City of Gold Coast Planning and Development Hub

Welcome to the City of Gold Coast Planning and Development Hub - an online communication and engagement tool created to provide a secure location to give you access to information on matters relating to planning, building and development, such as:

  • practice notes
  • training videos
  • presentations
  • news.
To stay up to date on planning and development matters, sign up to our Planning and Development alerts.


Welcome to the City of Gold Coast Planning and Development Hub - an online communication and engagement tool created to provide a secure location to give you access to information on matters relating to planning, building and development, such as:

  • practice notes
  • training videos
  • presentations
  • news.
To stay up to date on planning and development matters, sign up to our Planning and Development alerts.


  • Change in the timing of submission of water and sewer as-constructed drawings for developer contributed assets

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    From 1 November 2019, City of Gold Coast will require water and sewer as-constructed drawings for developer contributed assets to be submitted prior to making the final live connection to the network. This change will affect developer contributed works on the Gold Coast.

    Why the change?

    The current process requires as-constructed drawings to be lodged and approved prior to the development being accepted on-maintenance.

    This creates challenges due to the lag time between when the water and/or sewer assets are being made live, and when the as-constructed drawings are lodged.

    This delay exposes the City to uncontrolled risks, such as the following:

    • damage caused by a third party
    • maintenance staff not having access to the newly constructed assets
    • unable to provide customers with accurate information during a search request for water and sewer assets
    • unable to effectively assess development applications and build over sewer referrals due to missing asset information
    • inaccurate planning assumptions and network modelling due to missing information on newly constructed water and sewer assets.

    Changing the current process will address the uncontrolled risks which have been identified above by ensuring that the City receives water and sewer as-constructed drawings earlier in the development process.

    Timing of the change

    From 1 November 2019, consultants will be required to submit water and/or sewer as-constructed information as part of the acceptance testing process and prior to making the final live connection to the water and sewer network.

    Any connection approval application lodged after 1 November 2019 will need to be accompanied by water and sewer as-constructed drawings in addition to the existing requirements.

    Further information can be provided to you at your next project pre-start meeting. If you have any queries please contact Coordinator Asset Audit and Handover, Roman Thomas on 07 5582 8313.

  • Industry Event: Planning, Development and Economic Activity 2019

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    You are invited to attend Economy, Planning and Environment's industry event.

    Hosted by Alisha Swain (Director of Economy, Planning & Environment) and with special presentations by Michael Matusik (Matusik Property Insights) and Jessica Christiansen-Franks (Neighbourlytics), the event will: provide you with an independent overview of current development activity within the city; discuss some of the key national and regional trends likely to affect planning and development of the Gold Coast; and identify the emerging projects and initiatives being progressed within the Directorate supporting the evolution of the city.

    Date: Thursday 12 September, 2019

    Time: 3.00 - 5.00 pm

    Venue: Outdoor Stage, HOTA (Home of the Arts), 135 Bundall Road

    RSVP: EPEBSBProgramManagementOffice2@goldcoast.qld.gov.au by Monday 9 September



    KEY SPEAKERS

    Michael Matusik

    Michael Matusik is an independent housing market analyst. He is considered, by some, as a thought-leader in the Australian housing industry. Michael wonders if that is really true but he does try to be a voice of reason within the real estate industry. Michael’s regular emails–The Matusik Missive-are considered, by many, as ‘must reads’. The Matusik Missive bridges the gap between spruik and reality; explaining things in layman terms and only in a minute or two each time.

    Michael heads Matusik Property Insights, which he established in 1998. Matusik Property Insights provides:

    • housing market analysis

    • project and project advice and

    • support services such as presentations/workshops like this one

    Jessica Christiansen-Franks

    Jessica Christiansen-Franks is an urban designer and social entrepreneur who has dedicated her career to understanding the social dynamics of urbanisation. Passionate about creating neighbourhoods people love and feel connected to, Jessica is a thought leader in innovative citizen participation, and particularly the value of ‘placemaking’ as a tool for collaboration and inspiring active citizenship. With experience across Australia, as well as the UK, Canada, India, Vietnam and the Philippines, Jessica has been fortunate enough to advise the public and private sectors, along with major international aid agencies.

    As Co-founder and CEO of Neighbourlytics, Jessica has side stepped into the world of big data to develop a social analytics platform for neighbourhood development. Neighbourlytics harnesses social data feeds to provide real time insights into local neighbourhood identity, place attachment and social connectedness.

    A champion for the citizen voice, Jessica is Vice Chair of the Smart Cities Council’s (AusNZ) Centre for Civic Innovation.


