City Plan amendments

The City recently adopted in part Major Update 2 & 3 amendment package. Of the 34 items, thirteen were unable to be adopted.

This is the first of three amendments to incorporate the remaining items. This amendment introduces key foundational changes such as the new Low-medium density residential zone and a revised approach to measuring building height.

The proposed amendment is currently with the State government for consideration and assessment.

The Environmental mapping, codes and associated alignment amendment proposes changes to the City Plan to improve the protection of our natural environment.

The proposed amendment is currently with the State government for consideration and assessment. Public consultation is anticipated to be undertaken in September 2023.

The Yatala Enterprise Area industry amendment recognises the longer-term need to protect High impact industry zoned land in the Yatala/Stapylton Enterprise Area from encroachment by consolidating High impact industry zoned areas to the eastern side of the M1.

This amendment also proposes to rezone Low impact industry (future precinct) zoned land within the Yatala/Stapylton Enterprise Area at 396 Stanmore Road, Yatala to Innovation zone to support the Gold Coast's growing screen industry. The proposed amendment is currently with the State government for consideration and assessment. Public consultation is anticipated to be undertaken in August/September 2023.

We recently reviewed our flood maps based on updated flood modelling. The improved models use better technology to forecast rainfall, ocean boundaries and catchment characteristics.

Since modelling was completed in April 2022, we prepared a Flood Risk Assessment and a draft Feasible Alternatives Assessment Report. The Flood Risk Assessment considers flood behaviour, future urban areas, zoning and land use, mitigation and immunity, and climate change. The draft Feasible Alternatives Assessment Report has assessed and anticipate risk as well as how the proposed planning changes might mitigate the risks of flood hazards.

This work has informed the development of proposed updates to the flood overlay code in the City Plan to improve the city's resilience to natural hazards.

The flood risk overlay code will protect residents and their property by helping to mitigate flood risks through appropriate design and development provisions.

The proposed City Plan amendment will be submitted to the State government for assessment in mid-2023.

More information

Flood maps

We are currently reviewing our landslide hazard exposure. The review will inform proposed updates to the landslide hazard overlay map in the City Plan to improve the city's resilience to natural hazards.

The draft mapping is currently being refined following community consultation conducted in 2020. The proposed City Plan amendment will be submitted to the State government for consideration and assessment, following hazard identification and drafting.

More information

Landslide hazard mapping

On 17 October 2022, the Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning approved, in part, the Major Update 2 & 3 amendment package.

The Minister approved 21 of the 34 items in the amendment which commenced as Version 10 of City Plan on 4 July 2023.

We will continue to work with the State officers on a program to effectively deliver the remaining items.

More information

• Attachments A & B – Items approved and not approved(PDF, 458KB)
• State decision notice - Major update 2 & 3(PDF, 175KB)
• Deputy Premier Letter to Mayor Tom Tate(PDF, 385KB)
• Major update 2 & 3 items(PDF, 212KB)
• Our City Our Plan - Round 1 Consultation Report(PDF, 8MB)
• Our City Our Plan - Round 1 Item 15 Addendum(PDF, 728KB)
• Our City Our Plan - Round 2 Consultation Report(PDF, 6MB)
• Our City Our Plan - Round 3 Consultation Report(PDF, 3MB)
• Our City Our Plan - Round 4 Consultation Report(PDF, 5MB)
• GC Have Your Say
• Our City Our Plan (Major Update 2 & 3) amendments
• Our City Our Plan (Major Update 2 & 3) documents
• Minister letter to Mayor Tom Tate – 7 August 2019(PDF, 319KB)

More information

Queensland Government Gazette(PDF, 268KB)

This amendment commenced with Our City Our Plan (Major update 2 & 3).

More information

Queensland Government Gazette(PDF, 268KB)

The LGIP Amendment updates all aspects of the LGIP including:

• planning assumptions
• development projections until 2041
• desired standards of service
• plans for trunk infrastructure (including a new stormwater quantity component)
• financial modelling and forecasting.

The LGIP Amendment applies to the whole local government area and commenced as part of City Plan Version 10 on 4 July 2023.

More information

Infrastructure planning

Draft LGIP Amendment Consultation Report December 2022(PDF, 4MB)

Queensland Government Gazette(PDF, 268KB)

The Heritage overlay provisions amendment revises the Cultural Heritage Element in the Strategic Framework, the Heritage overlay table of assessment and the Heritage overlay. It also includes new Heritage related Administrative definitions in Schedule 1, the inclusion of nine new places and correction of mapping errors to the Heritage overlay mapping in Schedule 2 and a new City Plan Heritage policy.

More information

• Consultation report - Heritage overlay provisions amendment(PDF, 2MB)
• GC Have your say – Public consultation
• Heritage overlay maps – Public consultation(PDF, 8MB)
• City Plan major amendment – Heritage overlay provisions(PDF, 5MB)
• City Plan public notice - Heritage overlay provisions(PDF, 999KB)
• Queensland Government Gazette(PDF, 268KB)

Minor amendments to the City Plan to align mapping to the latest basemap content, address matters of a minor nature that do not include zoning.

