Sunshine Coast Council Community Plan 2011

Sunshine Coast 

our vision for 2030

the region 

N 

Kin Kin 

Boreen 

Point 

Cooran 

Pomona 

Cooroy 

Tewantin 

Noosa Heads 

Sunshine 

Beach 

Eumundi 

Peregian 

Beach 

Coolum 

Yandina 

Kenilworth 

Bli Bli 

Marcoola 

Mapleton 

Nambour 

Mudjimba 

Montville 

Buderim 

Maroochydore 

Mooloolaba 

Maleny 

Mooloolah 

Sippy 

Downs 

Kawana 

Dicky 

Beach 

Landsborough 

Caloundra 

Golden Beach 

Beerwah 

Stanmore 

Glasshouse 

Mountains 

Beerburrum 

Bribie 

Island 

1 

Sunshine Coast Community Plan

contents 

Context 

Introduction 3 

Indigenous history 4 

The early Europeans 5 

The 20th century 6 

Becoming the Sunshine Coast 7 

Recent developments 8 

Lessons from the past 9 

The region today 10 

A community of communities 11 

Big issues for the future 12 

Vision and Values 

Our vision 13 

Our values 14 

Our principles 15 

Aspirations 

Our aspirations 16 

Changing our thinking 17 

Enjoying an active lifestyle 18 

Well managed growth 19 

Becoming ecologically sustainable 20 

Developing the economy 21 

Ensuring social cohesion 22 

Being connected 23 

Tapping into our creativity 24 

The way forward 

Next steps and partnerships 25 

Sustainability indicators 26 

Areas for improvement 27 

Council response 29 

Queensland Government response 30 

Published with the assistance of 

Sunshine Coast Council, May 2011 

www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au Sunshine Coast Community Plan 2

introduction 

The Sunshine Coast’s first Community Plan 

documents our community’s vision, values 

and aspirations for the next 20 years. 

It recognises that we are a community of 

communities and acknowledges and respects 

our unique environment, our rich heritage, 

our diverse people and our shared values. 

The plan sets the context for the development 

and growth of our region, the protection 

of our ecosystems, improvements to our 

infrastructure and supports the wellbeing of 

our people. 

It is a living document, a starting point, from 

which our community can now develop solid 

strategies and actions for the future. As such, 

the plan’s key messages and aspirations need 

to be carefully considered by all decisionmakers 

across the region in the development 

of their strategic plans. 

Preparing the plan has involved considerable 

input from local residents. It began with an 

extensive analysis of feedback obtained over 

the last five years from previous research 

and community consultation activities. 

Further information was derived from an 

independent survey of 800 people and a 

two-day community conference held in 

October 2010, which was attended by a wide 

range of community representatives and 

stakeholders. Following the conference, the 

community had the opportunity to comment 

on the plan before it was presented to Council 

for adoption in May 2011. 

What has become clear is the community’s 

commitment to the Sunshine Coast becoming 

Australia’s most sustainable region. To 

become more sustainable we must protect 

our precious natural assets and lifestyle, 

build our economy, create a fairer society 

and seize new opportunities as they arise. 

Our community appreciates that there are 

difficult choices to make and major debates 

ahead as we try and balance the issues of 

economic development, environmental 

protection and social justice. Our community 

has made it clear that it wants its voice to be 

heard in these future debates. 

We all have a responsibility and a role to play 

in the future success and sustainability of 

our region. This will require a collaborative 

approach involving local businesses, notfor-profit 

organisations, community groups, 

residents associations, and all levels of 

government. I encourage everyone to get 

involved and take an active role in shaping 

our future. 

I would like to thank everyone who has 

contributed towards the development of 

this plan. Thank you also to the many 

local people who have brought it to life by 

contributing images through the Zooming 

into 2030 photographic project. 

Cr Bob Abbot 

Mayor 

3 

Sunshine Coast Community Plan 

Community Conference October 2010. Image courtesy of Sunshine Coast Council.

indigenous history 

Our region’s development and industry are 

relatively recent but our Aboriginal history 

dates back many thousands of years and 

evidence of that time remains with us today. 

The Sunshine Coast is rich in indigenous 

heritage, with numerous sites steeped in 

cultural significance and a long oral history 

which is still very much alive today. 

The Gubbi Gubbi people lived along the coast 

and inland on the adjacent ranges, while the 

Jinibara people lived in the south-western 

parts of the region. 

These people had an excellent knowledge of 

the land and they hunted the ranges, fished 

the rivers and lakes, and gathered seafood 

from the ocean for many thousands of years. 

The Gubbi Gubbi and Jinibara walked the 

country in family groups, coming together 

when food was plentiful. Probably the 

most significant and largest of these social 

gatherings were the Bunya festivals in the 

Blackall Ranges where people from all over 

the region and beyond gathered to sing 

and dance, exchange news, settle disputes, 

arrange marriages and undertake 

initiation ceremonies. 

Tribal boundaries were marked by rivers 

and mountain ranges and a number of major 

trading routes passed though the Sunshine 

Coast. Today, many Aboriginal words are 

still used to describe parts of our region’s 

geography and landscape. These include 

Cooroy, place of the grey forest possum; 

Nambour which comes from the Gubbi Gubbi 

name for the red flowering grevillea; Beerwah 

which means eagle; and Bli Bli which refers to 

the flying fox. 

The coming of Europeans changed the 

lives of the traditional owners forever. 

Following the establishment of the penal 

colony in Redcliffe in 1824, it is estimated 

that up to 3000 Aboriginal people died as a 

result of the expansion of white settlement 

into the region. 

Today, the indigenous community on the 

Sunshine Coast includes Traditional Owners, 

South Sea Islanders and historical Aboriginal 

peoples. The South Sea Islanders were 

brought here in the early days of European 

settlement and forced to work on farms. 

Most of the historical Aboriginal peoples 

have moved into the area since 1965 when 

the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 

repealed previous laws, dating from 1897, 

which had restricted indigenous people’s 

rights to own land, travel and vote. 

“In 2030 

I hope that 

we celebrate our 

rich and diverse 

cultures.” 

