Sunshine Coast Council
Development Indicators
April to June 2014
© Sunshine Coast Regional Council 2009-current.
Sunshine Coast Council™ is a registered trademark
of Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
T 07 5475 7272 F 07 5475 7277
Locked Bag 72 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Qld 4560
Acknowledgements
Council wishes to thank all contributors and stakeholders involved in the development of this document.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this document is based on available information at the time of writing. All figures and diagrams
are indicative only and should be referred to as such. While the Sunshine Coast Regional Council has exercised
reasonable care in preparing this document it does not warrant or represent that it is accurate or complete. Council or its
officers accept no responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting in reliance upon
any material contained in this document.
Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 4
Sunshine Coast Quick Statistics ............................................................................................ 4
Statistical Snapshot ................................................................................................................. 5
Statistical Snapshot ................................................................................................................. 6
Building Approvals Issued ...................................................................................................... 7
Building Approvals Issued with Estimated Value of Construction....................................... 7
All DA Applications Lodged .................................................................................................... 8
All DA Applications Decided ................................................................................................... 9
MCU Applications by Land Use Type ................................................................................... 10
REC - Approved & Number of Lots Approved ..................................................................... 10
Plan Sealing- Plans Endorsed and Number of Lots Created .............................................. 11
MCU/REC/OPW- Non-Council Time/Council Time ............................................................... 11
MCU/REC/OPW- Time taken by Council to Issue Request for Further Information .......... 12
MCU/REC/OPW- Time taken by Applicant to respond to Request for Further Information12
MCU/REC/OPW- Time for Decision for Applications Decided ............................................ 13
Number of MCU & REC Applications Decided by Delegation, Council & Court/Consent
Order ................................................................................................................................ 14
Plumbing Applications Lodged and Finalised ..................................................................... 14
MCU/REC/OPW- Applications in Progress by IDAS Stages- (as at 1 July 2014) ............... 15
MCU, REC, OPW & Change Applications Lodged (Electronic & Non Electronic) ............. 15
Searches and Certificates Received ..................................................................................... 16
Building & Plumbing Applications Lodged ( Electronic & Non Electronic) ....................... 17
Number of Pre-lodgement/ Advice Meetings ....................................................................... 17
MCU & REC Applications Lodged (FastTrack & Non-Fast Track) ...................................... 18
Significant Applications for April to June 2014 ................................................................... 18
Glossary of Terms ................................................................................................................. 19
Created by RSP, Business Performance Team
Page 3
Introduction
The Development Indicators Report presents a unique picture of development activity for the
Sunshine Coast, Australia’s seventh largest council in terms of population size.
The Development Indicators Report is intended to provide statistical data for use by industry,
media, community groups and the general public.
Using information from council’s internal records about development applications, the Development
Indicators Report profiles the volume and composition of development and contains information on
town planning, subdivision, building and construction activity within the Sunshine Coast.
Additionally, the Development Indicators Report includes information regarding the performance of
the development assessment function undertaken by Development Services within the Regional
Strategy and Planning Department of Council.
Selected charts present data for the current reporting period and for other quarters where
identified. The presentation of these data sets provides a comparison view of development
indicators.
The data for Building applications is broken into Statutory Building (applications assessed under
council’s statutory building function) and Private Certification (applications assessed by Private
Building Certifiers).
Note: Please refer to the “Glossary of Terms” located at the rear of this report for clarification on
terms used throughout this report.
Sunshine Coast Quick Statistics
Key Statistics
Land area
Length of open ocean coastline (surf)
Council maintained open space, including recreation parks, sports grounds
and botanic gardens
Total protected areas (national parks, state forests and forest reserves)
Number of registered businesses
Number of not for profit community groups
Number of rateable properties
Recent updates
2012 Estimated Resident Population (30 June)
2012 Proportion of population aged 65 years and over (30 June)
2012 Median age(30 June)
2013 September quarter unemployment rate
Projections
2011
2014
2016
2021
2026
Population
267,241 285,000* 297,641 337,951 380,741
Dwellings
113,626 122,000* 127,414 145,750 165,389
Occupancy rate
2.35
2.34
2.32
2.30
Approximates
2,291km2
60km
7,000ha
625km2
30,000 businesses
1,500 groups
125,000 properties
2031
424,593
185,720
2.29
272,572
18.3%
41.7
5.9%
2036
469,873
207,167
2.27
* Please note that these figures are preliminary estimates. More detailed assessments will be undertaken during 2014.
