The Sunshine Coast is at a turning point. With population growth on the horizon and increasing pressure to balance housing demand with environmental preservation, the Sunshine Coast Council has unveiled its proposed Planning Scheme—a forward-looking framework set to shape how and where we live, work and play for decades to come.
This is more than just a planning document. It’s a blueprint for the future—a roadmap that asks a vital question: How can the Coast grow without losing the character, green spaces, and community spirit that define it?
Council is inviting residents, business owners and developers to have their say on this ambitious vision. You can explore the proposed planning scheme and submit your feedback via the Document Library here.
What’s Staying the Same?
The new scheme builds on the foundations of the 2014 Planning Scheme, preserving many of the policies locals have come to expect. Core principles remain unchanged:
- Protecting natural environments
- Maintaining strong height controls to preserve coastal skylines
- Containing growth within defined local boundaries
- Limiting expansion into hazard-prone areas
- Preserving the Sunshine Coast’s “community of communities” identity
Council’s commitment to sustainability and local character isn’t being watered down; if anything, it’s being reinforced. However, change is inevitable, and necessary.
Why Change, and Why Now?
The Coast is growing. Predictions suggest tens of thousands of new residents will call this region home over the next two decades. Without strategic planning, unchecked sprawl could erode the very things that make the Sunshine Coast special: green corridors, local character, and liveable neighbourhoods.
The proposed scheme takes a consolidation-first approach. Rather than expanding the urban footprint endlessly, Council aims to accommodate growth within existing urban areas, especially around key activity centres and future high-frequency public transport routes.
This shift toward urban consolidation is a major philosophical and practical change. It recognises the need to densify selectively, around transport and services, while safeguarding rural landscapes and ecological treasures.
Key Changes at a Glance
1. Housing Supply and Diversity
Affordability and diversity are front and centre. Council plans to:
- Recognise Beerwah East as a future greenfield master-planned community, with a first stage in the Emerging Community Zone
- Encourage smaller dwellings and a mix of housing types to suit different life stages and budgets
- Introduce codes for small-lot homes, short-term accommodation and rooming houses, balancing flexibility with livability
These measures aim to tackle a growing issue: housing that suits everyone—from first-home buyers to downsizers, while ensuring new builds align with community needs.
2. A ‘Green Frame’ for the Region
The scheme introduces a major regional green network, known as the “green frame.” This includes:
- The Regional Inter-Urban Break separating the Sunshine Coast from Greater Brisbane
- The Blue Heart wetlands project
- The Lower Mooloolah River Greenspace
- Coastal dunes, beaches and headlands
In an era of rapid urbanisation, these protections underscore a simple truth: growth cannot come at the expense of natural beauty.
3. Climate Change Resilience
Flooding. Bushfires. Coastal erosion. These aren’t abstract risks—they’re lived realities for coastal communities. The proposed scheme introduces:
- Updated hazard mapping for flooding, bushfire, landslides and coastal vulnerability
- Stronger building codes for stormwater management and heat mitigation
- New resilience measures designed to future-proof homes and infrastructure
4. Design Standards
The Coast is not the Gold Coast, and the community wants to keep it that way. New design provisions will require developments, especially apartments and townhouses, to reflect local character and Sunshine Coast Design principles. The goal? Functional, beautiful spaces that enhance rather than dominate their surroundings.
5. Industry and Innovation
The economy needs space to grow too. The scheme boosts the supply of industrial land and introduces an Innovation Zone to support emerging sectors. This isn’t just about factories, it’s about creating high-value jobs and fostering a resilient local economy.
6. New Zones and Height Rules
Expect to see five new zones:
- Mixed Use
- Industry
- Innovation
- Low-Medium Density Residential
- Neighbourhood Centre
Height will now be regulated in both metres and storeys for clarity and consistency, a move aimed at reducing disputes and confusion.
What Does This Mean for Property Owners?
For most, zoning stays the same. But some properties, particularly near transport corridors or centres, may see changes to height limits or allowable uses. Updated overlays for natural hazards, biodiversity and minimum lot sizes will also come into play.
Council stresses these changes won’t affect existing lawful uses, but anyone planning new development should check the interactive maps in the ePlan, a digital platform designed for easy navigation.
First Nations Inclusion
Acknowledging cultural heritage is another cornerstone of the scheme. Developers will be required to consider First Nations values early in the planning process, complementing the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003. This inclusion is a step toward reconciliation and respect in planning.
Building for 2032 and Beyond
The Sunshine Coast isn’t planning in isolation—it’s planning for a global stage. Provisions supporting the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are baked into the scheme, along with standards for EV charging infrastructure, e-mobility and ride-share facilities.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just another planning document. It’s a chance for the Sunshine Coast community, residents, builders, developers, environmental advocates, to define what growth looks like.
Council’s challenge is monumental: deliver enough homes, jobs and infrastructure without compromising the Coast’s natural assets and lifestyle. Whether they succeed depends on one thing, community input.
Have Your Say
The future of the Sunshine Coast is being written now. If you care about where we build, what we protect, and how we move forward, your voice matters.
Explore the full draft, view property-specific changes, and make a submission at the official Document Library here.
Final Thought
Change is coming, whether we plan for it or not. The question is, will we let growth shape us, or will we shape growth? The Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme is our opportunity to choose the latter.
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