City Plan: Councillors explain the Coast will change and if you want to keep that coastal charm, move somewhere else

IF you don't like development, leave. That’s the message Gold Coast councillors are putting forward in the wake of a backlash against overdevelopment in our suburbs.

IF you don’t like change and growth, then the Gold Coast is not the city for you.

That’s the message from councillors Cameron Caldwell and William Owen-Jones after a backlash from residents who fear their coastal suburbs are being overdeveloped.

The civic leaders say that with more than 10,000 people moving to the Gold Coast each year, development is inevitable and the City Plan is the tool to manage that.

Councillor William Owen-Jones said if anyone wanted things to stay the same they should leave the Gold Coast. Photo: Jerad Williams

Cr Owen-Jones said residents who wanted the Gold Coast to stay the same as when they arrived had settled in the wrong city.

“I have lived on the Gold Coast since the mid-1970s and managing growth and getting the balance right has been on the agenda since then,” he said.

“The Gold Coast is the wrong city to live in if you don’t like either change or growth.

“The city needs to continue to manage growth, and any changes to the existing City Plan can only come from public consultation.”

Cr Cameron Caldwell said the council had to find a balance between providing affordable homes and retaining green space Picture: Richard Gosling

Community groups from Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach and Palm Beach have demanded the City Plan be changed and the council enforce its building height, setback, density, site coverage and carparking guidelines for developments.

This week the inaugural Gold Coast city architect Philip Follent said the plan favoured developers ahead of residents.

Mounting pressure worked as councillors refused a 12-unit development proposed for Palm Beach at a planning meeting on Wednesday.

Members of the Mermaid Beach Community Association meeting with councillors today to vent their frustrations about overdevelopment in their beachside suburb. Councillor Pauline Young speaks to meeting. Picture Glenn Hampson

“This is about balance and ensuring we plan for the future growth, while still ensuring we don’t fall victim to urban sprawl which would heavily impact our green and open space,’’ said Cr Caldwell, who chairs the planning committee.

“In fact, the state’s South East Queensland Regional Plan has a significant role as it encourages future growth along the key transport corridors.’’

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR $3 A WEEK

Under the City Plan, which was activated in February 2016, developments are assessed on a performance basis in which height, density, setbacks and site coverages are guidelines and not strict limits.

Guidelines can be exceeded by 50 per cent as part of the overarching South East Queensland Regional Plan, which was introduced by the State Government in August last year.

Mermaid Beach residents, who live in an area with a three-storey guideline, have been fighting approvals of four-storey developments, allowed to reach higher due to the 50 per cent ruling.

Councillors Paul Taylor and Pauline Young, whose divisions include Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Mermaid Waters, Miami, Burleigh Heads and Burleigh Waters, have told residents they want to scrap the 50 per cent aspect of the City Plan.

“I’m trying to get this 50 per cent out at the moment because it is a stupid thing to have in the town plan,’’ Cr Taylor told the Bulletin.

Like the city, the City Plan also changed and had been altered seven times since it was endorsed as major updates were introduced.

Cr Glenn Tozer said he was “very aware’’ of community expectations changing, or awareness changing, in recent times.

“It may be that stricter provisions need to be introduced to see development delivered more closely aligned to community expectations,” Cr Tozer said.

“That’s what the City Plan amendment process is for.”

Timeline

August 18, 2003: Our Living City Gold Coast Planning Scheme commences.

2003-2011: Six major amendments to the planning scheme.

2009: Council starts drafting Bold Future Plannign Scheme.

November, 2011: Council endorses draft Bold Future Planning Scheme to go to State Interest Review.

February, 2012: Council submits the draft Bold Future Planning Scheme for State Interest Review.

September 4, 2012: Withraws from Bold Future Planning Scheme from the State Interest Review and reviewed the Our Living City.

November 19, 2013: Council endorsed to submit draft City Plan for first State Interest Review.

June 17-July 29, 2014: Public consultation of draft City Plan.

April 2015: Draft City Plan sent for second State Interest Review.

November 2015: Minister for Planning endorses the City Plan.

February 2, 2016: City Plan commences.

By the numbers during 2017/18 financial year:

Applications received: 4951.

Material Change of Use: 778.

Reconfiguring a lot: 220.

Operational Works, changes to a development approval, final development approval under Robina Land Act: 3953.

Who made the decisions

Councillors: 49. Delegated: 4256.