

Beerwah East has long been the council’s preference for the location of greenfield development to help house up to 200,000 extra residents estimated to move to the region before 2041.

It said the new planning scheme should take into account that area as well as the potential for other land use changes on the eastern side of the railway station at Landsborough, to “maximise opportunities” alongside railway upgrades.

It also flagged additional low-medium density residential areas close to Landsborough and Beerwah centres.

Medium density housing such as low-medium rise apartments were also being considered at Caloundra and Currimundi centres.

It also identified the need for more mixed-use development opportunities along Nicklin Way at Currimundi.

Mr Jamieson said one of the focuses of the new scheme was to ensure future growth and development aligned with the community’s views as well as changes in technologies and state planning policies.

“Here on the Sunshine Coast, we’ve been experiencing growth for some decades now — it’s not something new,” he said.

“We cannot escape the fact that people move to the Coast to enjoy our laid-back lifestyle, community spirit and of course our spectacular beaches and hinterland.”

Mr Jamieson said the council wanted residents’ feedback about their local areas and that it would not be a “one size fits all” approach.

The feedback on planning directions will be used to prepare a draft new planning scheme that will be subject to further consultation.

The new planning scheme is intended to be in place by 2024.

View the proposed land use planning directions and provide your feedback by completing the online surveys at Sunshine Coast Council’s Have Your Say Page haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au before Thursday, March 31.