Planning Scheme | Friends of Buddina

New Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme - proposed 2024 changes

Preliminary public consultation

YES, we had our say. These are our submissions & what we said.

Our response to Council's Regional Vision and Planning Directions

Our response to Council's Kawana Waters (Local Plan Area) Vision and Planning Directions

Background to proposed New Planning Scheme (2024)

On 28 January 2021, the Sunshine Coast Council voted to commence a new planning scheme for the region. The current planning scheme was completed in 2014 and reflects the State Government's 2031 South-East Queensland Regional Plan population growth targets. Under the Planning Act 2016, Council is required to review and either replace or amend the planning scheme within 10 years of taking effect.

Council identified that a number of significant influences are emerging which require the current planning and policy framework to be revised and updated, including:

Regional planning horizons have shifted to 2041 and beyond (the current 2014 planning scheme has a planning horizon to 2031);
State Planning is projected to 2041 through the current South East Queensland Regional Plan 2017 (SEQRP);
Mapping needs to be updated to better reflect physical and environmental constraints, infrastructure projects, the State Planning Policy (SPP);
Improve and strengthen alignment with recent State, regional and local planning policy changes; and
Opportunities to improve usability, accessibility and user experience through new technological delivery platforms (fully electronic planning scheme).

Changes to building height limits and housing density will "significantly change" some coastal suburbs.

Friends of Buddina urge the Community to become involved in the consultation processes:

Preliminary public consultation in Early-2022
Formal public consultation on proposed planning scheme in late 2022 or perhaps early 2023

There are important aspects yet to be considered by Council in developing the new planning scheme, such as:

The full impact of Covid 19 on housing choices and if it will be a consideration.
The new scheme will be likely based on the 2017 South East Queensland Regional Plan (SEQRP). An updated State SEQRP is scheduled for 2022-2024.
Council's Mass Transit Plan and the land use options proposed has not been assessed nor approved by the State.
The new planning scheme is to incorporate the Mass Transit plan to achieve a basis for justifying densification along the Coastal Corridor. The transport element of this plan will require funding from both State and Federal Governments. No such funding has been secured and is not likely to be secured within the preparation horizon of the new scheme. We should be vigilant to ensure we do not end up with the density increase with no transport solution.

Click here for the indicative plan making process and indicative timeframes for the new planning scheme

Get involved - what you can do? HAVE YOUR SAY

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council intends is undertaking "preliminary public consultation" on their new Planning Scheme until 31 March 2022. This will be followed at a later stage in the process by a formal public consultation period within the process. Implementation was originally considered for implementation in late 2023 - not sure if than will be achieved?

Friends of Buddina believe that we need to remain vigilant about minor changes to the Planning Scheme during the same period. These changes to the current planning scheme may include "urban renewal" and "land use improvements" which usually mean increases to building height and housing density which will "significantly change" some suburbs. The "potential densification" from low density residential (8.5m) to medium (12m) and higher development has been identified in areas along Nicklin Way at Buddina, Warana, Bokarina and others.

We urge all residents to participate in the consultation process and ensure Council know what we want for our area.

You can also register your interest with Council to receive their updates about the New Planning Scheme project.

Let's make a start - "know your zone"

Every piece of land in Queensland is included in a zone. Each zone allocates land for different uses. SCRC regulates development in its local government area. This means each zone may be slightly different across the state through their local planning scheme. The State provides these 'know your zone' cards as an overview of each zone and identify some uses you may expect to see developed in each zone.

Expect to see 4 residential zones in the new SCPS, replacing the current 3 residential zones within the Kawana Waters Town Plan. ADDING the new Low-Medium zone provides "density creep" and "height creep" development opportunities when layered over existing Low density residential zones.

These are the State links (SCRC are yet to disclose building height changes)

What is the planning scheme

The Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme is the rules based, set of statutory documents, funded by ratepayers and intended to inform residents, investors and developers of compliance expectations. Applying to all commercial and residential development, it's purpose is to regulate the way all land, buildings and structures are used and developed on the Sunshine Coast.

The current planning scheme commenced in 2014. It includes local plans (which identify heights and densities), tables of assessment, zones, overlays (codes and maps) and development codes.

The most current Sunshine Coast planning scheme was approved in 2014. Generally it is reviewed and updated every 10 years. Amendments are made throughout the 10 year period. These amendments are brought before Council for review and then voted on. Since 2014, over 20 amendments have been approved.

The Planning scheme is what Council and all private and commercial developers are supposed to adhere to when undertaking any all development, including building projects. Planning details for all blocks of land can be reviewed on the Sunshine Coast Council website under their "development.i" website tool.

How Development Applications are assessed

The current SC Planning Scheme FAQs is a relevant and useful document: Click here

The current SC Fact Sheet on Code and Impact assessment is also a useful document: Click here

Categories of assessment for assessable development applications

There are 2 categories, namely code and impact assessment. The planning scheme defines the rules for each category and Council officers are responsible for ensuring each development application is correctly categorised.

Code Assessable developments

Code assessment is an assessment that must be carried out only against the assessment benchmarks in the planning scheme. Generally, a code assessable development application is one where the development is considered to meet all the relevant requirements as the identified local plan and other references. Code assessible development applications do not 𝙉𝙊𝙏 require public notification by the developers nor the Council. Neighbours and local residents often find out after the approval (too late to have any say on the impact). Prior to approval, they can make submissions to the Council, however they have no formal rights of appeal.

There is also a presumption of approval; that the assessment manager must approve the development application as long as it complies with the relevant assessment benchmarks, or can be conditioned in such a way that it complies. Otherwise, Council may refuse the development application.

Impact Assessable developments

Impact assessment is an assessment that must be carried out against the whole planning scheme.

These applications are determined to have a degree of “impact” that requires a merits based assessment to determine whether they are appropriate in the zone or not and are not guaranteed approval. A detailed assessment by Council will determine whether or not the proposal is appropriate. In addition these are subject to public notification so members of the community have the opportunity to make a formal submission. The community also has the right to appeal decisions to the Planning and Environment Court.

Most developers submit their development applications as code assessable to avoid delays associated with impact assessment, to avoid the involvement of the wider community through public consultation and to reduce the likelihood of challenges in the Planning and Environment Court.