Sunshine Coast 2024 planning scheme: Height limits, housing densities considered

New documents reveal the suburbs and streets the Sunshine Coast Council is targeting for increased housing densities and building heights. VOTE IN OUR POLL

For the first time in almost a decade the Sunshine Coast’s building heights and housing densities are up for debate as the region prepares for a population boom.

Sunshine Coast Council is calling for public comment on early work on its new 2024 planning scheme.

The region’s population is forecast to grow from around 350,000 in 2021 to about 520,000 people by 2041.

A suburb breakdown for the proposed new planning scheme reveals where building height limits could be increased.

Areas near the Maroochydore CBD, Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headland and parts of Kawana have been revealed as the locations the council is considering changing height limits.

Divisional councillor Joe Natoli said he was hopeful any increase would be one to two storeys and away from the headland at Alexandra Headland.

Mr Natoli said the mass transit plan was a key consideration in the new planning scheme.

But he said he still questioned where the majority of the new residents would live.

The Sunshine Coast Council has released early documents and promotional videos for the new planning scheme.

The state government estimates the Sunshine Coast will need 87,000 new dwellings by 2041 to accommodate the growing population.

Of those 62 per cent are expected to be built on existing land and 38 per cent through expansion.

“If we’re going to have 120,000 people in existing areas through infill development, how many are going to be between Maroochydore and Caloundra?” Mr natoli said.

“According to these documents a lot of other areas are going to experience very little change.

“I still haven’t gotten an answer to this.

“It’s a source of frustration for me.”

Mr Natoli said he also did not want to see residential streets at Alexandra Headland transformed with three-four storey units and townhouses.

“These streets could be subjected to having increased heights that could be to the tune of three to four storeys where units become the predominant landscape,” he said.

“I think that’s what the council is putting forward.”

Sunshine Coast Council's example of how housing diversity can be achieved with "new medium and low-medium density" residential opportunities close to the city and public transport.

Feedback received from now until March 31 is expected to help form the proposed planning scheme.

The scheme will go for a state government review before being released for community consultation.

The local area plan stated low-medium density with townhouses and duplexes was being considered at Alexandra Headland.

It also said increases to density and heights were not considered for Mooloolaba Spit, Wharf or the top of Alexandra Headland and Maroochydore and Cotton Tree beachfront.

Increases in density and height limits are also proposed for key nodes along Nicklin Way at Kawana.

The Kawana local area plan said increased density and height would be done with “well designed buildings” and among “green leafy streets”.

Mass Transit Action Group member Mark Attwell, councillor Joe Natoli and Beach Matters group member Rob Hoy were disappointed light rail was kept as a mass transit system option. Picture: Tegan Annett

“No high rise development is intended outside of identified major centres,” it said.

It said there would be no height limit changes along the beachfront and height limits would be reduced in parts of the Buddina Urban Village.

Preparing the new scheme comes at a cost of $2.16m.

The planning scheme includes maps and rules to guide what can be built where and to make sure the right development happens in the right places.

Residents have until March 31 to have their say.

Click here for more information.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast 2024 planning scheme: Height limits, housing densities considered