  • City Building Seminar - July 2019

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    Creating Liveable Cities: Why the Urban Forest Matters and Best Practice Approaches


    Dr Jenni Garden, Senior Ecologist | Senior Associate - Liveable Cities, Seed Consulting
    Services

    Creating liveable cities that support healthy communities, thriving economies, and sustainable environments is a critical and growing focus in cities around the world. A key mechanism to improving liveability is retaining and increasing the amount of green infrastructure cover in urban areas, particularly trees, which are known to have significant impacts on improved social, economic, and environmental health. Effectively increasing canopy cover and other green infrastructure in the face of increasing urban development and infill requires dedicated strategic planning and investment, as well as support from political, commercial, and community sectors. This presentation will discuss the importance of the urban forest for creating liveable cities and provide examples of best practice approaches.

    Dr Jenni Garden's Bio
    Dr Jenni Garden specialises in urban ecology, landscape ecology, and climate change ecology. Her current projects with land managers and planners include: green infrastructure mapping, monitoring and valuation, development of strategic urban forest plans and strategies, biodiversity assessments, and development of management plans and community engagement.

    In all work projects, Jenni strives to facilitate strategic decision-making underpinned by leading science and innovative solutions to create more liveable cities for people and the environment. Her greatest challenge is helping to strike a better balance between environmental, urban development, and social health and well-being requirements.

    Date: Thursday, 25 July 2019

    Time: 12:30pm presentation

    Venue: HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise

    Details: Car parking available onsite

    RSVP: oca@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

  • City Plan Minor & Administrative Update 6

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    The City of Gold Coast recently adopted Minor & Administrative Update 6, which will commence as part of Version 7 of the City Plan on Monday 1 July 2019.

    Minor updates include the addition of a statutory note within the Strategic framework, to articulate the City Plan’s intention to maintain a rural residential character and intent for the Mudgeeraba investigation area; and the removal of reference to the Guragunbah area within the Tables of assessment and Emerging community zone code, in accordance with Schedule 6 (section 4(1)(e)) of the Planning Regulation 2017.

    Administrative improvements are related to explanatory matters about the City Plan; spelling or grammatical errors; factual matters incorrectly stated; and redundant or outdated terms used in the plan.

    Minor updates were also made to City Planning mapping to make generic updates and improvements to all City Plan maps and update zoning and related overlay mapping to reflect enacted development approvals.

    The commencement of City Plan Version 7 means City Plan Version 6 will become superseded on 1 July 2019.

  • Notice of planned website maintenance

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    City of Gold Coast websites, including the Planning and Building pages and eServices pages, will be unavailable for planned maintenance from:

    • 6pm Friday 21 June to 10pm Sunday 23 June
    • 5:30pm Saturday 29 June to 6pm Sunday 30 June
    • 5:30pm Friday 5 July to 6am Monday 8 July

    During these periods online lodgement, applications and forms will not be available.

    We apologise for this inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

  • Customer experience online survey open from 4 to 25 July 2019

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    The City of Gold Coast provides around 800 services to our residents and businesses.

    We want customers to have the best possible experience when using our services and accessing customer support. To meet changing customer needs and expectations we are reviewing current services, the way we communicate and deliver those services, and how to plan for the future.

    Help us understand what is most important to you, and how we can make your life easier. Your feedback will shape the design and delivery of better services.

    The survey will open 8am Thursday 4 July and close 5pm Thursday 25 July 2019.

    Visit gchaveyoursay.com.au/customers to have your say and go in the draw to win one of five Coles/Myer gift cards valued at $200 each.Terms and conditions apply.

  • Water and Waste approved products for water main installations

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    From 1 July 2019, City of Gold Coast (City) Water and Waste are introducing two changes to the approved products that can be used for water reticulation mains. These changes will affect Developer works on the Gold Coast.

    Alternate products are being introduced to improve the durability and longevity of installed assets and to reduce the City’s ongoing maintenance costs.

    1. Change 1 – Product ‘PVC-M’ will replace ‘PVC-O pipe’, which is no longer an approved product

    Why the change?

    • The wall thickness of ‘PVC-M’ is 6.8mm compared to 3.8mm for ‘PVC-O’, for a DN100 PN16 pipe.
    • PVC-M pipe is less flexible and more robust than PVC-O pipe, which reduces the risk of leakage or failure at pipe joints.
    • The thin wall thickness of PVC-O pipe causes problems for pipe installations such as;
      • hard to chamfer the pipe end and easy to damage the rubber ring
      • potential deformation at joints, and possible distortion as well as ‘pushing straight through the joint’.

    2. Change 2 - Product ‘DICL pipe’ is the only approved product for Industrial and Commercial estates, and Road carriageways

    Product ‘PVC-M PN20 pipe’ is no longer an approved product in the above applications.

    Why the change?

    • DICL pipe has a greater tensile strength than PVC pipe, and provides better protection against crush loading. DICL pipe provides greater impact resistance than PVC pipe.
    • Scratches or gouges may cause a weak point in a PVC pipe. Weak points can go undetected and later result in failures of the water main.
    • DICL pipe is not vulnerable to sunlight, whereas PVC pipe may experience a loss in strength when subjected to long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight.

