City of Gold Coast Planning and Development Hub

Operational works (OPW) applications for vehicle crossings are required when a standard vehicle crossover license cannot be obtained.

The City of Gold Coast’s (City) assessment of these applications ensures that proposed driveways and vehicular crossings construction meets the City’s standards.

These standards include, but are not limited to:

• The provision of safe access for vehicles from the road reserve to the property
• Maintaining a safe environment for pedestrians
• Retaining trees and green spaces for the City
• Preserving the amenity of the area
• Preventing loss of on-street car parking spaces
• Protecting utility services

The City has developed the OPW for vehicle crossovers guideline to assists applicants with the preparation and lodgement of their OPW applications.

If you intend to construct a new vehicle crossing from a City-controlled road or modify an existing vehicle crossing where the road is a City-controlled road, approval by City of Gold Coast (City) is required.

A vehicle crossing can either be a standard or non-standard. The correct vehicle crossing approval must be in place prior to the commencement of building works.

Standard vehicle crossings are accepted development subject to requirements under the City Plan. These vehicle crossings meet the standard design requirements (such as width, grade and separation) specified in the City Plan. Standard vehicle crossings do not require a development permit under the City Plan, but do need a local law licence approval from the City.

A vehicle crossing which does not meet the standard requirements as outlined in Table 9.4.2-2 of the City Plan is a non-standard vehicle crossing. A non-standard vehicle crossing is assessable development under the City Plan.

Please refer to the Vehicle Crossover Approvals Factsheet, which provides applicants and residents with guidance to ensure they have the correct vehicle crossing approval in place.

We recently asked for feedback on proposed changes to the Gold Coast City Plan (City Plan).

We are proposing further refinements to the Our City Our Plan amendment package to provide greater clarity and simplify implementation through the City Plan. These refinements build on the changes made as a result of feedback received during the first three rounds of public consultation and incorporate suggested improvements from scenario testing.

In addition to these refinements, we are also proposing to reinstate the critical corridors component of the Environmental significance – biodiversity areas overlay map. This will allow us to reconsider the proposed changes in light of new information and feedback received from the community before proposing amendments.

You are invited to have your say on these changes between 9 March – 8 April 2021 (inclusive).

We have updated our pre-lodgement process as follows:

Pre-lodgement meeting service

The pre-lodgement meeting has been changed to pre-lodgement advice.

The pre-lodgement advice service is about providing specific advice for a development proposal. Depending on the complexity of the development proposal and the matter for which advice is sought, the City may give pre-lodgement advice as a written response, or as part of a pre-lodgement meeting. City officers will determine if a written response is enough or if a pre-lodgement meeting is required.

Pre-lodgement form

In line with re-naming the pre-lodgement process, the pre-lodgement request form is now titled ‘Pre-lodgement advice request’. The contents of this form has also been reviewed and updated.

It is requested all pre-lodgement requests use the new Pre-lodgement advice form

Pre-lodgement meeting minutes

The pre-lodgement meeting minutes template has been reviewed and updated. In line with current practice, minutes will still be ‘live’ and agreed to by all stakeholders at the meeting. You will also still receive a copy of the minutes shortly after the meeting.

At this stage, pre-lodgement meetings will be conducted by teleconference, video or face-to-face meetings. You will be advised of the appropriate discussion approach prior to the meeting. All measures have been implemented to protect the health and well-bring of our staff, customers and community.

Technical pre-lodgement meeting officer

For those of you who regularly use this service, you will be familiar with Amanda Antcliff, our dedicated technical pre-lodgement meeting officer. Amanda will shortly be taking maternity leave and we wish her all the best. We would like to introduce Jillian Rutherford who will be replacing Amanda. Jillian can be contacted on the same telephone number (07 55828 956) and email prelodgementadvice@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Construction management advisory notes will now be included in all decision notices for development approvals within the vicinity of Stage 3 of the Gold Coast Light Rail (GCLR).

Stage 3 of the GCLR, from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads, is on track for construction to commence in 2021. On behalf of the Queensland Government, GoldLinQ is leading the tender process and is currently in negotiations with design and construction contractor John Holland.

As the project progresses, GoldlinQ and its contractors will have access rights to the corridor. At different times during construction, any works adjacent to the light rail must be undertaken in accordance with the reasonable directions of GoldLinQ and its contractors, with respect to safety issues. This may impact new and existing developments within the corridor.

To access the current GCLR3 reference design or for more information, visit GCLR3.com.au.

Our coastal city is dynamic and always changing. To protect and safeguard our city, we’re developing the Coastal Adaptation Plan.

This plan builds on our existing coastal management strategies and best available science and economic studies, together with feedback received from the community during the first round of public consultation, to recommend cost-effective adaptation options now and into the future.

You are invited to have your say on the draft plan from 19 January – 19 February 2020.

Feedback received will inform the final plan and recommendation of adaptation options.