Context 

Sunshine Coast Community Plan 4 

Image courtesy of Corrie Wright.

the early europeans 

Context 

Lieutenant James Cook observed the peaks 

of the Glasshouse Mountains from his ship, 

The Endeavour, in 1770. He named them 

after the furnace cones of the glass 

factories in his native Yorkshire, which 

they resembled. 

Some 29 years later, Matthew Flinders 

conducted a survey of the Glasshouse 

Mountains from the summit of Mount 

Beerburrum. 

The first Europeans to live on the Sunshine 

Coast were drawn to the region’s abundant 

timber and grazing potential. 

The Mooloolah River mouth and harbour 

were surveyed and charted in 1861 and Tom 

Petrie explored the region in the early 1860s. 

The first settlers came to Landsborough a 

decade later. In 1875, the first house was 

constructed at Caloundra by Robert Bulcock. 

His nephew, novelist Vance Palmer, wrote 

of the early days of settlement in his classic 

novel The Passage. 

Signs of the region’s agricultural potential 

began to emerge in the late 1860s, and in 

1876 the first sugar mill was established 

in Buderim. In the decades that followed, 

Buderim farmers turned to large-scale 

fruit production. 

To the north, the discovery of gold in Gympie 

in 1867 provided a significant catalyst for 

the development of Tewantin and Noosa. 

The road connecting Brisbane to Gympie 

was completed in 1868 and by November of 

that year, Cobb & Co. coaches were carrying 

passengers, mail, goods and gold between 

the two centres. 

Bankfoot House, a heritage residence set in 

the Glasshouse Mountains and now owned by 

Council, was built as an accommodation stop 

for coaches travelling the old 

Gympie Road. 

The development of the Brisbane to Gympie 

railway in the late 1800s had a significant 

impact on development and settlement 

patterns. It opened up the hinterland and 

spawned the railway towns of Beerburrum, 

Beerwah, Mooloolah, Nambour, Yandina, 

Eumundi, Cooroy, Pomona and Cooran. 

The establishment of the Moreton Central 

Sugar Mill in 1897 saw Nambour emerge as a 

centre of industry and business. 

Around the turn of the century, the dairy 

industry became dominant in the Kenilworth 

and Belli areas and agriculture had begun 

to thrive on the Blackall Range. Mapleton 

had become a leading citrus-producing area 

by the early 1900s and citrus orchards and 

pineapple farms covered the plateau at 

Montville. In the decades that followed, this 

area became known for macadamia nuts and 

avocados as well as its dairy industry. 

5 


Harry Heddon with team of horses and cane truck on Maroochy river property. Image courtesy of Sunshine Coast Council.

the 20 th century 

The sale of residential allotments in 1908 

marked the beginning of the development of 

Maroochydore as a seaside resort. 

Coolum had also become home to a number 

of settlers, and between 1922 and 1925 the 

first genuinely trafficable road providing 

vehicle access from Coolum to Yandina was 

constructed. Cane farming provided the main 

source of income in the area until the advent 

of tourism in the 1960s. 

Before the first bridges over Doonella Lake 

and Weyba Creek were built in 1929, Gympie 

Terrace and Noosa Heads could only be 

reached by boat. Once Noosaville and Noosa 

Heads became accessible by motor car, the 

local tourism industry began to expand. 

The region’s population grew throughout the 

1930s as roads improved and automobiles 

became more reliable and affordable. 

There has always been a strong nature 

preservation and conservation movement in 

the region advocating the protection of natural 

areas and the enlargement of conservation 

tenures. The original rainforest areas of the 

Noosa National Park were gazetted in 1930 

and since then other national parks have been 

established in the region including Kondalilla 

Falls in 1945, the Mooloolah River National 

Park in 1960, the Great Sandy Park in 1971, 

and the Glasshouse Mountains in 1994. 

World War II brought an influx of Australian 

and American armed services personnel to 

Caloundra and Bribie Island, while the 

beaches from Noosa to Caloundra hosted 

a series of military camps to guard our 

coastline from attack. 

After the war there was a building boom 

on the Coast, with the well-heeled from 

surrounding areas building holiday homes 

in prime beachfront positions. The real 

breakthrough for tourism, however, arrived 

with the completion of the David Low Way 

from Maroochydore to Noosa in 1959. 

The opening of the Maroochy Airport in 1961 

marked another major milestone for the 

region. This facility has undergone significant 

expansion since and almost half a century on, 

the renamed Sunshine Coast Airport has had 

close to a million passengers pass through 

its gates. 

The 1960s marked the start of a new era for 

the region with major social changes resulting 

from the movement away from a hinterlandbased 

rural farming economy to a new focus 

on coastal development, accompanied by the 

growth of the tourism industry. 

Context 

“In 2030 I hope 

the commercial 

fishing fleet is still 

operating from 

Mooloolaba.” 


Image courtesy of Bill Sanderson.

ecoming the sunshine coast 

Context 

The name ‘Sunshine Coast’ was launched 

in December 1958 at the inaugural dinner 

of the Sunshine Coast branch of the Real 

Estate Institute of Queensland. The institute 

was arguing to replace the term Near North 

Coast, which the branch considered was not 

sufficiently distinctive and had no significance 

for southerners. The name was officially 

adopted in November 1966 to cover the 

Landsborough, Maroochy and Noosa shires. 

During the 1960s, the Sunshine Coast’s 

surfing culture started to flourish, as a 

growing number of board riders discovered 

the region’s pristine coastline and great beach 

breaks. Elsewhere in the region, pockets of the 

hinterland were becoming a haven for people 

seeking an alternative lifestyle as a growing 

number of people turned their backs on the 

city and moved to the country. 

In 1976, the combined population of the 

Noosa, Maroochydore and Caloundra shires 

totalled 62,673. Just 15 years later, that figure 

had grown to more than 167,000. By 2010 

that number had almost doubled again, with 

330,000 residents calling the region home. 

