Gold Coast residents push for Strict planning guidelines to overhaul ‘lax’ laws

GOLD Coast residents are calling for a major overhaul of Queensland’s ‘lax’ planning laws to ensure developers stay within set planning guidelines.

GOLD COAST residents are calling for a major overhaul of Queensland’s ‘lax’ planning laws to ensure developers stay within set planning guidelines.

Over 2000 people have signed a petition put to the state Government by Gold Coast resident Lois Levy, in a bid to tighten the state’s planning legislations, which is then implemented by council.

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Lois Levy has launched a petition calling for an overhaul of Queensland’s planning laws.

Ms Levy a spokesman for the resident’s group the South East Queensland Alliance, said the petition was sparked by ‘continued deviations’ from the Gold Coast City Plan (implemented in 2016) to the benefit of developers.

“Our concerns are around how the state planning act has been interpreted by council’s for their policies like the Gold Coast City Plan,” she said.

“The laws, the way they are written are fairly lax, and allow council far too many relaxations for developers in regards to height, setbacks, density, parking and communal space, causing a great deal of anxiety and anger in the community.”

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Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says the current city plan is working. Pics Adam Head

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Planning Act provisions no longer require that inconsistencies with the planning scheme only be allowed where there is ‘sufficient grounds’.

This Ms Levy argues, gives the council discretion to make decisions even if the result is not outside the agreed plan.

Ms Levy said the Gold Coast wasn’t alone, and many other resident’s groups from areas like Redland Bay and Brisbane had added their voice to the mix, calling for better oversight.

A lack of adherence to the City Plan has also recently been criticised by Cr Daphne McDonald, Cr Dawn Crichlow and Cr Pauline Young who have taken issue with high-rise development approvals in areas like Mermaid Beach.

More and more suburbs are rising up against high-density complexes on the Coast. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“We want more prescriptive state guidelines that are truly based on the benefit of the community and increased enforcement to go with it,” she said.

“We accept infill and development, but within the city plans that are agreed upon.”

Under the current city plan increases in building height up to a maximum of 50% above the set building height code are also allowed if certain outcomes are satisfied.

“Komune at Greenmount is a good example, 27 storey’s were originally approved for a 10 storey area.”

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A group of Gold Coasters want planning laws to be overhauled

“While the community gets nothing for the compromise,” she said.

Council later withdrew its support for the development in March, after a number of protests.

The development is now awaiting the decision on an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate criticised the petition and said he stands by the current City Plan.

“It is easy to criticise from the sideline while ignoring the facts. Ms Levy needs to accept that 15,000 people a year are moving here. They need to live somewhere,” he said.

The Coast’s planning laws were updated when the City Plan was introduced in 2016. Pic by Richard Gosling

“Our City Plan, endorsed by the State Government, promotes residential growth along our key transport corridors. That makes sense as it means more people can live, work and enjoy the Gold Coast without relying solely on cars.

“Our City Plan is about building up, to prevent mass urban sprawl across our beloved green space. Ms Levy must be an advocate for urban sprawl as she is critical of our City Plan which ensures the long-term protection of our green and open space.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning said an individual’s right to appeal had been strengthened.

“The recent introduction of the Planning Act 2016 returns significant planning authority to local governments and has restored appeal rights to people across Queensland,” she said.

“The Act also aims to increase transparency, better protect Queensland’s heritage and ensure the community is at the forefront of the planning process. It was developed in close consultation with residents, local government, the development industry and the planning profession.

“A number of measures were introduced to ensure decision making is fair, open and transparent including making it mandatory for councils to publish reasons for decisions on development applications.”

“We will continue to work with councils to review and refine planning legislation and supporting tools to ensure Queensland’s planning system is operating effectively.”