Think Tank Overview
In partnership with PCA Sunshine Coast and UDIA Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast Council (SCC) has indicated it has a plan for growth consistent with ShapingSEQ and its own regional development strategies. The delivery of its regional strategies is supported and enabled through the Sunshine Coast Council Planning Scheme.
SCC has advised the draft new planning scheme is expected to be released for community and industry consultation later this month. Based on this information and to fit in with other scheduled SCBC events, we are convening the 2025 Think Tank (TT) series in August, to review the draft planning scheme and formulate a unified industry response outlining our observations and recommendations to SCC as part of the consultation process.
We have scheduled two TT sessions for Monday 4 August and Monday 25 August and are inviting 25 members, including 5 representatives from SCC, to participate. It is important everyone attends both sessions as the program has been designed to be a continuous discussion. Ms Peta Harwood – Qld State Planner – has accepted our invitation to attend and speak at Session 1.
The Queensland Government, through the Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations, has made expectations clear regarding what the state government require of the new planning scheme. Opening land supply to increase housing supply and diversity is at the top of that list.
SCC has worked closely with the State on the draft plan and is about to embark on a 10-week public consultation period to gain community and business feedback and support for the implementation of the new planning scheme. On this point, SCBC (working with PCA and UDIA) made representation to Sunshine Coast councillors twice in 2022 and again in March 2025, to provide feedback on the current planning scheme, particularly in terms of Council’s consolidation and expansion growth strategies.
SCBC, PCA and UDIA regional representatives are not convinced that SCC have yet communicated well enough key elements of its growth strategies and how those strategies will be delivered through the new planning scheme. We believe greater transparency, clarity, and dialogue is required by Council, with all sections of the community and industry, to explain their options to achieve growth targets and the aspirations outlined in the ShapingSEQ Regional Plan. The TT series will provide an opportunity for the SCC and industry to commence this dialogue.