City of Gold Coast Planning and Development Hub

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/

In November 2019, the Planning Regulation 2017 was amended so that the ‘regulated requirements’ prevail over the City Plan.

City Plan Version 8 includes amended land use and administrative definitions to align with the regulated requirements.

View amendment

ePlan allows for downloading and printing the City Plan code templates from within the viewer.

Note: Code templates are available as MS Word documents and are applicable only for Part 6 Zone codes, Part 8 Overlay codes and Part 9 Development codes.

To access a code template:

1. Select the applicable City Plan section from the navigation panel on the left.

2. Click 'Print' from the menu at the top of page. Select ‘Code Compliance’.

3. Depending on which browser you are using, you will be prompted to either save or open the document. You can then select a printing device or save the document as MS Word.

As of Tuesday 15 December 2020, superseded and historic versions of the City Plan will be available via ePlan - cityplan.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/eplan/

By default, the ePlan will always display the most current version of the City Plan. To display a superseded or historic version:

1. Select the ‘Change’ button.

2. A ‘Change version’ screen will open, displaying all the available versions. Select the version that you wish to display. Note: Versions 1-6 are available in PDF format only.

3. The selected version will display in the ePlan viewer and can be navigated via the navigation panel.

4. Repeat steps (1) and (2) to change to a different version.

The City of Gold Coast (City) has introduced a new fast-track service, Express Development Application (Express DA). Express DA commenced on the 27 October 2020 and replaces the existing RiskSmart service.

What is Express DA?

An Express DA is a service provided by the City to fast track assessment of low complexity development applications. The Express DA process includes an early review of your application prior to formal lodgement and allows City officers to work directly with you to ensure the application meets the outcomes of the City Plan to allow for a more efficient application process once lodged.

Who can lodge an Express DA?

Anyone can lodge an Express DA provided they are an eligible application. This may include owners, planning consultants or agents acting on behalf of the owner.

It is recommended (not required) a planning consultant be engaged to assist with the preparation of an Express DA and provide ongoing support throughout the process.

Cost?

As part of the City’s economic support during COVID-19, the City is offering a 50 per cent discount on Express DAs for 12 months (from 27 October 2020 to 27 October 2021).

This includes a 50 per cent reduction to the regular land use fee.

Application fees will vary depending on the land use and application type. More information on fees for all land uses and application types can be found on the City’s website.

What applications are accepted as Express DA?

Information on eligible application types for the Express DA will be found in the Applicant Guidelines. which will assist you to navigate through the application and will provide detailed information on the full process.

More information about the Express DAs process will be available on the City of Gold Coast website. Click here.