What our mayor thinks of the new draft SEQPlan

SUNSHINE Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson was pleased Beerwah East had been included in the new draft South East Queensland Regional Plan.

The plan to use the innovative technology as part of the new Maroochydore CBD was cemented on site today when Mayor Mark Jamieson and Envac Asia Region president Chun Yong Ha formally signed the contract for the $20 million underground waste collection system. Picture: Patrick Woods

SUNSHINE Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson was pleased Beerwah East had been included in the new draft South East Queensland Regional Plan.

Cr Jamieson said it had been the council's preferred locations for a site for long term growth.

He said the new plan which guides the regions growth until 2041 acknowledged the council's extensive planning for population growth.

The Sunshine Coast's population was expected to increase from 298,000 to about 495,000 in the next 25 years.

"As part of the SEQ Regional Plan review to accommodate that population growth, the State Government has estimated that the Sunshine Coast will need an additional 99,300 dwellings by 2041," Cr Jamieson said.

"Council and our community have consistently outlined a preferred settlement pattern for the region to 2031 as outlined in the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme.

"Our population modelling shows the region can ably accommodate more than the required number of dwellings by 2031 including the 27,600 dwellings planned in Palmview and Caloundra South.

"Between 2031 and 2041, the State Government estimates that another 40,000 dwellings will be required of which more than 25,000 will be provided at Maroochydore, Nambour and in the Sunshine Coast Enterprise Corridor."

Cr Jamieson said the council's planning for the region, in partnership with the Queensland Government, had produced some great results for the future of the Sunshine Coast community.

"Following strong and consistent advocacy by council, the draft SEQ Regional Plan identifies Beerwah East in the Urban Footprint - a preferred location for long term growth," Mayor Jamieson said.

"Beerwah East will provide public transport connections and routes and the additional 10,000 to 20,000 dwellings required to meet the predicted population growth to 2041 and beyond.

"The draft SEQ Regional Plan also provides for some growth in smaller townships such as Glasshouse Mountains, Landsborough, Palmwoods, Yandina and Bli Bli.

"For many of these towns, this recognises their suitability for urban growth given they are located on the North Coast Rail Line transport corridor.

"As well as providing increased housing on the Sunshine Coast, it allows these townships to continue to grow."

The draft SEQ Regional Plan recognised and supported the council's efforts to achieve an offshore cable protection zone and landing point for an international broadband submarine cable connection.

If approved, it would make the Sunshine Coast the first regional centre in Australia to provide direct broadband connectivity to global markets.

The Sunshine Coast Airport was also recognised as an area of regional economic significance in the draft plan.

"Another important first step is the mapping and clear identification of a large part of the regional inter-urban break straddling the Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast local government areas," Mayor Jamieson said.

"Council welcomes an action item in the draft SEQ Regional Plan that indicates the State Government will work with Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast councils to determine the extent of the northern inter-urban break and identify additional means to secure it for the long term.

"Our council and our community wants the inter-urban break preserved in its current scale in perpetuity.

"The inter-urban break helps define Sunshine Coast as distinct from, but connected to, the rest of South East Queensland.

"It helps protect the Pumicestone Passage water quality, provides unique tourism and recreation opportunities for the whole of SEQ, and provides a significant contribution to our economy through valuable agricultural and forestry activities. 

"This is too important an asset to see it further reduced - which is why council will not support Halls Creek - to the south of Aura - for future urban development.

"We have a comprehensive plan to accommodate growth and ensure the inter-urban break is protected.

"We have had that plan for some time and now we need our residents' support to ensure that plan becomes a reality - not just for everyone today, but for future generations that come after us.

"Planning for our growth is critical to protecting our coastal lifestyle, our outstanding natural assets, character and identity, ensuring we have employment and economic opportunities for our residents in the future," he said.

"Thanks to well considered and logical planning our community will continue to enjoy the Sunshine Coast we all know and love.

Sunshine Coast residents can view the draft SEQ Regional Plan online at www.qld.gov.au/shapingseq  or talk to a State Government planner at a drop in session at Caloundra and Maroochydore.

UPDATE:   AFFORDABLE  living  will be a key component of the draft South East Queensland Regional Plan released earlier today (October 20).  