The Coast’s own daily newspaper, the 

Sunshine Coast Daily, began rolling off the 

presses in 1980, coinciding with a surge in 

the region’s growth and development. The 

Sunshine Coast Environment Council was 

also established in the same year. 

While the David Low Way had opened up 

the ribbon of coastal subdivisions, further 

urbanisation led to the construction of the 

Sunshine Motorway. The first section between 

the Bruce Highway and Nicklin Way opened 

in 1988, followed by the stretch from Nicklin 

Way to David Low Way two years later. 

7 


Image courtesy of Andrew Cook.

ecent developments 

The Sunshine Coast University College 

was founded at Sippy Downs in 1994, and 

achieved full university status in 1998. The 

University of the Sunshine Coast now creates 

new opportunities for the region’s residents 

and the local economy. 

Population growth also led to the 

development of new shopping centres across 

the Coast and the region’s largest, Sunshine 

Plaza at Maroochydore, opened in 1995. 

Starting in the 1980s, local architects and 

designers had begun to experiment with 

environmentally sensitive designs. By the 

1990s they had earned a national reputation 

for their innovative buildings which were 

helping to define the urban character of 

the Coast. 

The significance of our regional ecosystems 

and the efforts the community has put into 

preserving these systems has received 

significant international recognition in the 

last two decades. In 1993, the Pumicestone 

Passage was included in the declaration of the 

Moreton Bay Marine Park and later that year 

the Park was recognised as an internationally 

significant wetland and bird habitat under 

the RAMSAR Convention. 

Fourteen years later, Noosa Shire was 

declared Queensland’s first UNESCO 

Biosphere Reserve in recognition of the 

area’s biodiversity and the local community’s 

efforts to combine economic and social 

development with environmental protection. 

In March 2008, almost sixty years from 

the Real Estate Institute of Queensland’s 

proposal calling for the region to be renamed 

the Sunshine Coast, the Sunshine Coast 

Regional Council was created following the 

State Government’s Local Government 

reform process which merged Caloundra 

City with the former shires of Maroochy and 

Noosa to form a single local government. 

Context 

“In 2030 

I don’t want to 

live in a place 

that resembles a 

sardine can!” 


Image courtesy of Taylah Hughes.

lessons from the past 

Context 

To effectively plan for the future we must 

understand our history. Our past is important 

– we need to respect it, learn from it and 

conserve what is important to us about it. 

Our cultural heritage is woven into the fabric 

of our everyday life. It has determined the 

look and feel of the landscape we live in and 

left us with an environmental legacy that 

includes significant areas of land preserved 

as national parks, but other areas that are 

highly degraded. There is much we can learn 

about sustainability from Aboriginal culture. 

The townships and urban areas peppered 

throughout the Sunshine Coast are historic 

places with their own distinct features, 

architecture and sense of identity. We need 

to nurture these places and recognise their 

unique heritage. We also need to clearly 

define how we are going to do this and who is 

responsible for conserving our heritage. 

While rail opened up the Sunshine Coast 

hinterland in the 19th century to other parts 

of Queensland, getting around our region is 

still a challenge for us today. In the decades 

ahead we will need to improve our public 

transport linkages and overcome our reliance 

on the motor car. 

Many of the environmental, economic and 

social challenges the region faces are the 

result of the last four decades of exponential 

population growth and associated 

development. This has seen the region’s 

essential and social infrastructure stretched 

almost to breaking point and housing 

becoming less affordable. 

The Sunshine Coast has been viewed by 

many as the ‘playground’ for South East 

Queensland, due to the diversity of leisure, 

tourism and recreation opportunities 

available. While the influx of visitors and 

holidaymakers contributes significantly to 

our economy, it helps drive the increased 

demand for infrastructure, which, if not 

well managed, can potentially compromise 

the region’s environmental values. 

Managing the impacts of growth and 

increasing population remains one of our 

biggest challenges. 

On the positive side, we have a strong history 

of community activism and social enterprise 

within the region and over the coming 

decades we need to find new ways to harness 

‘people energy’ to help address the major 

environmental and social challenges ahead. 

At the same time, we also need to broaden 

our economic base from the current 

reliance on tourism, retail and construction 

industries, so that we have jobs for our 

expanding population and our young people 

are not forced to leave the Coast looking for 

work. To do this we need to look at ways 

in which we can attract new investment to 

the region by drawing on the creativity and 

innovation of our entrepreneurs, investing in 

smart sustainable industries, and securing 

our digital future. Similarly, we need to find 

ways to reinvigorate our rural sector which, 

for so long, was the backbone of our economy. 

While being conscious of our historical legacy, 

we must also be aware of new and emerging 

challenges such as climate change and peak 

oil. Recent studies by the International Panel 

on Climate Change show that the Sunshine 

Coast is one of the most vulnerable areas in 

Australia to the impacts of climate change. 

Community adaption strategies will become 

increasingly important for our region in the 

century ahead. 

This Community Plan will help us build on 

our past and encourage us to embrace our 

potential so we can look to the decades ahead 

with optimism and a clear sense of who we 

are, where we have come from, and where we 

are going. 

9 


the 

The Sunshine Coast region covers an area of 

more than 3000 square kilometres, including 

113 square kilometres of waterways. It has 

more than 200 kilometres of coastline, more 

than 4000 kilometres of roads, nearly 800 

kilometres of bikeways and more than 13,000 

hectares of parks and bushland. 

The Sunshine Coast is one of the fastest 

growing regions in Australia, with people 

from other parts of Queensland, interstate 

and overseas drawn to our wonderful climate, 

enviable lifestyle, natural attributes and 

obvious potential. 

The region is home to 330,000 people and it 

is anticipated that at least 200,000 additional 

residents will settle on the Sunshine Coast 

over the next 20 years. 