    From 1 July 2019, ‘DICL pipe’ must be specified by consultants in the following applications:

    2.1. New water main installations in Industrial and Commercial estates. The context in these applications is that when the estate is being developed, it is not known where the vehicle crossovers (VXO’s) will be located. Therefore, ‘DICL pipe’ must be specified for the water mains for the ‘full extent’ throughout the estate.

    2.2. New water main installations in Road carriageways - DICL pipe must be specified whenever water mains are located in road carriageways (including road crossings).

    2.3. New VXOs being constructed in Industrial and Commercial developments where there are existing water mains. If the existing water main is not DICL pipe, then the water main must be replaced with DICL pipe as part of the construction of the new VXO.

    Timing of the changes

    From 1 July 2019, Consultants are required to specify the approved materials (as per Change 1 & 2) when submitting water main OPW Design Plans.

    These requirements will be updated shortly with the next revisions of the ‘SEQ Water Supply Code’, and ‘SEQ IPAM List’), available from seqcode.com.au.

    Further information can be provided to you when you submit your next OPW Design Plan Submission, or at your next project pre-start meeting. If you have any queries please contact Construction Supervisor, Kyle Juelfs on (07) 5582 9824.

  • LGIP Stormwater quality amendment to the City Plan

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    Following Ministerial approval and Council adoption of the Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) Stormwater quality amendment to the City Plan, this amendment will be implemented and become effective on 1 July 2019, as part of City Plan Version 7.

    From 1 July 2019, updated information on the LGIP Stormwater quality amendment can be found at cityofgoldcoast.com.au/LGIP or for frequently asked questions, click here.

    For more information on the LGIP, please email strategicinfrastructure@goldcoast.qld.gov.au or phone the Strategic Infrastructure team on (07) 5582 8229.

  • City Building Seminar - June

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    Place-based Planning for the Greater Sydney Region

    Stephanie Barker, Acting Executive Director, City Strategy,Greater Sydney Commission

    The Greater Sydney Region Plan - A Metropolis of Three Cities champions a place-based and collaborative approach to city making. With themes that include landscape, people and connectivity, the Plan sets up a regional planning framework that can support place-based planning at the local level. For the first time, councils across Greater Sydney are developing Local Strategic Planning Statements (LSPS) that provide a 20-year vision for planning in their local area, including setting out planning priorities and identifying local places that require a finer grain analysis.

    It’s now one year since the release of the Region Plan and the accompanying five District Plans. Join Stephanie Barker, Executive Director at the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC), to hear first-hand the opportunities, challenges and key learnings from the Sydney experience. You’ll also hear about the new role the GSC has under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act as the organisation pivots to implementation - providing assurance on local strategic planning to implement the Region and District Plans to councils. Also, find out more about the GSC’s initiatives to improve state and local government coordination.

    Stephanie Barker's Bio
    Originally trained as an architect, Stephanie has over 20 years’ experience in strategic planning across the public and private sectors. Stephanie specialises in housing and infrastructure and most recently developed A Metropolis of Three Cities, the region plan for Greater Sydney.


    Date: Thursday, 27 June 2019

    Time: 12:30pm presentation

    Venue: HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise

  • City Building Seminar - May

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    Indigenous sensibility and urban design
    Ros Moriarty, Managing Director, Balarinji and Co-Founder and Managing Director, Moriarty Foundation

    Country and architecture through intercultural design practice

    Dr Shaneen Fantin, Director, People Oriented Design and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland and James Cook University

    Join us from 12:30pm on Thursday 23 May at HOTA, Home of the Arts as we look at how the principles of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collaboration complete Australia’s history.

    Ros will speak about Balarinji’s rich Aboriginal interpretive framework that connects local Aboriginal creative and cultural groups to major urban infrastructure projects. Balarinji is delivering a new approach to Australian urban design that translates and embeds a deep Aboriginal layer within the first imaginings of the places where we live and work.

    Shaneen will speak about working on remote and regional projects to embed cultural imperatives into design, landscape and place making through intercultural design practice. A process which brings Indigenous decisions to the front and centre of the design process.

    Ros Moriarty’s Bio
    Formerly a journalist with Radio Australia in Indigenous affairs, women’s issues and the environment, Ros has now spent most of her professional life as Managing Director of Australia’s leading Indigenous design studio, Balarinji, a business she established with her husband, John Moriarty, in 1983. ‘Listening to Country’ is her much-acclaimed first book.

    Dr Shaneen Fantin’s Bio
    Shaneen is an architect, writer and advocate for intercultural design practice. She has worked collaboratively with Indigenous people on community, housing, health and commercial projects to pursue new design methodologies since 1995. Shaneen recently co-authored a book chapter with Mr Gudju Gudju Fourmile featured in the international Springer publication ‘Handbook of Contemporary Indigenous Architecture’.

Page last updated: 07 Feb 2024, 11:16 AM