The Bundaberg Regional
Planning Scheme 2015 commenced on Monday 19 October 2015. It presents
many new opportunities for developers and land owners. It focuses on reducing the levels of
assessment on some developments, while tightening up the provisions around
flood hazard mitigation. Some of the key
changes are—
- Changing the level of assessment on duplex developments,
particularly in low density residential areas. What does this mean? Under previous planning schemes, applicants
were required to lodge a town planning application (material change of use) for
the construction of a duplex on land zoned for low density residential
activities. The new planning scheme has
made duplexes in the low density zoned self-assessable. As long as the proposed duplex complies with
the self-assessment criteria, no material change of use application needs to be
lodged with Council. You will be able to
go straight to a private building certifier to get your building approval.
- Expansion of rural residential land. The new planning scheme provides a
significant increase in the amount of land included in the Rural Residential
Zone. It not only expands on already
established rural residential area, but identifies new areas.
- Introduction of new zonings including—
- Emerging Communities Zone provides
opportunities for future growth and expansion of the urban footprint. These areas are supported by Local Area Plans
which provide some guidance on the preferred settlement patterns. The main areas of future growth are along the
coast strip from Burnett Heads to Elliott Heads, Kalkie/Ashfield area, and
Branyan.
- Limited Development (constrained land) Zone,
which is mainly limited to the flood affected areas over North Bundaberg and
around Salter Creek in Bundaberg Central.
It identifies site which may also be constrained through mining, land
contamination, defence requirements, or historical subdivisions. As the name suggests, development
opportunities in this zone are generally limited to pre-existing uses or new
uses of low intensity.
- High Density Zone, which captures the
land along Quay and Bourbong Streets between the Tallon Bridge and the main
railway line through town. This zoning
has been established to encourage a range of higher density residential developments
in multi-storey formats. It also
supports mixed development opportunities where residential and non-residential
activities interact and complement each other.
- New Bundaberg West Medical/Health Hub
Precinct (MDRZ1 of the Medium Density Zone) is established around the
existing hospitals in west Bundaberg.
This area provides for a cluster of medical, health care and allied
services and facilities (including short term accommodation) that compliments
and supports the existing hospitals.
- New Barolin Street Office Precinct (MDRZ2
of the Medium Density Zone). This
precinct formalised the already expanding office precinct along Barolin Street
and supports the growth of small-scale businesses and community activities
(predominately offices and health care services) along a major entry to the
Bundaberg CBD.
- Provision of a ‘Centres’ network that clear
identifies the roles and functions of key centres —
- Principle Activity Centre (e.g. Bundaberg CBD)
- Major Activity Centre (e.g. Sugarland and
Johanna Boulevard)
- District Activity Centre – Urban (e.g. Bargara
Central and Kepnock)
- District Activity Centre – Rural (e.g. Childers
and Gin Gin Town Centres)
- Local Activity Centre (e.g. North and South
Bundaberg, Ashfield and coastal town centres)
- Neighbourhood Activity Centre
- Specialised Activity Centre (e.g. Bundaberg
Airport, Port of Bundaberg, Takalvan Street)
As you might imagine, there are many other
opportunities created by the new planning scheme. It is expected that with these
opportunities, there will also be some constraints. We suggest you give us a call to discuss how to realise development
opportunities out of the new planning scheme.