Sunshine Coast Council votes on plan to relax height limits for hotels

A plan to relax building height limits and waive development fees for high-end hotel projects in preparation for the upcoming 2032 Olympics has proven to be controversial among Sunshine Coast councillors.

The Sunshine Coast Council held it’s ordinary meeting on Thursday. Picture: Sam Turner

A plan to relax building height limits and waive development fees for high-end hotel projects in preparation for the upcoming 2032 Olympics has proven to be controversial among Sunshine Coast councillors.

A draft of the Accommodation Hotel Incentives Package’s strategic policy was extensively debated during the Sunshine Coast Council’s ordinary meeting on Thursday.

The plan outlined a number of proposed changes to the handling of development applications and planning guidelines, in an attempt to attract more high-end hotel developers to address a 2150-room shortfall.

The policy states developers of eligible short-term accommodation projects would not be required to pay the development application fee and would also receive a 50 per cent reduction in infrastructure charges.

According to the plan a Temporary Local Planning Instrument would also allow an additional 3m for sites with existing height limits, 7m for other sites and further rooftop use of up to 3m.

Councillor Taylor Bunnag, Mayor Rosanna Natoli and councillor David Law were involved in the discussion.

The changes proposed in the Temporary Local Planning Instrument, which would impact local areas such as Maroochydore, Caloundra, Sippy Downs and Nambour, would need to go to the State Planning Minister for approval.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the incentives were necessary to attract “high-end” visitors to the region and boost accommodation offerings for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

“Even just two or three of these hotels would make a massive impact,” Ms Natoli said.

Town Planners conceded, when asked by Councillor Taylor Bunnag how many developments had taken place due to previous incentive packages, that there had historically been a limited take-up.

The planners also told the council there is only one application for a hotel development currently with the Sunshine Coast Council.

Councillor Ted Hungerford said he was “very disappointed” the plan did not propose the council consult the community on all aspects of the incentive package, including the waiving of fees, which ratepayers would need to foot the bill of.

Councillor David Law said he was “unsure” the plan was addressing the right problem currently faced by residents in the region.

“We have to encourage the building of dwelling houses at the moment,” Cr Law said.

The plan was ultimately passed through, however both Cr Hungerford and Cr Law voted against the incentive package in it’s current form.

While some incentives such as the waiving of certain fees will be introduced immediately, the changes to height limits will first go through a process of community consultation.