Changes, reflect the latest cadastre update and reflect current development approvals.

More information

City Plan Attachment 1 - Details of Minor and Administrative Amendment 9(PDF, 7MB)
Queensland Government Gazette(PDF, 268KB)

Minor amendments to the City Plan to remove table 5.4 and 5.5 from Schedule 6.11 City Plan Policy – Land Development Guidelines to reflect their inclusions in the Part 4 of the City Plan.

More information

Schedule 611 City Plan Development Guidelines amendment(PDF, 310KB)
Queensland Government Gazette(PDF, 268KB)

Minor and Administrative amendments to City Plan to support the establishment of a Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) in the Southport Priority Development Area (PDA).

Minor amendments to the City Plan to align mapping to the latest basemap content, address matters of a minor nature that do not include zoning.

Changes, reflect the latest cadastre update and reflect current development approvals.

Consistent with the Ministerial Direction, The Spit Master Plan Implementation (Key Development Sites) amendment will ensure that:

• zoning of each key development site is compatible with the land uses shown in the Master Plan
• each land use shown in the Master Plan is prescribed a level of assessment that is either code assessable or accepted development
• appropriate benchmarks are prescribed for each of these key development sites to deliver the outcomes shown in the Master Plan.

More information

• GC Have Your Say
• Spit Consultation Report(PDF, 2MB)

The purpose and general effect of this draft update package was to amend City Plan maps relating to land at Eggersdorf Road, Ormeau. The update identified new land for urban development and provides for the identification and protection of the Wongawallan Hinterland to Coast Critical Corridor.

More information

GC Have Your Say

General administrative updates to correct or change City Plan format, presentation, spelling, grammar, redundant/outdated terms, inconsistent numbering, cross-referencing, and other administrative matters.

The Spit Master Plan implementation (key development sites) administrative amendment 1 relates to the interpretation of air services (helicopter operations) within the City Plan. In accordance with Council resolution (G20.0915.030), The Spit administration amendment seeks to amend wording in Part 3 Strategic Framework of City Plan.

General administrative updates to correct or change City Plan format, presentation, spelling, grammar, redundant/outdated terms, inconsistent numbering, cross-referencing, and other administrative matters.

More information

City Plan Minor and Administrative Update 6(PDF, 8MB)

The Stormwater quality network removes pollutants including oils, sediment, nutrients and pathogens from stormwater runoff, to reduce these reaching our waterways. This makes for a more liveable city, maintaining our vibrant healthy streams, rivers and beaches within natural water cycles. The City network has over 1100 water quality devices and this number increases each year as the city grows. These devices include:

• Gross pollutant traps used to trap hard rubbish items and leaf litter
• Wetlands to remove nutrient pollution from stormwater through plant uptake
• Bio-retention basins to remove nutrient pollution by filtering stormwater through sand media and plant uptake
• Sediment basins to capture and prevent sediments from entering waterways and also remove nutrients through plant uptake
• Vegetated swale drains to remove nutrient pollution by filtering stormwater through sand media and plant uptake.

More information

• Local Government Infrastructure Plan
• LGIP Stormwater quality draft amendment submission report(PDF, 627KB)

Major Update 1

• Small lot housing review
• party house land use controls
• flood overlay
• social, community, and public supporting uses
• Burleigh Heads Village character
• Tugun Village character
• High priority policy adjustments including:
  • transport definitions
  • Gold Coast Cultural Precinct
  • building over or near Council infrastructure
  • covered car parking setbacks in medium and high density residential zones.

Major Update 1B

• Remove reference to Wave Break Island for the Integrated Resort Development at the Broadwater
• hours of operation for exempt commercial uses in district centres
• levels of assessment for lease, access easement, community title and volumetric subdivisions
• Emerging community zone setback/site cover provisions
• level of assessment for utility installation affected by overlays
• Biggera Waters centre and surrounding land study
• alignment of residential density and lot size in the low density residential zone.

More information

• Major 1 and 1B Submissions Report(PDF, 8MB)
• Flood overlay mapping fact sheet(PDF, 376KB)
• Minister letter to Mayor Tom Tate – 12 June 2018(PDF, 1MB)

General administrative updates to correct or change City Plan format, presentation, spelling, grammar, redundant/outdated terms, inconsistent numbering, cross-referencing, and other administrative matters.

More information

City Plan Minor and Administrative Update 5(PDF, 477KB)

• State legislation required the City to prepare and adopt a Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) that clearly aligned with our long-term financial plan by 1 July 2018.
• The City has prepared an LGIP to identify our growing city's trunk infrastructure for the next 15 years in accordance with the Planning Act 2016.
• The LGIP outlines the City's vision for trunk infrastructure services including: water supply; sewerage; stormwater; public parks and land for community facilities; and transport networks, which will meet the needs of our growing community.
• The plan boosts our robust economy by providing transparent information to the public regarding our future infrastructure plans.
• It replaced the transitional LGIP and enables the City to continue to levy infrastructure charges and impose conditions for trunk infrastructure required for our growing communities.
• The LGIP will be reviewed regularly and amended with the City Plan.

