The Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Steven Miles announced the surprise move yesterday (Thursday, 22 September), allowing Queenslanders to lease their granny flats on the rental market to create thousands of new housing options.

The initiative was suggested by stakeholders at a pre-housing summit roundtable last week to address the housing crisis. 

Given the state’s housing shortfall urgency, the planning change will skip the regular consultation stages. Mr Miles said the government would revisit the policy in three years to assess its suitability properly.

Our take on granny flat rentals

As a Noosa Housing Strategy Stakeholder Reference Group (HSRG) member, I am certainly excited to see the details as they come through. It is great leadership from the state to take on board what local governments have advocated for over the past 12 months to address the current housing crisis.

We are yet to see the fine print, but we expect this initiative to be enacted similarly to the planning instruments used during COVID-19, including an amendment or inclusion within the State Planning Regulations.

Each council will need to review the details as they emerge to determine what may be required to change within their own planning schemes. 

It may be as simple as a) changes within definitions; b) to amendments of Performance and Acceptable outcomes that sit within their particular planning scheme.

Not every property will be a winner in this circumstance but it provides those properties that already have an existing secondary dwelling/granny flat to be able to commence this use shortly.

Existing secondary dwellings will need to comply with existing fire and building provisions.

If you are considering adding a secondary dwelling to your property be aware that the state government has foreshadowed a review of this change in three years. 

RG Strategic will review all documentation and information supplied by the department and local governments so we can provide a clear, simple-to-understand process for existing or new constructions to ensure you are complying as required.

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RG Strategic lodged a town planning application for the Minor Change for the addition of a cabana structure in the existing pool area for Unit 1 at Artis Villas, Noosa Drive.

With the approval also came new stipulations from Council, including the usual stipulation that the development must be undertaken and operated in a manner that causes no detrimental effect upon the amenity of the neighbourhood by reason of the creation of excessive noise, lighting nuisance or other emissions.

In addition:

• The rooftop terrace cabana roof structure must remain unenclosed; and
• The rooftop terrace cabana roof structure must not exceed a maximum of 2.5 m in height above the existing FFL of the rooftop terrace and not exceed 38 m² of the rooftop area.

The proposed design for the cabana at Artis Villas, features an open roof design, which Council, in their approval of the project, stipulated must remain

RG Strategic worked with the following specialists to deliver this project:

• Architects: JMF Design

Town Planning Expertise

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The Sunshine Coast Council has started the process of preparing for a new planning scheme that will drive planning in the local government area until 2041.

The planning scheme will guide future land use and development including setting local plan boundaries and how the Sunshine Coast will manage growth into the future.

Preliminary public consultation now open

The council has now opened up the initial consultation period for input from the public. They are seeking feedback on the proposed vision and planning directions for the region, planning for local areas, as well as a range of other topics including:

• Housing affordability
• Car parking
• Carports
• Climate change
• Design of multiple dwellings
• Dual occupancies and secondary dwellings
• Service stations
• Short-term accommodation
• Supply and use of industrial land
• Uses in rural areas

While all of these are significant issues, one of particular topical interest is what Sunshine Coast might be doing about short term accommodation in the future knowing what has happened in Noosa.

If you would like to make a submission on any of the topics above, you must do so by 31 March.

Sunshine Coast town planning advice

If you require assistance to formulate a submission on any planning scheme topic, please do not hesitate to contact us. Let our town planners assist in preparing a quality submission to get your thoughts and concerns on the table.

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