With its diverse geographical, geological and 

topographical features and conservation 

ethic, the Sunshine Coast is known as one 

of the most bio-diverse regions in Australia, 

and it boasts a large array of life forms, 

ecosystems and natural assets. However, 

a range of pressures are taking a toll on 

native habitat and wildlife, and the region 

is currently experiencing a net habitat 

loss. The Sunshine Coast is potentially 

at a critical threshold, with habitats and 

remnant vegetation being cleared faster 

“In 2030 I want to 

see the best and 

brightest young 

people staying on 

the coast” 

than they are being replaced. It is estimated 

that a little more than approximately one 

third of the total Sunshine Coast region 

consists of native vegetation, with around 

half of this vegetation on private land. Every 

encouragement must be given to private 

landholders to conserve and rehabilitate 

areas of native vegetation on their 

property, through such means as Land 

for Wildlife, Nature Refuges and 

Conservation Agreements. 

Analysis of the latest census data shows 

that we have a smaller proportion of people 

earning more than $1000 per week and a 

larger proportion of people earning less than 

$400 per week than the Queensland average. 

These figures reinforce the importance 

of creating new job opportunities and 

addressing affordability issues. 

Like many so-called ‘sea change’ communities 

around Australia, our demographic profile 

shows a lower proportion of families and a 

higher proportion of people over 50 than 

the Queensland average. This reflects our 

popularity as a place for people to retire. This 

ageing of the population brings opportunities 

but also a number of challenges in terms of 

service provision and economic vitality over 

the next 20 years. It also raises the question 

of how we ensure that the Sunshine Coast 

remains a vibrant place for families and 

young people to live. 

Recently published regional data from 

Queensland Health indicates that the health 

of people living on the Sunshine Coast is 

very similar to the Queensland average. On 

the positive side, 57% of adults engage in 

sufficient physical activity for health benefits; 

however, 53% of adults are overweight. 30% 

have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, 

and 8.1% have diabetes. So another challenge 

for most of us is how to achieve a healthy 

less-sedentary lifestyle. 

Context 


Image courtesy of Ben Everingham.

a community of communities 

Context 

Our region has developed as a community 

of communities. The individuality of our 

towns and villages is part of our character 

and one of our points of difference from 

other regions in South East Queensland. 

We are proud of the diversity and unique 

differences that exist between each of the 

Sunshine Coast communities. 

Over time our communities have proved 

themselves to be resilient and able to 

overcome natural disasters and economic 

downturns. We need to maintain and build 

upon this resilience. 

We need to preserve the history, identity 

and character of these towns and areas in 

order that our centres continue to be vibrant, 

friendly and safe. This will mean that each of 

our communities will contribute in their own 

way to the essence and strength of the region. 

We also need to ensure that our towns and 

villages do not dominate or destroy the 

natural environment and our urban areas 

continue to be surrounded by open space and 

productive farmland. 

We are lucky to live in a biodiversity hot spot 

where there are many different species of 

animals and plants. However, many of these 

species are under threat and while previous 

generations of conservationists have worked 

hard to protect these communities of animals 

and plants, one of our key challenges is to 

continue this tradition of environmental 

custodianship. 

Local entrepreneurs and small businesses 

are the backbone of our communities. We 

will continue to support them to prosper and 

grow, thus retaining local knowledge, building 

skills and employment in the region. 

We also recognise the great benefits that flow 

from the positive interaction of different 

generations and the important role that 

families play in our community. We will 

work hard to provide support to families and 

develop opportunities for mentoring and the 

exchange of ideas between young and old. 

11 


Image courtesy of Alan Rogers.

i f 

It is an enormous challenge to retain the 

best of what we have now, while embracing 

change and opportunity as our region 

continues to grow. 

The region’s liveability, its strong sense of 

community, its character and environment 

are central to our future success and these 

elements must be protected and maintained. 

The community understands that an 

expanding population will increase demand 

for services and infrastructure — particularly 

those that provide for our health and 

wellbeing. The challenge for all levels of 

government is to provide essential services 

and infrastructure in a timely manner. 

At the same time we need to be creative 

and broaden the economy by attracting 

investment and generating jobs in 

sectors that complement our lifestyle 

and environment. 

Investment in education and training are 

significant issues for the future, as well as the 

ability to move around the region safely and 

easily with quality public transport systems 

in place. 

Sunshine Coast residents are united in their 

support for development that creates a 

sustainable region. In this regard, how well 

we manage our projected future growth is the 

key issue. 

Decision-makers need to recognise that the 

majority of locals are not convinced that 

the region can easily sustain the South 

East Queensland Regional Plan’s projected 

population target of about half a million 

people by 2031. 

Context 

The big issues facing the Sunshine Coast community include: 

• Ensuring our health and wellbeing 

• Population growth 

• Providing essential services and 

infrastructure 

• Access to excellent educational 

opportunities 

• Living in a safe community 

• Improving and better coordinating our 

public transport 

• Adopting sustainable technologies 

like solar power, collecting rain water 

and recycling 

• Providing facilities for sporting, 

recreation and community activities 

• Supporting existing businesses 

• Diversifying the economy and creating 

employment opportunities 

• Protecting our waterways and 

coastal foreshores 

• Enhancing our natural environment 

and its biodiversity 

• Ensuring public areas are accessible for 

older people and people with a disability 

• Cost of living 

• Keeping government and utility fees 

and charges as low as possible 

• Maintaining our vibrant lifestyle 

• Identifying and protecting our 

cultural heritage 

• Supporting families 

Sunshine Coast Community Plan 12

our vision 

At the Community Conference in October 2010, delegates endorsed a vision of 

the Sunshine Coast becoming Australia’s most sustainable region. By deliberately 

aligning the Community Plan and Council’s Corporate Plan, delegates were 

seeking to unify the region behind a common strategy and provide a strong basis 

for us to grow. Our vision is: 

Vision & Values 

to be Australia’s most 

sustainable region 

– vibrant, green, diverse 

We have adopted the Brundtland definition of sustainability which states: 

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present 

without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 

Brundtland Commission – Report to the World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987. 

13 


Image courtesy of Tasha Carthy.

our values 

As a community, we believe it is important to establish a set of values that we can all live by 

regardless of our age, religion or cultural background. 

