City of Gold Coast Planning and Development Hub

Now in its 21st year, this triennial event celebrates the best of our built environment and has grown to become a prestigious platform of recognition for design, liveability and sustainability.

The built environment of the Gold Coast is rapidly changing as our population increases. As our cityscape and skyline evolve to accommodate population increase and changing demographics, we are committed to upholding high quality design, balanced with protecting and enhancing our natural environment.

All commercial, public and community projects, from schools and streetscapes to high rise buildings are eligible.

Entries close at 3pm Friday 21st August 2020.

See cityofgoldcoast.com.au/urbandesignawards for more information and to download an entry form.

In 2019, Stormwater Australia published the Stormwater Quality Improvement Device Evaluation Process (SQIDEP). This national protocol is an industry-formulated, independent evaluation process for verifying performance of stormwater proprietary devices (SPD).

With the national protocol in place, and an overarching need to ensure consistency, the City of Gold Coast’s guideline on the performance evaluation of SPDs has been retired.

Any new device to be accepted by the City will now require Stormwater Australia’s endorsement based on the SQIDEP.

With regards to the SPD’s that have previously been evaluated based on the City’s protocol, it is proposed to uphold this accreditation for two years from 1 July 2020, thereby giving enough time to obtain the required certification from Stormwater Australia.

For more information on the SQIDEP, please visit Stormwater Australia’s website: https://www.stormwater.asn.au/sqidep

We have completed a guideline to help customers better understand the process relating to building near or over sewerage infrastructure. This guideline explains how to achieve compliance with the Performance Requirements listed in the Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 1.4 (QDC MP1.4) including what we consider to be the minimum dimensions for construction near sewerage assets, and what information is required when lodging a Referral Agency Assessment for this work.

The current Build Over Sewer (BOS) form which is submitted directly to us for review is being discontinued. All applications requiring referral in accordance with the QDC MP1.4 will need to be referred through the Referral Agency Assessment process in accordance with the Planning Act 2016. Where proposed building works comply with the QDC MP1.4 Acceptable Solutions but are located within a sewerage easement, a new process called Build Over Sewer Easement (BOSE) has been created to provide consent for these works to occur. This process is outlined in the new guideline and form located on our website at cityofgoldcoast.com.au/connections

Iplex Pipelines Products:

Iplex Pipelines water and sewerage products will be back on the Civil Infrastructure Products and Materials (IPAM) list when it is next published in August 2020. Until then, all previously approved Iplex Pipelines products will be accepted by us for construction of water and sewerage assets on the Gold Coast.

Resources for working near water and sewerage infrastructure:

goldcoast.qld.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/pdfs/brochures-amp-factsheets/building-over-or-near-sewer-infrastructure-guidelines.pdf

Information about Water and Waste on the Gold Coast:

goldcoast.qld.gov.au/environment/water-wastewater-7844.html

To speak with us directly on this matter, please contact Water and Waste on (07) 5582 8313.

The Spit Master Plan was released by State Government in May 2019 following a comprehensive 18-month master planning process with extensive public consultation. To unlock economic opportunities and enhance the recreational offering at The Spit, the State Government is leading a site-release program.

To ensure future development aligns with the Master Plan, and in response to a Ministerial Direction received from State Government, the City of Gold Coast is proposing an amendment to the Gold Coast City Plan.

You can learn more and have your say on the proposed amendment before 19 June 2020.

gchaveyoursay.com.au/thespitkeydevelopmentsites

We received more than 1600 submissions of feedback during the first two consultation periods of Our City Our Plan, which significantly influenced the proposed changes to City Plan.

Feedback received during the second round of public consultation highlighted an error in the Residential density overlay map for Jefferson Lane.

We are therefore undertaking a third round of public consultation from 12 May to 10 June 2020 to give you every opportunity to provide feedback on this item.

gchaveyoursay.com.au/ourcityourplan

To ensure future development opportunities on The Spit align with The Spit Master Plan, the City of Gold Coast, under the direction of State Government, is proposing updates to the Gold Coast City Plan.

Council has endorsed public consultation for the proposed amendment package, The Spit Master Plan Implementation (Key Development Sites). The package will ensure that zoning, levels of assessment and assessment benchmarks are consistent with the intent of the Master Plan.

The City has now submitted the amendment package to the Chief Executive of the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, requesting approval to commence public consultation later this month. You are encouraged to have your say on the proposed updates during the engagement period, which is scheduled to commence on 21 May 2020.

We are working through a range of measures to maintain our level of service while protecting the health and well-being of our staff, customers and community.

Our City Development Branch is continuing with the assessment of applications, sealing of survey plans, contributed assets inspections and development compliance matters. However, we are temporarily changing the way we interact with our customers.

We will no longer be holding face-to-face meetings for pre-lodgements or other meetings associated with development applications. Instead, our assessment officers will be available by teleconferencing, email and phone.

For on-site inspections, the following procedures are now in place to ensure the health and safety of officers:

• City Officers will call prior to attending a site inspection.
• City Officers will undertake site inspections alone. Once the site inspection is complete, the Officer will call you to discuss.
• If you believe it is essential to be on-site during an inspection, please discuss with the City Officer. This will not be guaranteed and will be assessed on an individual basis. If a site representative is permitted to be on-site, it will be limited to one site representative only.

These arrangements may change without notice as the COVID-19 situation develops. We appreciate your understanding as we work through the situation we are all in.

We are here to support you. Please contact our team on 5582 8184 if you have any questions.

We understand that the COVID-19 virus has created uncertainty and new challenges for our community. In response to the evolving situation, I want you to feel assured that we're taking steps to minimise the impact and protect the health and wellbeing of our community, as well as ensuring we are supporting your business where we can.

To assist our supermarkets to keep their stores and shelves well stocked, I can confirm that our City will not be taking development compliance or enforcement action in relation to deliveries outside of normal operating hours.

The extent of this exemption is limited to the activities directly associated with the delivery and unloading of goods for supermarkets. At this stage, this position will be in effect until 1 May 2020. The City will monitor the situation and further consideration will be given as to whether this time frame will be extended. This will be communicated to you all prior to 1 May 2020.

There is an expectation that supermarkets and delivery operators will take all reasonable measures to reduce amenity impacts on any nearby residential properties during this time.

I also understand the State Government is working on measures in relation to this matter and this will be communicated as it becomes available.

Our team is here to support you. If you have any questions in relation to this matter, please contact our team on 5582 8184.

Take care,

Alisha

Alisha Swain

Director - Economy, Planning and Environment - City of Gold Coast

The State Government has increased protection for koalas in South East Queensland with amendments to the planning framework including Development Assessment (DA Form 1), Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014, Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017, Planning Regulation 2017 and Vegetation Management Regulation 2012.

Links to more information:
• amended regulations
• new regulatory framework
• property-scale koala habitat maps (by requesting a free vegetation management report)
• koala habitat mapping

Due to inclement weather, we have rescheduled the Chirn Park Talk to a planner session to:

Date: 9am - 12pm Saturday 1 February

Location: Cnr of Chirn Cres and Turpin Rd, Chirn Park

For a more information on Our City Our Plan information sessions, visit gchaveyoursay.com.au/ourcityourplan