Source: ABS, 2011 Census of Population and Housing (enumerated data), available through Sunshine Coast Community Profile
http://profile.id.com.au/sunshine-coast
Source: Queensland Government population projections, 2013 edition http://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/
Page 4
Statistical Snapshot
MCU Applications Lodged and Finalised
REC Applications Lodged and Finalised
OPW Applications Lodged and Finalised
Pre-Lodgement/Professional Officers
Appointment/Pre-Design Meetings
Note: There was an increase in the number of applications lodged during May 2014. The new Sunshine Coast
Planning Scheme commenced operation on 21 May 2014.
Created by RSP, Business Performance Team
Page 5
Statistical Snapshot
Applications Lodged & Finalised with Lots
Created
Estimated Value of Construction for Building
Applications Decided (Excludes SC Hospital)
Applications Lodged – Plumbing, Building
Statutory/Building Private Certification
Building Searches & Certificates Received
Page 6
Building Approvals Issued
(Data in this table includes Private Certifier applications in addition to applications decided by council)
No of Applications
Classification
Estimated $ Value of Construction
Apr
May
Jun
Apr
May
Jun
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
Dwellings New
134
171
200
$34,510,791
$44,405,616
$51,994,098
Additions/ alterations
46
53
49
$4,474,390
$4,586,142
$3,575,062
Garages/ Carports/Sheds
72
124
108
$1,315,511
$3,467,933
$2,536,067
3
5
7
$633,000
$683,500
$2,281,554
Shops/Business Premises
33
23
18
$6,514,146
$4,327,313
$12,098,864
Multiple Residential Buildings
10
18
11
$5,863,607
$13,711,471
$3,384,356
1
1
0
$20,000
$20,000
$0
31
39
45
$874,435
$1,593,830
$1,209,434
4
10
3
$54,431
$729,238
$17,500
Demolition
4
11
12
$39,830
$136,400
$129,150
Government Buildings
1
0
1
$36,000
$0
$470,000
Other Buildings
11
9
12
$11,280,600
$5,839,027
$2,849,788
Sub Total
350
464
466
$65,616,741
$79,500,470
$80,545,873
Fit out Office/Shop/ Restaurant
Removal of Buildings
Swimming Pools
Retaining Walls/Fences/
Towers
Apr – Jun 2014 Total
1280
$225,663,084
Building Approvals Issued with Estimated Value of Construction
Figure 1 below shows the volume of Building Applications by type of application and the estimated value of
the proposed construction for each type.
Created by RSP, Business Performance Team
Page 7
All DA Applications Lodged
Apr
May
Jun
2014
2014
2014
MCU
11
23
14
48
OPW
36
61
51
148
REC
16
22
12
50
Plan of Subdivision
19
26
17
62
Changes/Variations
34
40
34
108
Kawana Master Plan*
3
5
1
9
Plumbing
214
289
329
832
Building (Statutory)
70
78
73
221
Building (Private Certification)
386
501
434
1321
Application Type
Total No of DA Applications Lodged for Apr to Jun 2014 Quarter
Totals
2799
Figure 2 below shows the overall volume and type of Development Applications lodged with Development
Services, SCC for the specified quarter. In addition to the IDAS applications, the graph includes other
applications requiring assessment, namely applications under the Kawana Master Plan process, changes to
existing approvals and request for approvals for minor variations to other planning instruments. Building
applications comprise Statutory Building applications which are assessed under council’s Statutory Building
function and Private Certification applications which are assessed by Private Building Certifiers.