The values we have identified to achieve our vision are: 

• Integrity, honesty and openness 

• Fairness and equity 

• Generosity of spirit 

• Acceptance and respect for others 

• Courage to make the difficult decisions 


By adopting these values we aim to create a place where people have a sense of identity 

and belonging, where everyone takes responsibility for their own actions and gives 

others a fair go. 

We hope these values will inspire our leaders to support the building of a caring, ethical 

and resilient society where we live in harmony with each other and the environment. 


Image courtesy of Graham Gillies.

our principles 

The following principles will help guide our journey towards sustainability and ensure 

the identity and character of the region is retained. 


• We are committed to understanding our 

history and not repeating past mistakes 

• We will make informed decisions for 

the benefit of all, based upon research, 

community deliberation and 

common sense 

• We will act dynamically to improve 

the future 

• We will preserve our unique biodiversity 

and seek to restore the productivity of 

degraded landscapes 

• We will achieve long-term 

economic sustainability based upon 

environmentally sound development 

• We will live within our means and seek 

to minimise our environmental footprint 

• We will build upon the individuality 

and character of our communities 

• We recognise the value of partnerships 

to help us achieve our common goals 

In short: we won’t do things today that stuff things up for others in the future! 

15 


Image courtesy of Sandy Johnson.

our aspirations 

Sustainability cannot be developed externally 

and imposed on a community from outside. 

To be successful, it must be embraced by 

people at the grass roots level and adapted to 

reflect that particular community’s history, 

values and aspirations. 

Implicit in our vision is a realisation that we 

need to examine and challenge our current 

practices and models of behaviour. We must 

be aware of the increasing stresses we are 

placing on our economic, environment and 

social systems as these potentially impact 

on our quality of life. There are, however, 

elements of our current lifestyle that we all 

agree are worth retaining. 

The next few pages outline the hopes and 

aspirations which, if realised, will ensure 

the sustainability of our region is achieved. 

Clearly, there is much work to be done and 

we need to take a long-term view. All levels 

of government, the community and business 

have a role to play and each stakeholder 

must take responsibility for their respective 

actions and responsibilities. 

Success will require strong leadership 

and better collaboration across the 

community to deliver the best possible 

outcomes for our region. 

Aspirations 


younger generations 

can look out over 

the ocean and see 

the crystal clear 

waves rolling onto 

the sand.” 


Image courtesy of Taylah Hughes.

changing our thinking 


people still have 

fun when hanging 

around the 

Sunshine Coast.” 

Aspirations 

In order to achieve our vision, we – 

individually and collectively – have to 

change the way we act and do business. 

This will require us to modify old habits, 

consume less, walk or catch the bus more 

often, get better at recycling, embrace new 

technologies and design better buildings. It 

may even require us to pay for additional 

services to ensure that we maintain our 

lifestyle and do not damage our economy, 

or our environment. 

As a community, we need to determine 

those things that are important, what we 

want to retain from our past, and areas for 

improvement. Most importantly, we need to 

debate what we want to see in the future, be 

prepared to make the hard decisions, and 

then agree how we will go about making 

change. To do this we need to be wellinformed, 

have access to the latest knowledge 

and be prepared to share our learnings. 

In some areas we will need to make 

incremental change, while in others we 

need to make substantial improvements 

through the implementation of innovative 

programs and technologies. To manage 

these changes we will need to identify the 

major risks, develop relevant indicators and 

targets, ensure transparency, honesty and 

openness, and clearly define the actions and 

responsibilities of everyone involved. 

17 


Image courtesy of Jessica Biddle.

enjoying an active lifestyle 

There are many factors that contribute to our 

quality of life. These include our health, living 

in a safe community, having good friends and 

a safety net if we fall on hard times. Access 

to open space, the provision of essential 

infrastructure and the quality of our local 

environment also contribute to our wellbeing, 

as does the opportunity to participate in 

community life and decisions that affect 

our lives. 

Improving our health and wellbeing is 

an issue of primary concern to Sunshine 

Coast residents and people want to retain 

our lifestyle and sense of wellbeing into 

the future. 

By 2030, we want our region to become a 

leader in the provision of health services, 

medical research, teaching and training. 

We also hope that we will have a diverse and 

holistic health care system that encompasses 

preventative, and alternative practices 

alongside traditional health care facilities 

and services. 

Recognising that physical activity, recreation 

and our beach culture are all important 

components of our current lifestyle and 

contribute to our physical and mental health, 

we want to retain and enhance our network 

of open space and protect our waterways and 

beach foreshores. We will also need to plan 

our neighbourhoods so they have a positive 

impact on the community’s health and 

encourage an active and healthy lifestyle. To 

do this we will need to create environments 

that make healthy choices the easy choices. 

In the future we will strive to ensure that 

our urban environments are safe and built to 

withstand severe weather, bushfires and the 

impacts of potential climate change. 

We will also ensure our lifestyle continues 

to encourage social interaction, caring for 

one another and artistic and cultural 

practices that will improve our overall 

health and wellbeing. 

Aspirations 

“This is me 

in 2030, I hope that 

we have great skate 

parks where we can 

hang out.” 


Image courtesy of Birgit Kehr.

well managed growth 


we have responsible 

development built 

in harmony with 

our environment.” 

Aspirations 

Managing growth has consistently ranked as 

an issue of major concern to Sunshine Coast 

residents over the past twenty years and 

is recognised as being critical to achieving 

our vision of becoming Australia’s most 

sustainable region. 

There are strong links between the built 

environment, health and wellbeing, economic 

investment and ecological sustainability. 

The key challenge in managing growth is 

to ensure our new planning scheme makes 

provision for necessary infrastructure and 

suitable housing solutions, and facilitates 

investment and employment growth to 

allow communities to flourish, without 

compromising our natural, social and 

cultural environments. 

There are a number of unique development 

opportunities on the Coast which are an 

ideal catalyst for best practice in sustainable 

development and urban design. The most 

significant of these are the development 

of a new central business district in 

Maroochydore and the creation of new 

communities at Palmview and Caloundra 

South. 

Future generations will judge how successful 

these developments are in terms of reflecting 

the Sunshine Coast character, developing 

long term job opportunities and preserving 

the region’s ecological diversity, particularly 

in the highly sensitive RAMSAR listed 

Pumicestone Passage. 

