Councillor's comments on overdevelopment are a bit rich

THE allegations made by Cr Christian Dickson regarding community and media criticising the council for overdevelopment is a bit rich

Aerial photo of Kawana Waters, Sunshine Coast. Picture: Patrick Woods

THE allegations made by Cr Christian Dickson regarding community and media criticising the council for overdevelopment and not holding higher levels of government to account, is a bit rich (Daily, March 30).

Is he not aware of the recent Parliamentary petition 2989-18, Reform of Queensland Planning Legislation, submitted by the community and to which Minister Dick responded on March 29, inter alia, that "In Queensland, local governments are empowered to make decisions they consider appropriate to meet the needs and views of their community”.

"Matters such as neighbourhood character, open space, building heights, density and heritage, are all considered through the preparation, implementation and enforcement of planning schemes, policies and law...”

In other words, it is the responsibility of the council to make decisions consistent with the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014; the Queensland Government has merely set the planning framework.

I also draw Cr Dickson's attention to the Land Supply and Development Monitoring Report 2018, released by the Queensland Government in January 2019.

It is instructive to compare the entries for Noosa (a biosphere reserve) and Sunshine Coast.

Sunshine Coast dwelling approvals exceeded the average annual benchmark by 23 per cent in consolidation areas and 25 per cent in expansion (greenfield) areas, that is, well over the targets set in the government's South East Queensland Regional Plan.

The dwelling density increased between 2011 and 2016 - Sunshine Coast's density is now higher than any area in southeast Queensland other than Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

In contrast, Noosa's dwelling density remained stable between 2011 and 2018 and the median lot size is about 45 per cent larger.

Yet for both local government areas the capacity and realistic availability of planned dwelling and industrial employment supply exceed the minimum 15 years supply sought by the regional plan.

Perhaps Noosa Council is a bit more discerning about the development it approves to ensure residents' quality of life is maintained?

And realises that the South East Queensland Regional Plan provides targets that are to be achieved between now and 2041, not 2020.

Cr Dickson: a sardine city is not compatible with a biosphere reserve.

ESTELLE BLAIR

Yaroomba

Originally published as Councillor's comments on overdevelopment are a bit rich