Page 8
All DA Applications Decided
Apr
May
Jun
2014
2014
2014
MCU
17
10
11
38
OPW
42
41
44
127
REC
16
11
13
40
Plan of Subdivision
27
26
21
74
Changes/Variations
25
37
39
101
Kawana Master Plan*
1
0
0
1
Plumbing
211
274
315
800
Building (Statutory)
64
69
74
207
Building (Private Certification)
351
398
442
1191
Application Type
Total No of DA Applications Decided for Apr to Jun 2014 Quarter
Totals
2579
Figure 3 below shows the overall volume and type of Development Applications Decided with Development
Services, SCC for the specified quarter. Note that council does not assess Building Private Certification
applications and is only the record holder for archival purposes.
Created by RSP, Business Performance Team
Page 9
MCU Applications by Land Use Type
Land Use Type (application numbers)
Period
Other
(Church, school,
telecommunications
tower, etc)
Industrial
Commercial
Residential
Apr 2014
1
2
2
5
May 2014
1
1
5
15
Jun 2014
4
1
2
7
Totals
6
4
9
27
REC - Approved & Number of Lots Approved
Period
Approved Applications
No of Lots Approved
Apr 2014
16
60
May 2014
11
29
Jun 2014
11
33
Totals
38
122
Figure 4 below shows the Apr to Jun 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 COMPARISONS of the number of
Reconfigure of a Lot applications approved for the specified quarter and the number of lots associated with
these approvals.
Page 10
Plan Sealing- Plans Endorsed and Number of Lots Created
Period
Approved Applications
Number of Lots Approved
Apr 2014
20
305
May 2014
26
258
Jun 2014
16
40
Totals
62
603
Figure 5 below shows the Jan to Mar 2014 and the Apr to Jun 2014 COMPARISONS of number of Plans of
Subdivison approved for the specified quarter and the number of new lots created during this quarter.
MCU/REC/OPW- Non-Council Time/Council Time
Figure 6 below shows the percentrage of time an application is assessed by council (Council Time) and the
time that the application is outside of council (Non-Council Time), i.e. time taken by a Referral Agency to
undertake the referral process, and/or applicant to respond to a Request for Further Information issued by
council and if applicable, undertake Public Notification of an application.
Created by RSP, Business Performance Team
Page 11
MCU/REC/OPW- Time taken by Council to Issue Request
for Further Information
MCU
1-10 B-days
11-20 B-days
21+ B-days
Apr 2014
4
0
0
May 2014
7
1
0
Jun 2014
6
1
0
17
2
0
1-10 B-days
11-20 B-days
21+ B-days
Apr 2014
2
0
0
May 2014
8
0
0
Jun 2014
6
1
0
16
1
0
1-10 B-days
11-20 B-days
21+ B-days
Apr 2014
7
1
0
May 2014
5
2
0
Jun 2014
7
2
1
19
5
1
Totals
REC
Totals
OPW
Totals
MCU/REC/OPW- Time taken by Applicant to respond to
Request for Further Information
MCU
Months
Months
Months
Months
1
2
3
4-6
7-9
10-12
Apr 2014
1
1
0
0
0
0
May 2014
0
2
1
0
0
1
Jun 2014
4
1
0
1
0
0
Totals
5
1
Months
4-6
0
Months
7-9
0
Months
10-12
REC
4
1
Months
1
2
3
Apr 2014
1
0
2
1
1
0
May 2014
3
0
3
3
0
0
Jun 2014
0
1
0
0
1
0
Totals
4
4
Months
2
Months
0
Months
OPW
1
5
Months
1
2
3
4-6
7-9
10-12
Apr 2014
9
1
2
1
1
0
May 2014
Jun 2014
5
2
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
15
4
2
2
1
1
Totals
Page 12
MCU/REC/OPW- Time for Decision for Applications
Decided
1st 20 B-days
21-40 B-days
41-60 B-days
60+ B-days
Apr 2014
14
1
1
0
May 2014
8
1
1
0
Jun 2014
10
5
0
0
32
7
2
1 20 B-days
21-40 B-days
41-60 B-days
0
60+ B-days
Apr 2014
12
3
1
0
May 2014
10
1
0
0
Jun 2014
9
2
0
0
31
6
1
1 20 B-days
21-40 B-days
41-60 B-days
0
60+ B-days
Apr 2014
31
4
1
4
May 2014
32
6
0
0
Jun 2014
29
7
0
0
Totals
92
17
1
4
MCU
Totals
REC
st
Totals
OPW
st
Figure 7 below shows the time taken for a decision to be made during the Decision Stage of the IDAS
process by the core Development Assessment application types for the Jan to Mar 2014 and the Apr to Jun
2014 quarters. The IDAS process provides 20 B-days for the council to issue a decision on the application.