Well before 2030, we must have the essential 

infrastructure in place to support the needs 

of our expanded population. This includes 

securing our water supply, developing our 

transport and communication networks, and 

building hospitals and schools. 

We are determined to retain the inter-urban 

break between Brisbane and the Sunshine 

Coast and the green spaces between our 

towns and villages. 

We need to come up with new ideas so young 

people and families remain on the Coast, and 

others are attracted to our region. 

19 


Image courtesy of James Drew.

ecoming ecologically sustainable 

The natural environment is regarded by 

residents as one of the region’s primary assets 

and there is a clear community expectation 

that all levels of government and business 

will work collectively to ensure the ecological 

sustainability of the region as our population 

continues to grow. 

Achieving ecological sustainability involves 

integrating environmental considerations into 

all our decision-making. The challenges are 

significant. We not only need to change our 

lives to live more sustainably but at a time of 

rapid population growth in the region we also 

need to deliver development outcomes that 

retain our ecological integrity. 

In 2030, ecological sustainability will continue 

to underpin the Coast’s reputation as a 

desirable place to live, learn, work and play, 

and is seen as essential for our current and 

future success. 

We will have successfully preserved our 

natural environment and maintained and 

enhanced the region’s biodiversity values with 

no net loss of habitat. 

By using alternative and renewable energy 

sources at every opportunity, we will be 

well on our way to a carbon-neutral future 

and meeting the challenge posed by 

climate change. 

Our environmentally friendly 

infrastructure and excellence in urban 

design will be recognised internationally. 

We will be recycling our resources including 

water and waste and, wherever possible, 

recycled material will be incorporated into 

building design. 

Our community will be actively involved 

in natural resource management and 

protecting our region’s biodiversity. 

We will have rehabilitated our waterways 

using the best science available to maintain 

a healthy river, coastal and marine ecology. 

This in turn will support sustainable 

recreational and commercial fisheries for 

the long term. 

Aspirations 

“In 2030 I hope there 

will be abundant 

housing options.” 


Image courtesy of Rebecca Hoge.

developing the economy 

“In 2030 

I hope 

renewables 

are powering 

our region.” 

Aspirations 

Developing a robust and resilient economy 

is essential for the Sunshine Coast’s future. 

We need to support existing local businesses 

as well as attract new industries to diversify 

the economy, generate a wider range of 

secure jobs, and facilitate sustainable 

economic growth. 

Innovation and entrepreneurship will be 

critical to the development of our economy. 

Also vital will be the upskilling of our 

workforce and providing better-targeted 

education and training opportunities to meet 

the needs of the new knowledge and servicebased 

industries that we are seeking to attract 

to the region. We need to provide our young 

people with viable employment opportunities 

locally so they don’t need to leave the region to 

find a job. 

The task for government is to put the right 

policy settings, programs and infrastructure 

in place to encourage the private sector 

to invest in the region and drive economic 

development. 

By 2030, our economy will have diversified 

from its current reliance on tourism, retail 

and construction. We will have built a broad 

21 


range of new service and niche industries that 

reflect our competitive advantage as a lifestyle 

region located in a beautiful and diverse subtropical 

environment. 

The new Sunshine Coast University Hospital 

will be firmly established and we will provide 

exemplary health and medical facilities, care 

services and supporting infrastructure. The 

Sunshine Coast Airport precinct will have 

expanded and there will be regular commuter 

air services to key Australian destinations. 

We will also continue to offer a broad range of 

tourism experiences including major sporting, 

recreational and cultural events. 

We will have a strong, local food production 

industry supplying the local population. 

We will encourage sustainable production 

techniques and provide opportunities to 

showcase local production. 

We will also embrace new ways of doing 

business and be viewed as a leader in our 

use of emerging technologies. There will be 

competition in our broadband market and a 

high level of take-up across the community 

supporting a large number of digital and 

cleantech businesses that will be established 

as sustainable industries in the region. 

Image courtesy of Jock Howard.

ensuring social cohesion 

Communities across the Sunshine Coast 

have been built on the pillars of individual 

responsibility, family values and community 

enterprise. 

We have a strong tradition of volunteerism 

and community activism and have invested 

significant social capital in our sporting 

groups, churches, and not-for-profit 

organisations. 

Our young people attach great importance to 

living in a place where they feel a sense 

of belonging. 

One of the biggest challenges facing our 

region is ensuring that the Sunshine Coast 

remains an affordable place for families and 

people on fixed incomes to live, and this 

will only happen if we are forward thinking 

in our planning and prepared to diversify 

the economy to generate significant local 

employment opportunities. 

Moving towards 2030 we want to build upon 

the strengths of our communities and give 

everyone a fair go. We will support the most 

disenfranchised and vulnerable through 

education and encourage their involvement 

in community life. We will not forget the 

disadvantaged or those isolated from the 

rest of our community. 

We will work hard to achieve reconciliation 

and to close the gap between indigenous and 

non-indigenous people in terms of health, 

education and employment. 

By 2030, there will be a wide range of 

housing choice suitable for different ages 

and incomes. 

The not-for-profit sector will continue to 

flourish across the Sunshine Coast and there 

will be high levels of volunteerism. 

At the local level we will look out for 

one another, celebrate our local heroes, 

establish new community enterprises as 

the need arises, and actively safeguard our 

local environment. We will also take every 

opportunity to share and interact. All of 

which will contribute to our sense 

of belonging. 

Aspirations 


there are more 

community 

festivals.” 


Image courtesy of Elliot Peters

eing connected 


we can catch 

public transport 

- anywhere, 

anytime!” 

Aspirations 

Our community wants reliable, accessible and 

affordable public transport that will enable 

and encourage Coast residents and visitors 

to leave the car at home. Ultimately, the 

sustainability of our region will depend on 

how much we can reduce our dependency on 

the private car. 

This is a major challenge and we therefore 

need improved public transport and rail 

services as soon as possible to make it safer 

and easier to move around the region. 

