Sunshine Coast Council refuses to extend consultation deadline for town plan

Sunshine Coast Council will not give residents more time to consider its first glimpses into a new town plan despite the potential for significant changes across the region.

Residents have less than four weeks left to comment on a new town plan as some slam the Sunshine Coast Council for an “unrealistic” deadline while many recover from recent floods.

The council has refused to extend the deadline for submissions on its early work for the new planning scheme.

The Beach Matters founder Rachael Bermingham said she was surprised at the council’s refusal while many residents were still cleaning up after the six-day deluge left some of the region flooded.

A council spokesman said it was only preliminary consultation and early in the plan-making process.

But Ms Bermingham said it was important residents had enough time to have their say now so their feedback could be included in the draft planning scheme.

“This isn’t just a council plan it’s a whole community plan and so the community should have a proper, authentic opportunity to have input,” she said.

“For a council that is trying to build trust with the community this is not the way to go about it.

“This deadline is an unrealistic expectation for the community right now.”

Ms Bermingham formally requested for an extension due to floods and Covid-19 disruptions, but was denied.

In the response the council said allowing an extra four weeks would only include nine business days due to holidays.

Rachael Bermingham and Michelle Young pictured at a Beach Matters rally against light rail and high rise development. Picture: Patrick Woods

The council released local area breakdowns for public comment which show key focuses for each suburb in the 2024 planning scheme.

It included where height limits and density increases were being considered, new zonings and how the region’s beaches and green spaces would be preserved.

A council spokesman acknowledged the challenges the community faced during the recent weather events.

The spokesman said the current process was an informal, non-statutory step in the plan-making process.

“As an initial phase of consultation, feedback is being sought on strategic concepts with limited technical detail at this stage,” the spokesman said in a statement.

“As such, it is considered that the seven-week preliminary consultation period is appropriate and ensures community members have sufficient time to have initial input on the new planning scheme.”

They said feedback would be accepted a limited time after March 31 if a group or person was “genuinely unable” to meet the time frame.

Ms Bermingham said it was an important document that affected the whole region and every resident.

She raised concern that council’s marketing strategy would fail to reach those without internet, seniors, renters and residents who were disconnected during flooding.

“We know this is preliminary but wouldn’t you rather get a plan in place with three quarters of the population having their say as opposed to a third,” she said.

The new planning scheme will replace the 2014 scheme.

The document includes maps and rules to guide what can be built where and to make sure the right development happens in the right places.

The council spokesman said community participation was encouraged through online surveys and information sessions, face-to-face meetings and community and industry briefings.

Drop-in information sessions from March 13-24 are also being held across the region where residents can speak with the planning team.

Venue locations and times can be found here.

Formal community consultation on the draft planning scheme is likely to occur in 2023.