Northern Beaches Planning Reform

The Mackay region has sustained strong population growth in recent times, particularly since 2001. Looking to the future, strong growth is forecast, with a projected regional population heading towards 200,000 over the coming decades.

The Northern Beaches locality comprises the suburbs of Rural View, Eimeo, Blacks Beach, Dolphin Heads, Bucasia and Shoal Point. The Northern Beaches is located approximately 14-18 kilometres to the north of Mackay City. The Northern Beaches has 150 hectares of undeveloped land with urban residential or urban expansion zoning. Population projections indicate that by 2030, approximately 34,000 people will be living in this part of the Mackay region.

The Northern Beaches Planning Reform study area covers a smaller portion of this area. The study area is bounded by the locality boundary between Rural View and Bucasia in the north, the Blacks Beach coastline in the east, Golf Links Road and Mackay-Habana Road in the south, and the locality boundary between Richmond/Rural View and Nindaroo in the west.

There are a number of development initiatives currently underway in the study area, such as the future development of a high school and an additional primary school, expansion of the Northern Beaches Central Shopping Centre, and ongoing residential development within urban expansion zoned land in this area.

Council initiated a planning reform process to coordinate future development in the study area in order to achieve the best possible outcome. The purpose of the planning reform process is to provide a strategic vision for the area to efficiently coordinate future growth. The Northern Beaches Plan will inform the Mackay 200k+ Strategic Plan and the new Mackay Regional Planning Scheme.

The purpose of the Northern Beaches Planning Reform is to:

• Ensure a seamless interface between the Northern Beaches Centre and Plantation Palms Estate and the connections between this area and adjoining urban areas;
• Focus on elements such as specific land uses;
• Consider how other adjoining key land uses, such as existing and planned educational facilities and other existing commercial developments, integrate in the study area;
• Guide the future development of the Northern Beaches by encouraging neighbourhoods to be walkable, affordable, accessible, and distinctive;
• Encourage the development in the Northern Beaches to align with Smart Growth principles, such as pedestrian-orientated developments that provide a variety of uses, diverse housing types and are anchored by a central public space and civic activity; and
• Develop Design Guidelines that facilitate future residential and commercial development in a clear and illustrative manner.

Housing Affordability Fund program

Mackay Regional Council has been successful in a joint application with Plantation Palms Estate to the Department of Families, Housing and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) to obtain funding under the Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) program. The HAF program is an initiative of the Australian Government to promote more affordable housing through the reduction of the cost of new homes for home buyers.

The HAF funding for the Northern Beaches, a total of $8.5 million, is aimed to achieve affordable housing in Plantation Palms Estate. Of the total HAF funding, $500,000 is allocated to planning reform and $8 million is allocated to infrastructure costs. The Northern Beaches HAF planning reform is aimed at improving the approval process as well as the study area’s Structure Plan. Additionally, the HAF funding is used to pay for part of the costs associated with the extension of Rosewood Drive for Plantation Palms, with the agreement that the Developer will pass on savings to eligible buyers.

The planning reform within Mackay Regional Council is aimed at promoting Transit Oriented Development and improving the development approval process.

The planning reform supported by the HAF funding includes:

• Structure planning of the locality including the interface between Northern Beaches Centre and Plantation Palms;
• Design Guidelines;
• A Centres best practice strategy;
• A Residential Densities Strategy;
• Internal and external investigation and research of housing density options; and
• Necessary planning scheme amendments.

The HAF savings methodology for Plantation Palms in the Northern Beaches includes:

• 400 new lots reduced by $20,000 each = $8 million in savings
• 600 new lots reduced by $5,000 each = $3 million in savings
• 1,000 new lots in total and a total savings of $11 million.
  

Supported by the Australian Government’s Housing Affordability Fund

Project Milestones and Current Status

A revised version of the Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030, which includes the Structure Plan and the Design Guidelines can be accessed via the links below.

The diagram below depicts previous, current, and future phases of the project.

The Northern Beaches Planning Reform project has moved past Phase 3, Broader Community Consultation, where Council acquired feedback from the community on the Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030, including the Structure Plan and the Design Guidelines. A summary of community feedback can be accessed via a link below.

The construction of the extension of Rosewood Drive has significantly progressed. The extension of Rosewood Drive will be a critical piece of road infrastructure that will link various portions of the Northern Beaches including the Northern Beaches Central Shopping Centre, the future Mackay Northern Beaches State High School, and the Plantation Palms Estate development. The construction of the extension of Rosewood Drive is supported by HAF funding described above and photos of the progression of construction are shown below.

Public Consultation – Your Say

The public consultation on the Draft Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030, which includes the Structure Plan and Design Guidelines, has closed. The submissions received during the public consultation period were collated and the summary of community feedback can be found below:

• Summary of community feedback for Draft Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030 (PDF 212KB)

The Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030, including some maps and diagrams, were subsequently refined following this process.

Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030

The Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030 is a background report that has been produced to provide a basis for discussions and to introduce some planning principles that have been incorporated into the Northern Beaches Structure Plan and Design Guidelines.

The purpose of the Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030 is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the physical opportunities and constraints that characterise the Northern Beaches Planning Reform study area. This report establishes physical site characteristics alongside best planning practice principles to inform the planning and design process for the Northern Beaches Plan.

• Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030- Part A- Background and Structure Plan (PDF 4MB)
• Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030- Part B- Concept Master Plans (PDFMB)
• Northern Beaches Smart Growth Plan 2030- Part C- Design Guidelines (PDF 6MB)
  

Further Information

Further information, important dates and progress updates regarding the Northern Beaches Planning Reform will be made available on this webpage as it becomes available. To find out more information about the Northern Beaches project, please contact Council on 1300 622 529 or by sending an email to strategic.planning@mackay.qld.gov.au.