Milestone as Sunshine Coast new planning scheme draft sent for state review

The Sunshine Coast will be under a new planning scheme in coming years with the first draft sent off to be reviewed by the state after preliminary community feedback.

Sunshine Coast's new planning scheme draft has been submitted for state interest review.

Sunshine Coast Council’s draft for a new planning scheme has been shipped off for review featuring its improved vision for 2046 almost two years after preliminary public consultation.

The new Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme was released to the Queensland Government for a state interest review in December, 2023 after council drafted the plans following preliminary feedback of the community.

The scheme will set the Sunshine Coast’s vision for 2046.

Aerial image of the Sunshine Coast, looking towards Coolum Beach.

Council has since released a summary brochure of the consultation, where 10 “hot planning topics” were outlined as priorities sought by the general Sunshine Coast community.

These topics are listed below.

NEXT STEPS

The state interest review involves the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning Meaghan Scanlon to view and approve the draft in order to ensure the region’s plans align with the state’s interest.

Upon approval, the draft will then be released to the Sunshine Coast community for public consultation in order to consider feedback and amend the planning scheme.

Public consultation is expected to start in the later half of 2024.

Following the amendments, the scheme must be given a final review by the minister before it is formally implemented for the Sunshine Coast.

The draft planning scheme must go through various stages before its formal implementation. Picture: Sunshine Coast Council

From initial planning - which commenced in 2021 - to official community implementation, the planning process is estimated to take up to four years.

Queensland Government regulations require local planning schemes to be reviewed every 10 years before deciding whether to amend or replace the current scheme.

Preliminary consultation occurred in 2022.

PRELIMINARY FEEDBACK

Preliminary feedback included demand for greater resilience against climate change in council businesses, increased use of electric vehicles and renewable energy sources, and provision of granny flats and improved affordable housing availability.

The brochure also described feedback had shown a desire for affordable housing to be integrated into all community spaces.

It was also recognised in feedback the new scheme should protect what makes the Sunshine Coast “unique” with environmental and wildlife preservation as a large contributor.

In a survey to test council’s proposed planning directions, protection and restoration of natural habitats reached 96 per cent in agreement, the highest percentage of 24 survey options.

Part of the draft planning scheme proposes 18 new local plan boundaries. Picture: Sunshine Coast Council

Local planning concerns included potential residential density or building height increases between Maroochydore and Caloundra, predominantly in the Kawana Waters and Mooloolaba-Alexandra Headland local plan areas.

Other concerns included flood resilience, traffic congestion and parking, converting rural land to urban residential areas and preserving character and identity of localities.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesman said the details of the draft “must remain confidential” until it is released for all residents to access following the state interest review.

Coastline at Dicky Beach in Caloundra.

“The draft planning scheme will be released for formal public consultation in due course, and council will be seeking comments on the draft planning scheme from all sectors of the local community,” the spokesman said.

“Formal public consultation is anticipated to occur in the second half of 2024, noting that the timing of the state interest review process is outside of council’s control.”

Originally published as Milestone as Sunshine Coast new planning scheme draft sent for state review