More information

Draft Local Government Infrastructure Plan Submissions Report(PDF, 502KB)

Major Update to City Plan Policies

• Bushfire management plans
• Land development guidelines
• Landscape work
• Environmental management plans
• Geotechnical stability assessment guideline.

More information

• Bushfire management plans(PDF, 2MB)
• Landscape work(PDF, 987KB)
• Environmental management plans(PDF, 188KB)
• Geotechnical stability assessment guidelines(PDF, 139KB)
• Land development guidelines (part 1)(PDF, 5MB)
• Land development guidelines (part 2)(PDF, 19MB)
• Land development guidelines (part 3)(PDF, 16MB)
• Major Update to City Plan Policies (Schedule 6) Submissions Report(PDF, 558KB)

Major Update to City Plan Policies

General administrative updates to correct or change City Plan format, presentation, spelling, grammar, redundant/outdated terms, inconsistent numbering, cross-referencing, and other administrative matters.

More information

• City Plan Minor and Administrative Update 4 (part 1)(PDF, 4MB)
• City Plan Minor and Administrative Update 4 (part 2)(PDF, 5MB)

The Act introduced new terminology and new rules for development assessment. Provisions within codes have been clarified and strengthened for bounded assessment this includes duplicating Strategic Framework objectives within codes

More information

City Plan Planning Act 2016 Alignment Amendment(PDF, 892KB)

• General administrative updates to correct or change City Plan format, presentation, spelling, grammar, redundant/outdated terms and legislation, inconsistent numbering, cross-referencing, and other administrative matters.
• Updates to mapping to reflect new cadastre and current development.
• Inclusion of a new administrative definition for Landscape works.
• Clarification of provisions to assist with implementation.
• Updates to City Plan Policies to assist with interpretation.

More information

City Plan Minor and Administrative Update 3(PDF, 8MB)

• Changes as required by the commencement of Queensland Planning Provisions version 4.
• General administrative updates to correct or change City Plan format, presentation, spelling, grammar, redundant/outdated terms, inconsistent numbering, cross-referencing, and other administrative matters.
• Update City Plan to refer to the Queensland Development Code in most cases regarding setbacks of structures associated with a Dwelling.
• Update the relevant acceptable outcomes in the Low density residential zone code to refer to the Residential density overlay map.
• Ensure secondary dwellings with a gross floor area (GFA) of less than 80 square metres do not trigger impact assessment in the Low density residential zone (large lot precinct).
• Amend side setbacks in Neighbourhood centre and Mixed use zone codes to align with the Overall outcomes.
• Update the site cover in the Rural residential zone code (Rural residential landscape and environment precinct) to align with a previous Council resolution.
• Amend the Table of assessment for the 'Ferry Road high voltage corridor (Energex)' to list the Regional infrastructure overlay code as applicable assessment criteria.
• Amend the Secondary dwelling code to reflect the policy intent for secondary dwellings.
• Amend the definitions for a 'corner lot', a 'road' and 'vegetation'.
• Update the considerations for determining suitable vehicle clearance requirements for waste collection. Addition of specifications for two bin sizes not included previously.

• Explanatory notes on building height tests in the strategic framework.
• Changes to vehicular crossings which are now subject to self-assessment.
• Multiple additions to assessment criteria in tables of assessment which were omitted.
• Amendments to strategic framework maps to align transport routes with the State and major road network.
• Transitional Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP). Please note this forms part of the City Plan Version 2 and can be found in Part 4 and Schedule 3.
• Minor changes to how City Plan is referenced throughout the document.

The draft City Plan replaced the Our Living City Gold Coast Planning Scheme 2003 when it commenced on 2 February 2016. The plan applies to the entire Gold Coast area and was prepared in accordance with the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 as a framework for managing development.

State interest review of the draft City Plan was completed in April 2014 and, following changes in response to state requirements, the City endorsed the draft plan for public consultation in June 2014.

The official public consultation period was held from 17 June to 29 July 2014 with submissions accepted until 20 August 2014.

The City Plan 2015 Special Committee reviewed all submissions to the draft plan and a City response to each submission is provided in this report.

More information

• Draft City Plan 2015 Submissions Report(PDF, 12MB)
• Draft City Plan 2015 Response to Outstanding State Matters Report(PDF, 6MB)
• Deputy Premier letter to Councillor Tom Tate - 15 April, 2014(PDF, 290KB)
• Deputy Premier letter to Councillor Tom Tate - 25 June, 2014(PDF, 59KB)
• Deputy Premier letter to Councillor Tom Tate - 16 November, 2015(PDF, 830KB)
• Director-General letter to City of Gold Coast CEO, Dale Dickson - 16 April 2014(PDF, 2MB)
• Draft City Plan 2015 - Mayor Tom Tate Intra Regional Transport Corridor Letter(PDF, 413KB)