>> Have your say

We have updated the Express DA process to include some new land use activities and changes to certain exclusions.

New land use activities

Express DA now includes the following land use activities

• Secondary dwelling with a GFA exceeding 80m²
• Volumetric subdivision (up to 5 lots)
• Combined material change of use and reconfiguring a lot (Express DA land use activities only)

Changes to exclusions

Changes to exclusions include:

• Removal of the Light rail urban renewal area overlay map as an exclusion.
• Reducing the exclusion of the Water resources catchment overlay map to only where a development is identified as being in the water supply buffer area.

Where to find the updates

The updates can be found in Version 2 of the Express DA – Applicant Guidelines.

Commencement

Version 2 of the Express DA – Applicant Guidelines is available now

UPDATED ADVICE -

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an update indicating that we are currently at a Mature La Nina Event approaching peak strength.

What is La Nina?

Australia's climate is driven by cycles in ocean temperatures, currents and trade winds. From Australia’s west, the Indian Ocean Dipole strongly influences monsoonal rains and in the east coast, the Pacific Ocean is subject to the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). ENSO are massive ocean and air currents that rotate across the entire Pacific Ocean.

During an El Nino event they rotate in an anti-clockwise direction, driving warm water and hot dry air across to the east coast, causing hot and dry summers, and warm dry winters (i.e. drought and fire).

During a La Nina event, they rotate in a clockwise direction, bringing cool water and cold, wet air to the east coast. This drives wetter weather, high snowfall in winter, and flooding in summer.

The Bureau indicates that we are currently experiencing a “mature” La Nina year. The wet season has started with heavy December rainfall and it is likely that this pattern may continue through summer. This signals a high likelihood of an ongoing wet summer, with heavy rainfall and flooding.

How do we prepare?

Ensure there are plans in place for heavy rain and wet weather on any existing or proposed construction/development or maintenance projects and advise staff, contractors and development industry contacts accordingly.

Pre-prepare site-based wet weather response plans that allow a scalable response to rain events. IECA guidelines should be strictly followed to ensure ESC plans deliver a best practice approach to minimising site erosion.

Construction Site Managers should pay attention to the following:

• be aware of the need to constantly manage construction site ESC controls in preparedness for weather events
• ensure that sediment control dams are flocked, tested and emptied after each event
• undertake the installation and ongoing maintenance and repair of sediment control fences as well as the application of polymers to batters and vulnerable areas
• implement clean water diversion drainage, utilise rock checks to slow flow, undertake installation of bunds etc. good site drainage for disturbed areas and groundcover treatments implemented on exposed soils or stockpiles are essential to reduce sediment mobilisation off site
• on sites greater than 2500m² High Efficiency Sediment Basins must be implemented as stipulated in legislation.

Celebrating excellence in urban design throughout the city, the Gold Coast Urban Design Awards, now in its 23rd year, has announced the winners for 2020.

The jury, a selection panel comprised of industry experts from the fields of architecture, planning, landscape architecture and construction, sifted through a field of exceptional talent in order to designate this year's winners:

Excellence in Urban Design Award: Kurrawa Terrace Event Space, submitted by 8LA Landscape Architects

Award for Urban Design Leadership: Amy Degenhart

Urban Design Award – Private Project: ENVI Micro Urban Village, submitted by Bubble Up and degenhartSHEDD

Urban Design Award – Public Project: Kurrawa Terrace Event Space, submitted by 8LA Landscape Architects

Urban Design Award – Adaptive Reuse Project: The Residences, submitted by CoSpaces and Space Cubed

Urban Design Award – Unbuilt Project: The Spit Master Plan, submitted by Deicke Richards

Urban Design Commendations – Public Project: HOTA Green Bridge, submitted by ARM, Archipelago, Cusp, Topotek1

Urban Design Commendations – Private Project: North Residences, submitted by bureau^proberts

Urban Design Commendations – Private Project: Somerset College, submitted by DBI

Urban Design Commendations – Adaptive Reuse Project: Gold Coast Water Walls 2019, submitted by Art-Work Agency

Urban Design Commendations – Unbuilt Project: Coolangatta and Kirra Business Centre Place Based Master Plan, submitted by City Place Making, City of Gold Coast

The Gold Coast Urban Design Awards is funded by the City of Gold Coast and delivered with in kind support from Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, Planning Institute Australia, Urban Design Alliance, ABC and Landscape Australia.

City Plan Version 8 commences on Tuesday 15 December 2020 and incorporates four amendments:

• The Spit Master Plan implementation (key development sites) amendment
• The Spit Master Plan implementation administrative amendment
• City Plan Update – New Communities (Eggersdorf Road, Ormeau)
• Minor and Administrative amendment 7

As of Tuesday 15 December 2020, City Plan Version 8, as well as Superseded and Historic versions of City Plan, will be available via ePlan - cityplan.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/eplan/