Controversial Sunshine Coast housing development fast-tracked

The Queensland state government has fast-tracked a controversial housing development set to deliver 12,000 homes on the Sunshine Coast. The Aura South project, located south of Caloundra at Halls Creek, was declared a Priority Development Area (PDA) on Friday. This designation transfers planning and development authority from the Sunshine Coast Council to the state government, effectively overriding any conflicts with the local planning scheme.

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This area was not intended for development and SCEC maintains its opposition to the urban expansion in the sensitive catchment close to the Pumicestone Passage within the regional into urban break.

Environmental groups have expressed disappointment, noting the site's proximity to an internationally recognized Ramsar wetlands and the Pumicestone Passage. Narelle McCarthy from the Sunshine Coast Environmental Council (SCEC) stated, "This area was not intended for development and SCEC maintains its opposition to the urban expansion in the sensitive catchment close to the Pumicestone Passage within the regional into urban break." The SCEC plans to closely monitor the environmental conditions associated with the project.

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It goes through the federal Department of Environment and leverages the EPBC (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation) Act.

Conversely, the Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the announcement, viewing the streamlined development process as crucial for addressing critical housing shortages. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie highlighted Aura South's role in the government's target of delivering one million homes by 2044. Stockland, the developer, asserts that the project has undergone rigorous environmental approvals, including under the federal Environmental Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act. They emphasize that over half of the 12,000-hectare site will be dedicated to open space and conservation, with conditions in place to protect water quality and manage runoff to the wetlands.

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play an important role as we work towards our target of delivering one million homes by 2044

The Caloundra Chamber of Commerce President, Michael Shadforth, called the development a "significant step forward" for the region, emphasizing the need for more housing to accommodate population growth, especially with the 2032 Olympics on the horizon. He noted that in the nearby Aura North development, over 35% of sales were to first-time buyers, a trend hoped for at Aura South. The development aims to make housing more affordable and accessible for working families.

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It also looks at things like frog habitat, preservation areas and conservation areas.