Amendments
Proposed Amendments
We must review our Planning Scheme every ten years to update provisions that respond to revised growth projections and changing economic or environmental dynamics. Nonetheless, during its 10-year life span, the Planning Scheme is considered a live document that will be refined and improved by rolling amendments occurring on average every 18 months – 2 years. Amendments not considered ‘administrative’ will involve public consultation in accordance with State legislation Ministers guidelines and rules.
Proposed Major Amendment and Administrative Local Government Infrastructure Plan Amendment of the Whitsunday Planning Scheme 2017
The Whitsunday Planning Scheme was adopted on 3 July 2017 and has been amended four times to address various issues and remain compliant with the Planning Act 2016.
Council is addressing the following matters in the Proposed Major Amendment and Administrative Local Government Infrastructure Plan Amendment (the Amendment):
- issues raised in the rounds of consultation for the formation of the Planning Scheme (2015 – 2017);
- numerous minor workability problems identified by internal and external stakeholders during the past few years;
- updating of the different sections of the Scheme as required by State Planning Policy Guidance Materials; and
- zoning amendment requests (in and outside of the official consultation periods).
All requests needed to be scrutinized and changes made to the Planning Scheme formed the Amendment.
On 24 March 2021 Council endorsed the Amendment at the Ordinary Council Meeting to progress to State Interest Review, in accordance with the Ministers Guidelines and Rules 2020.
On 25 January 2022 Council adopted the policy positions outlined in the Council Meeting Report in response to State Interest Review (SIR) comments, and sent the altered Amendment (V4.2) to the State.
The State responded on 17 February 2022 with administration amendments, these were inputted into the Major Amendment and so the final is versioned V4.3. This version was sent back to State for Ministerial approval to commence public consultation.
The Amendment package comprises of the following items:
Tables of Assessment/State Planning Policy/Zones/Strategic Framework
- Clarity in levels of assessment in the Tables of Assessment;
- Improved workability of the Overlays in the Tables of Assessment;
- Amendments to the Planning Scheme to achieve compliance with the State Planning Policy;
- Operational works for driveways removed;
- Various Zone Amendments throughout the Region; and
- Amendments to the Strategic Framework, including incorporation of Cultural Heritage and Climate Change.
Local Plans
- Inclusion of the Bowen Local Plan; and
- Inclusion of the Airlie Beach Local Plan.
Development Codes
- Regulation of urban sheds;
- Amendments to the Dwelling House and Dual Occupancy Code;
- Inclusion of a Renewable Energy Code;
- Inclusion of Healthy Waters Code;
- Inclusion of trade waste requirements;
- Amendments to the Reconfiguring a Lot Code;
- Inclusion of requirements for Short-Term Accommodation in the Multi Unit Uses Code;
- Banning of Party Houses within the Region;
- Inclusion of a Rural Tourism Code;
- Amendments to the Home-Based Business Code; and
- Amendments to the Advertising Devices Code.
Overlay Codes and Mapping
- Inclusion of a Building Heights Overlay Code and Mapping to replace the Building Works Table of Assessment;
- Inclusion of Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Code and Mapping to replace the Environmental Significance Overlay Code and Mapping; and the Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Codes and Mapping;
- Amendments to the Heritage Overlay Code and Mapping;
- Amendments to the Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code and Mapping;
- Amendments to the Landslide Hazard Overlay Code and Mapping;
- Amendments to the Acid Sulfate Soils Code and Mapping;
- Amendments to the Coastal Hazard Overlay Code and Mapping; and
- Amendments to the Flood Hazard Overlay Code and Mapping.
Planning Scheme Policies
- Inclusion of Waste Management Planning Scheme Policy; and
- Inclusion of Stormwater Management Planning Scheme Policy.
Administrative and General Mapping
- Inclusion of administrative definitions;
- Mapping updates in accordance with the State Planning Policies and Qspatial; and
- Minor workability amendments throughout the document.
Process
The steps for the Amendment are guided by the Ministers Guidelines and Rules 2020:
Disclaimer: Please note that the review phase and public consultation often result in multiple working version of documents these may not be updated online until a milestone above has been achieved.