By 2030, our transport options must be 

tailored to the geography of our region and 

the Coast will need to be easily accessible by 

air, road or rail. There will also have to be 

quality transport links within the region. At 

the same time we must ensure that public 

areas are accessible for older people and 

those with a disability. 

In 2030, public transport will be an attractive 

alternative to private motor vehicles for all 

Sunshine Coast residents and we will have 

reclaimed our villages from cars. 

Visitors will be able to lock their cars on 

arrival and get around on foot, on a bike 

or on public transport. We will have safe 

connections between parks, residential 

areas, tourism precincts and the 

transport infrastructure. 

Over the next two decades, we will develop a 

system of connected path and cycle ways that 

allow us to travel smarter, reduce our carbon 

footprint and develop a walking culture. 

Being connected also means that residents 

will develop strong social networks both in 

the physical and the virtual world. These 

networks will ensure community resilience 

and help us find local solutions to social 

problems – such as isolation, poverty 

and mental illness – that affect us and 

our neighbours. 

23 


Image courtesy of Kari Porter.

tapping into our 

creativity 

Innovation is one of the keys to the future 

success of our region. We will only be able to 

advance our economy, ensure our ecological 

sustainability and manage future population 

growth by investing in research and valuing 

creativity. This will require us to embrace 

lifelong learning and improve the quality of 

our educational institutions. 

In the future, we want our education sector 

to blossom and the Sunshine Coast to become 

known as a smart region where innovation is 

a major catalyst for business development. 

Our libraries will have a key role in 

fostering learning by becoming information 

hubs and centres of creativity blending both 

technological innovation and traditional 

services. 

Over the coming decades we want to attract 

creative industries and creative workers to 

the region and develop a vibrant arts and 

cultural scene on the Coast. Integral to this 

will be the development of Sippy Downs as 

one of Australia’s foremost university towns 

and the continuing presence of large numbers 

of overseas students studying on the Coast. 

Our region has a long and proud artistic 

tradition and we want to build upon this 

tradition by asking artists, architects and 

designers to help us re-imagine our towns 

and transform our public places and 

urban landscapes. 

Creative and artistic endeavours will be held 

in high regard and will be well supported on 

the Sunshine Coast. The dynamism of our 

artistic and cultural sector will be indicative 

of a progressive community that has a 

strong local identity and a sense of its place 

in the world. 

As a region we will also be open to sharing 

our experiences, ideas and best practice for 

cultural, social and economic development 

with other like-minded communities around 

the world. 

Aspirations 

“In 2030 

I hope to see the 

dawn of a new era 

where we share of 

ourselves by moving 

into community 

and connecting.” 


Image courtesy of Hannah Coyle.

next steps and partnerships 

No one person, organisation or institution 

has the capacity to deliver all the aspirations 

contained within this plan. Achieving 

our aspirations will require a rock-solid 

commitment and partnership between the 

community, business and government. 

Our collective efforts must now be focused 

on how best to implement our Community 

Plan. To realise a sustainable and successful 

future for the region, it is vital that all levels 

of government work together. This will 

require continuing community engagement 

and consultation, policy coordination and the 

development of solid strategies and actions. 

To coordinate the delivery of this Community 

Plan, the Sunshine Coast Council is proposing 

to facilitate a Sunshine Coast Community 

Partnership comprising local businesses, 

not-for-profit organisations, community 

groups, residents associations, and all levels 

of government. 

This partnership will be tasked with 

the development and coordination of 

comprehensive strategies and actions 

to enable the delivery of the aspirations 

outlined in this plan. As the partnership 

develops all members will be required to 

outline how they will contribute to the 

implementation of this plan. 

The partnership will challenge us to 

put our big ideas into action, support 

innovation, bring people together, monitor 

the sustainability indicators, and provide a 

united voice on important issues. It will set 

annual priorities and advocacy targets, and 

seek to actively promote cooperation and 

collaboration between government, business, 

education providers, and the community, to 

ensure that the Sunshine Coast becomes the 

most sustainable region in Australia. 

Responsibility for the success of this plan 

rests with everyone in our community. 



these seeds will have 

grown into big gum 

trees to give us clean 

air and homes and 

food for wildlife.” 

25 


Image courtesy of Thomas McCoombes.

sustainability indicators 

As a community we need to measure our 

progress to ensure we are on track to 

achieving our vision to be Australia’s most 

sustainable region. 

The use of sustainability indicators will help 

us understand where we are, the direction in 

which we are travelling, and how far we are 

from attaining our goals. They will also help 

us identify problems and possible solutions, 

by highlighting our strengths 

and weaknesses. 

There are many potential sustainability 

indicators the Sunshine Coast might use, 

however it is important that these indicators 

can be benchmarked with other regions and 

verified by independent sources. 

To this end, the University of the Sunshine 

Coast will be commissioned to undertake 

an annual community report on the suite 

of fifteen indicators that the Australian 

Conservation Foundation (ACF) developed 

for its 2010 sustainable cities index, with 

a minimum of five additional community 

indicators that relate specifically to the 

Sunshine Coast. 

These indicators will measure: 

Environmental performance 

• Air quality 

• Ecological footprint 

• Green building 

• Water use 

• Biodiversity 

Quality of life 

• Health 

• Density 

• Wellbeing 

• Transport 

• Employment 

Resilience 

• Climate change 

• Volunteerism 

• Education 

• Household repayments 

• Food production 

Community 

• Economic diversification 

• Perceptions of safety 

• Waste disposal 

• Community engagement 

• Fish stocks 



Image courtesy of Jody Bouchereau.

areas for improvement 

“In 2030 

I hope that I have 

somewhere to 

sleep.” 


In 2010, our region ranked second on the 

ACF Australian Sustainable City Index, which 

measured the comparative performance of 

Australia’s 20 largest cities, and we would 

like to improve our position relative to other 

Australian cities over the next five years. 

The Sunshine Coast performed very well in 

the categories of air quality and wellbeing, 

taking out the top spot in both. We also did 

well in food production and health, where we 

were ranked second and third respectively. 

