The proposed Sunshine Coast New Planning Scheme is now out for public consultation, and feedback is being sought from design, architecture, and heritage professionals.
Submissions close 19 September 2025 and must be lodged via Council’s consultation portal (Word documents can be attached). This is an important opportunity for architects and built environment practitioners to help shape the future of the Sunshine Coast.
Key areas of interest for the profession include:
Design Principles
- Sunshine Coast Design principles are embedded throughout the scheme, ensuring new development suits the local climate, lifestyle, and identity.
- Provisions encourage rooftop gardens, green roofs, deeper landscapes, generous setbacks, higher ceilings, and climate-responsive building orientation.
Walkable Urban Villages
- The scheme supports housing diversity in well-connected, vibrant, and walkable neighbourhoods, integrating housing with places to work, shop, and socialise.
- New Kawana Beachside Urban Villages are proposed, offering housing choice while maintaining surrounding low-density neighbourhoods.
Building Heights
- Most neighbourhoods will see minimal change to current height limits.
- Targeted increases are proposed in key centres (Maroochydore, Caloundra, Kawana Shoppingworld, Nambour) and along the Coastal Corridor, regulated by storeys rather than metres to encourage higher ceilings and varied rooflines.
Housing Affordability and Choice
- The scheme seeks to improve housing supply and diversity through support for dual occupancies, secondary dwellings, terrace houses, and small-lot homes—while maintaining neighbourhood character.
This consultation provides an important chance for architects to contribute professional expertise on design quality, sustainability, and housing choice across the Sunshine Coast region.
Have Your Say on the Sunshine Coast New Planning Scheme
More Information – Sunshine Coast Council
Our Sunshine Coast by Design