Planning Scheme Review
What is a planning scheme?
Often referred to as the Town Plan, the Gold Coast Planning Scheme 2003 is a forward-looking document that guides how development will occur in the city. It achieves this by identifying the context for growth and by regulating the way land, buildings and structures are used and developed.
Gold Coast Bold Future Vision
The Gold Coast is the sixth largest city in Australia and with a population expected to grow to around 900,000 people by 2030, it is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. Balancing the requirements and expectations of a community that size is a very complex and challenging job for Council.
The response so far to the Bold Future Vision initiative has indicated to Council that land use is an issue that the community considers to be very important. Council is also aware the community is interested in being involved in the ongoing discussion regarding land use and planning issues and has created a number of avenues for input from the community.
The planning scheme (Town Plan) is the key document that Council relies on to guide land use and development across the City and as such its review is an important part of the Bold Future Vision implementation, and will greatly impact how the Gold Coast will look in the future.
Planning scheme review
The planning scheme deals with a variety of issues affecting the city and the way people live; such as how land can be used, the type, form and density of future residential developments, the location of shops, public spaces and other non-residential uses, and the protection of the city’s heritage and natural environment. The planning scheme helps us to find a balance between all these competing issues, in order to achieve the common goal of sustainability, choice and wellbeing for all.
The Integrated Planning Act 1997 requires local government to review its planning scheme every eight years. In March 2009 Council gave the approval for the Planning Scheme Review Program to allow for:
- a comprehensive review of the Gold Coast Planning Scheme 2003
- the development of an updated and simplified planning scheme for implementation in 2012
The review will include the following phases:
- Determine extent of review - August 2009
- Develop the long term direction - July 2010
- Develop the new planning scheme - September 2012
How can you get involved?
Because the planning scheme is such a detailed and important document, the review process will be carried out over a number years. During this time, there will be many opportunities to get involved and help to develop a comprehensive and effective planning scheme with a target adoption date of September 2012.
Please watch this website for up-to-date information.
