Hinterland transformation ahead as region balances lifestyle and growth
By Sonia Isaacs
THE Sunshine Coast community is about to get the chance to have their say on one of the most important planning projects ever released on the Sunshine Coast.
At stake will be finding the right balance between lifestyle, environment and maintaining affordability with the reality of catering for a population of 565,000 – an extra 190,000 residents – by 2041.
The State Government last week conditionally approved the Sunshine Coast Council’s 2025 Planning Scheme, which will set in stone key projects and planning policies that aims to find this balance.
While the scheme is yet to be made public, GC&M News has previously reported on the tension between local and state authorities about how to achieve dwelling targets.
In September last year the council was told it simply wasn’t doing enough to create development opportunities.
In fact, Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed just 3290 of an annual target of 4000, were approved in 2023/24.
The coast is a key region as part of the state’s commitment to deliver 1 million new homes by 2044.
Glass House MP and Tourism and Environment Minister Andrew Powell stressed the need to strike the right balance between development and sustainability.
“The lack of supply in the region is driving up prices and making it harder for buyers and renters to keep a roof over their heads,” he said. “At this stage, we’re not enabling sensible development.
Change is a scary thing, but we need to properly consider higher-density housing near transit hubs like Beerwah.
“Cities and towns across Europe and the globe have done this exceptionally well. One example is introducing apartments near transport hotspots, even with vibrant farmland and natural environments on their doorstep. We can learn from them and, in doing so, have the best of both worlds.”
Key planning scheme
The new scheme, expected to be completed in 2025, will replace the current Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014, which sets out development guidelines until 2031.
With increasing numbers of people choosing to move to the region, Council says careful planning is essential to balance urban expansion with environmental conservation.
The new scheme will regulate land use, guide infrastructure development and manage the impacts of population growth.
Following preliminary consultation in 2022, Council submitted the proposed planning scheme to the State Government in December 2023 for a State Interest Review (SIR).
This recently completed review ensures the scheme aligns with state planning priorities before moving to formal public consultation.
Key objectives of the scheme include ensuring sufficient land for housing, business, and public spaces, integrating land use with infrastructure planning, and strengthening resilience to natural hazards such as floods, bushfires and coastal erosion.
Beerwah East
One development that looks to be staying on the backburner is the long awaited Beerwah East project.
The 5200 hectare site – currently subject to a 99 year forestry lease between the Bruce Highway, Steve Irwin Way and Roys Road – could one day house 50,000 people across 7000 dwellings.
However GC&M News understands there is little appetite to fast-track the project, especially ahead of final plans for the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail Line, which will head east from Beerwah. Ultimately it appears the government wants the Beerwah East plan to align with broader land use goals and avoid fast-tracking decisions that could impact transport planning.
In saying that, it said it would allow the development of a “small parcel” of land in the area.
A spokesperson for the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning said: “The framework within the draft planning scheme acknowledges the long term outcomes for the area and takes into consideration any complex matters (such as native title, land use and otherwise) that need to be worked through before the majority of the area can be opened up for development.”
Division 5 Cr Winston Johnston said the SIR indicated the state government was still committed to the Beerwah East Development Area, however at this stage not the entire development.
“The development of the Beerwah East as an Emerging Community Zone has been put on the backburner until state government acquisition of land from lease holders and native title is finalised,” he said.
Division 1 Cr Jenny Broderick said the review still supported a first release area within the Beerwah East SEQ Development Area.
She said the state recommendations were now under review and assessment by Council’s planning team, who would be putting together recommendations to be discussed with Council over the coming weeks.
“We’re looking forward to bringing the new draft planning scheme back to the community so they will be able to have their say,” Cr Broderick said.
The question remains as to where 4000+ dwellings each year will ultimately be built.
Let’s get moving
The state government gave council clear advice on steps to achieving this last year, including:
- Supporting small lots (down to 300sqm) in the low density residential zone;
- Lowering the level of assessment for dual occupancies to accepted developments;
- Removing minimum lot size requirements for secondary dwellings;
- Reviewing and amend the proposed zoning throughout the Sunshine Coast to provide greater residential density of land in proximity to high amenity areas and district, local and neighbourhood centres.
Town planner, Adrian Raedel, said he was pleased that “finally” the State interest review had been released allowing the Council to progress their new planning scheme.
“The previous state government took so long to do the review that things changed dramatically in the interim,” the Arc Planning Director said.
“Now that the new State Government has cleared the bottleneck, I encourage the Sunshine Coast Council to get on with the business of progressing the planning scheme, fast, so that private enterprise and Sunshine Coast residents can do their bit in ensuring the vibrancy and the growth of the Sunshine Coast continues to flourish.”
Mounting Pressure
With a rapidly growing population, coast policymakers must prevent housing demand from outpacing infrastructure and services.
But they are also under pressure to balance development with environmental conservation and green space preservation.
The region has experienced significant growth, with the population increasing by more than 79,000 between 2011 and 2021.
“This level of growth and visitation continues to place significant pressure on the Sunshine Coast’s housing, transport, employment patterns, social infrastructure, and environment,” a council spokesperson said.
Sunshine Coast Mayor, Rosanna Natoli, said her focus was on managing growth for current and future residents.
“The new planning scheme project is a vital step in ensuring our community remains connected, liveable, and thriving—both now and into the future,” she said.
Striking a Balance
Stockland General Manager for Stockland Halcyon QLD, Scott Ng, supported these sentiments, highlighting the importance of blending new developments seamlessly with the region’s character and community spirit.
“It’s important to us that these communities such as Halcyon Coves in Nirimba and Halcyon Dales in Beerwah compliment the area’s surroundings and combine the best of the Sunshine Coast lifestyle with resort-quality living,” Mr Ng said.
“When designing these communities, we aim to provide quality homes and communal facilities that enable our homeowners to lead more sustainable lifestyles.
Meanwhile, BlueCHP, the developers behind a five-storey affordable and social housing development in Beerwah said they were committed to responsible planning.
“All BlueCHP developments are designed and approved in accordance with the provisions of the town planning requirements, ensuring appropriate design scrutiny and consideration of community character before they are approved to proceed,” a spokesperson said.
As the Sunshine Coast prepares for its next stage of development, all eyes will be on how policymakers and developers navigate the delicate balance between growth, sustainability, and affordability.
Lifestyle is key
Carly and Leigh Rowlands and their four children (Connor, Oliver, Elliott, Maddison) moved to Glass House Mountains 10 years ago for the lifestyle.
The family are currently building on acreage where they say they will be away from the ‘busy-ness’ of town but still close to services.
“We wanted to have the small town feel, and the safety of a small town, and just wanted to move out of the city,” Carly said.
“We love the area because of the mountains … I love that we are still close to the highway but far enough away from it and close to the beaches.
“We really are close to everything.
“You’re half an hour away from big shops, the hospital and the beach but we still feel remote.”
