Draft Major Amendment to Planning Scheme progresses to State Interest Review

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The first draft Major Amendment for the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020 has been endorsed by Council to progress to a State Interest Review, which will be followed by community consultation in the first quarter of next year.  

The draft amendment has been prepared by Council having identified issues through the implementation of the Planning Scheme and outstanding matters raised through the public consultation of the draft Planning Scheme in 2018 and 2019. 

Mayor Greg Christensen said this is the first draft Major Amendment to the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020

"After Council adopted the region's first ever unified Planning Scheme, we committed to a five-year schedule for reviewing matters to ensure we used a consistent approach to development which aligns with our community's vision for the future," he said. 

"With a constantly changing world, we need to ensure our policies and strategies can adapt to these changes and that's why these amendments are so important.

"This amendment addresses new matters that have been raised with Council since the Planning Scheme has been adopted, as well as matters from previous community consultations, so again I thank all community members who have had their say to help us improve the scheme," he said.

Key items in the draft Major Amendment include: 

  • Facilitating craft brewing and distilleries in commercial zones; 
  • Enabling subdivision in the rural zone where land is severed by a State-controlled road under limited circumstances, 
  • Facilitating groundwater extraction for domestic water supply on Tamborine Mountain; and 
  • Amendments to Dual occupancy provisions in the Low Density and Low-medium Density Zones and the Dual Occupancy Code to enhance amenity and streetscape outcomes. 

"This draft Major Amendment has not been endorsed as a policy, rather Council has endorsed it to progress through the statutory process for amending the Planning Scheme set out under the Planning Act 2016," Cr Christensen said. 

"Under this process, a draft amendment must first undertake a State Interest Review, conducted by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, to determine whether the proposed amendments align with state interests, including the State Planning Policy and South East Queensland Regional Plan 2017.

"Once the Minister determines the outcomes of the review and advises whether Council can proceed, the draft can officially move to formal public consultation with our community.

"Should the draft Major Amendment proceed, we hope to move to community consultation in the first quarter of 2022, so please keep an eye out early next year for details on how to have your say," he said.  

"There are a number of complex issues being addressed in this draft Major Amendment of the Planning Scheme, one of which is the need to provide surety of water supply on Tamborine Mountain in times of drought.

"Extended droughts over the past summers on Tamborine Mountain has led to water shortages and many residents were unable to refill domestic water tanks at short notice due to the high demand and limited local supply.

"This highlighted the need for additional local water suppliers, however, Council officers identified that the current Planning Scheme was prohibitive to new suppliers responding to the increased water needs of the Tamborine Mountain community.

"This draft Major Amendment to the Planning Scheme has proposed amendments to facilitate groundwater extraction for domestic water supply on Tamborine Mountain for household purposes, watering of animals, gardening, and non-residential uses when used on-site, for example, water for local cafés, however, it does not apply to the extraction of water for off-site processing or bottling.

"We will keep the community up-to-date on this and the progression of this draft Major Amendment to the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020 following the State Interest Review."

The Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020 is available online at www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/planning-and-permits/planning-schemes/scenic-rim-planning-scheme