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Jackie Trad said the draft plan unveiled a 50 year vision for the South East, with a focus on community, affordable living, future jobs and maximising existing infrastructure.  

The 160-page document, which will now go out for community consultation, was developed with "extensive consultation with the region's 12 councils, industry and the community".

"It's vital t the SEQ Regional Plan reflects the values, needs and great ideas of the community which is why we worked in close partnership with the region's 12 Mayors and consulted with South East Queenslanders to develop this draft plan," Ms Trad said. 

"The population of South East Queensland is expected to grow to over 5.3 million people in the next 25 years and the draft SEQ Regional Plan is all about catering for this growth sustainably.

"We are looking, for the first time, beyond the boundary of a 25-year plan and have developed a 50-year vision that looks ahead to the region's longer-term future and how SEQ responds to global changes.

"Throughout the State we are seeing innovative new industries emerge, the delivery of exciting urban renewal precincts and more and more people choosing to call Queensland home.

"Through smart planning we can ensure that we are ready to capitalise on the transition to a services and knowledge driven economy. That means a lift in economic growth and more jobs for Queenslanders."

Ms Trad said one of the important features of the draft SEQ Regional Plan was a focus on unlocking land that has been identified for urban development but has so far been underutilised.

"The draft plan focuses on affordable living - not just affordable housing - and looks at the way that people interact with their community and the services around them.

"We have identified areas of regional economic significance throughout the southeast to facilitate economic growth outside the major employment hubs and enable people to work and live closer to home.

"Unlocking land already within the urban footprint is critical, ensuring that there is less demand for expanding into our natural environment.

"We want the SEQ Regional Plan to be shaped by South East Queenslanders and I encourage the community to hhave their say.

Public consultation is open until March 3, 2017.

There will be 22 community events where residents can talk to a planner in each of the 12 council areas.

For more information on the draft SEQ Regional Plan, the public consultation and the community events: www.qld.gov.au/shapingseq ( http://www.qld.gov.au/shapingseq )  

  EARLIER:   CHANGES to the guiding planning document for South East Queensland for the next 25 years has been released.  

And only one Sunshine Coast area, Beerwah East, has been included in the draft South East Regional Plan which will guide the growth for an extra two million people until 2041.  

Halls Creek, which has been an area of consideration, has been identified as a "future potential area" meaning developer Stockland would have to jump through significant hoops to get it approved.  

Urban Development Institute Australia Sunshine Coast President Andrew Stevens said  Beerwah East had been included within the urban footprint to accommodate an extra 15,000 homes.

  He noted however, he was unaware of any council detailed investigations into the suitability of the site.  

"It is state-owned land with a 99 year lease from forestry at the moment," Mr Stevens said.  

Mr Stevens identified there was no opportunity for further development in  the northern part of the Sunshine Coast.  

"There is an unbalanced distribution of future growth areas to the south of the Coast and limited opportunities for expansion of urban areas in central and northern portions of the Coast," he said.  

Future developments in these sites would be through "infill opportunities" with a focus on unit development"   Barely any future growth has been identified for the Noosa Council area.  

The Sunshine Coast will have an extra 64,200 homes from infill by 2041 and an extra 35,100 from greenfield sites.

  Noosa, in comparison, will have an extra 4600 homes from infill and 3500 dwellings from greenfield sites.

  Mr Stevens said Coolum and Yandina were identified in the draft plan as areas for industrial development.  

Significant job opportunities would also be created around the Sunshine Coast Airport site with the proposed expansion.

  "The concern of the industry and for the Sunshine Coast is where are these people (working at the airport) going to live.  

No cane land west of the Sunshine Coast motorway was included.  

Mr Stevens said these are provided possible home sties based on "engineered outcomes" similar to those in areas like Twin Waters and Mooloolaba.  

"There would appear to be a missed opportunity in relation to potential future growth areas in the northern portions of the Sunshine Coast," Mr Stevens said.  

"The railway townships, like Yandina and Cooroy, could have provided good opportunities.

This would be in line with the council's growth strategy to utilise and promote future

public transport infrastructure.   "Development around northern railway townships would deliver suitable results."   The Daily has approached Mayor Mark Jamieson and Stockland for comment.  

Originally published as What our mayor thinks of the new draft SEQPlan