By JONATHON HOWARD
SUNSHINE Coast mayor Mark Jamieson has reassured residents the community will be consulted regarding any proposed Planning Scheme amendment in relation to a site at Yaroomba.
Mayor Jamieson’s comments were made following an outcry from more than 500 protesters at Coolum last week.
The crowd demanded the Sunshine Coast Council reject a plan from Japanese development giant Sekisui House.
Sekisui wants to construct 17 buildings on its Yaroomba site, 15 of which are over the planning scheme’s height restrictions.
Mayor Jamieson is concerned misinformation being distributed suggests council’s consideration of a proposed planning scheme amendment in 2015 will be the end of the line for public consultation.
“This is absolutely not the case,” mayor Jamieson said.
“As I have said publicly and in the media on many occasions, any Planning Scheme amendment, if it were to be proposed by council, would need to go through a number of processes before an amendment is actually made.
“If a decision were made by council next year to propose a Planning Scheme amendment, this will only start a process – throughout which the community has input.
“It does not amend the Planning Scheme at that time.
“Council will need to consult the Planning Minister and any proposed amendment that is subsequently released for public feedback would be just that – a proposed amendment.
“The community would then have the opportunity to make formal submissions which are required to be considered by council.
“If, after considering submissions, council were to decide to amend the Planning Scheme, it would once again be referred to the Planning Minister.”
Mayor Jamieson said these steps were required under legislation and would be “meticulously followed by council”.
“But as I have stated over the course of the last week, we are a long way from that point,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“Council will formally consider a proposed Planning Scheme amendment next year.
“We are awaiting further information from council technical staff and, separately, from Sekisui House. That information is imperative to ensure councillors are fully informed before they consider any proposed amendment to the Planning Scheme at that council meeting.
“Having access to all information is in the interest of the whole community, no matter where individuals stand on this issue.
“I reiterate again that if a Planning Scheme amendment were to be proposed at that meeting, the community will have an opportunity to make submissions and council will consider that feedback.”
Mayor Jamieson said Planning Scheme amendments were a usual part of council business and were undertaken by local governments across the nation.
“I also want to make it absolutely clear – at no time have I instructed or advised councillors that they cannot comment on this matter,” mayor Jamieson said.
“That is not how I conduct myself as mayor and any suggestion in the media that I have issued such an instruction to councillors is false.
“The councillors themselves agreed that I speak on behalf of council on this issue. I was not at the meeting when they agreed to that.”