Over the next five years we would like 

to continue to perform highly in these 

four areas. 

The Sunshine Coast region performed 

creditably in the categories of climate change 

(6th), public participation/volunteerism 

(7th), water use (7th), biodiversity (7th), 

and ecological footprint (9th). 

Over the next five years, we would like 

to improve our performance in each of 

these areas. 

However, we performed poorly in the area 

of household repayments (18th), and below 

average in density (14th), employment 

(13th), education (12th) green buildings 

(11th), and transport (10th). 

Over the next five years we would like to 

significantly improve our performance in 

the areas of household repayments, density, 

employment and transport by a minimum 

of 20%. 

Improvements in these areas will require 

the development and implementation of 

specific strategies and action plans by 

Council and other government agencies, 

targeting, amongst other areas, affordable 

living, economic development, community 

transport, and the implementation of a new 

planning scheme. 

27 


Image courtesy of Sophie McGeorge.


the Biodiversity Strategy 

now being implemented 

will have stopped our 

wildlife from being 

hung out to dry.” 


Image courtesy of Rebecca Hoge.

council response 

Council endorses this plan and commits to 

working with the community and other levels 

of government to make the Sunshine Coast 

the most sustainable region in Australia. To 

achieve this goal, Council will facilitate and 

resource the development of the Sunshine 

Coast Community Partnership. 

Over the past three years, Council has 

already produced a number of significant 

strategies and detailed action plans to 

enhance the future of our region and 

ensure we achieve our vision. These 

strategies are identified and explained 

in the diagram below. 

Council, along with its other partners in the 

region, will also develop a comprehensive 

response to the aspirations and issues raised 

in the Community Plan in order to ensure 

that we are all working together to achieve 

our collective vision. 

Council views the development of this plan 

as a beginning and not an end in itself. 

To be successful, this plan needs to be 

a living document and Council commits 

to undertaking a major review of this 

plan every five years, as well as regular 

community conferences to track the 

plan’s progress. 

The Community Plan sets the vision and outlines the community’s aspirations. 

Council’s Corporate Plan describes how Council will contribute to achieving the vision. 

The Council’s Corporate Plan has 8 themes. 


Robust 

Economy 

Health and 

Wellbeing 

Social 

Cohesion 

Accessibilty 

and 

Connectedness 

Ecological 

Sustainability 

Strategies and Action Plans 

Great 

Governance 

Managing 

Growth 

Innovation & 

Creativity 

Economic 

Development 

Strategy 

Rural 

Futures 

Strategy 

Airport 

Master Plan 

Open Space Strategy 

Youth Strategy 

Wellbeing Charter 

Reconciliation Action Plan 

Sport and Active Recreation Plan 

Affordable Living Strategy 

Social Infrastructure Strategy 

Aquatic Plan 

Cultural Heritage Plan 

Sustainable Transport Strategy 

Active Transport Plan 

Biodiversity Strategy 

Pest Management Plan 

Climate Change and Peak 

Oil Strategy 

Carbon Neutral Plan 

Energy Transition Plan 

Waterways and Coastal 

Foreshores Management 

Flooding and Stormwater 

Management Strategy 

Waste Minimisation 

Strategy 

10 year 

Financial Plan 

Asset 

Management 

Plans 

Community 

Engagement 

Policy 

Planning 

Scheme 

Structure 


Priority 

Infrastructure 


Sustainability 

Action Plan 

Creative 

Communities 

Plan 

Innovation 

Programs 

Total Water Cycle 

and Sewerage Plan 

Outcome 

a sustainable region – vibrant green diverse 

29 


state government 

response 

Under the Local Government Act 2009, 

all 73 local governments in Queensland 

are required to prepare a long-term 

community plan. 

The purpose of developing these plans is 

to help manage change towards a desired 

future; facilitate joint planning and 

prioritisation (across levels of government, 

industry and the community) in relation 

to the future direction of local government 

area; and balance competing pressures 

for economic development, environmental 

protection and an equitable society. 

The State Government’s regional managers 

on the Sunshine Coast have been consulted 

and engaged in the development of the 

Sunshine Coast Community Plan and they 

believe they can play a positive and ongoing 

role in helping to make the Sunshine Coast a 

sustainable region. These managers welcome 

the opportunity to be further engaged and 

participate in the Sunshine Coast 

Community Partnership. 

There is a strong alignment between the 

Sunshine Coast Community Plan and the 

Queensland Government’s 2020 vision, which 

outlines five ambitions that seek to address 

the future challenges facing communities 

in every Queensland region including the 

Sunshine Coast. 

The Queensland Government wants a 

Sunshine Coast that is: 

Strong – Creating a diverse economy powered 

by bright ideas 

Green – Protecting our lifestyle and 

environment 

Smart – Delivering world-class education 

and training 

Healthy – Making Queenslanders Australia’s 

healthiest people 

Fair – Supporting safe and caring communities 

Some key targets that the State Government 

has set for 2020 are: 

• Queensland is Australia’s strongest 

economy, with infrastructure that 

anticipates growth 

• Increasing the proportion of Queensland 

businesses undertaking research and 

development or innovation by 50 per cent 

• Cutting Queenslanders’ carbon footprint 

with reduced car and electricity use by 

one-third 

• Protecting 50 per cent more land for 

nature conservation and public recreation 

• All children will have access to a quality 

early childhood education so they are 

ready for school 

• Three out of four Queenslanders will hold 

trade, training or tertiary qualifications 

• Cutting obesity, smoking, heavy drinking 

and unsafe sun exposure by one-third 

• Queensland will have the shortest public 

hospital waiting times in Australia 

• Halving the proportion of Queensland 

children living in households without a 

working parent 

• Increasing the proportion of Queenslanders 

involved in their communities as 

volunteers by 50 per cent 


Sunshine Coast Community Plan 30

Image courtesy of Mandy Hoge. 

“We hope that the 

Sunshine Coast is clean 

and green when these 

turtles mature and 

return to lay eggs on 

the same beach.”

Sunshine Coast Council Community Plan 2011

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