This period may be extended to 40 B-days by council. With the applicant’s consent, the period of time to
issue a decision may be extended longer than 40 days. Each bar in the chart is broken into one of three time
periods set out in the IDAS process. A “decision” includes approvals and refusals.
Created by RSP, Business Performance Team
Page 13
Number of MCU & REC Applications Decided by
Delegation, Council & Court/Consent Order
Delegation
Council
Court/Consent
Order
Apr 2014
16
1
2
May 2014
9
1
1
Jun 2014
13
1
1
Delegation
Council
Court/Consent
Order
Apr 2014
14
2
1
May 2014
11
0
0
Jun 2014
13
0
0
MCU
REC
Plumbing Applications Lodged and Finalised
REC
Plumbing
Lodged
Finalised
Apr 2014
214
211
May 2014
289
274
Jun 2014
329
315
Total
832
800
Page 14
MCU/REC/OPW- Applications in Progress by IDAS Stages(as at 1 July 2014)
Application
Type
Application
Stage
Info &
Referral
Stage
Public
Notification
Stage
Decision
Stage
Negotiated
Decision
Appeal
Lodged
MCU
7
34
2
16
9
5
REC
5
34
6
14
12
2
OPW
12
53
1
36
10
2
Change
Applications
Application
Stage
MCU
39
REC
26
OPW
11
MCU, REC, OPW & Change Applications Lodged
(Electronic & Non Electronic)
Note: Operational Works Vegetation Management applications are not included in the above.
Created by RSP, Business Performance Team
Page 15
Searches and Certificates Received
Search Type
Apr 2014
May 2014
Jun 2014
Totals
Building Information Search
178
238
188
604
Certificates of Classifications
38
41
20
99
Plumbing Records Search
105
76
74
255
Limited Certificates
28
21
33
82
Standard Certificates
1
1
2
4
Full Certificates
0
0
1
1
Figure 8 below shows the volume of Searches and Certificates by type received in the Jan to Mar 2014 and
Apr to Jun 2014 quarters.
Page 16
Building & Plumbing Applications Lodged ( Electronic &
Non Electronic)
Number of Pre-lodgement/ Advice Meetings
No of Prelodgement/
Jul
13
Aug
13
Sep
13
Oct
13
Nov
13
Dec
13
Jan
14
Feb
14
Mar
14
Apr
14
May
14
Jun
14
Total
Advice
Meetings
23
28
18
18
23
18
16
30
22
23
27
34
280
Created by RSP, Business Performance Team
Page 17
MCU & REC Applications Lodged (FastTrack & Non-Fast
Track)
FastTrack Applications (MCU & REC)
Jan to Mar 2014
Apr to Jun 2014
FastTrack Complexity Level 1
36%
34%
Balance Complexity Level 1
64%
66%
Since 1 July 2013 Council has provided a FastTrack Application (Complexity 1) process for a
range of low risk, code assessable developments to allow more timely and consistent outcomes.
Council will aim to assess and determine these applications within ten (10) business days from
start of the IDAS Decision Stage.
Significant Applications for April to June 2014

Shopping Complex & Multiple Dwelling Units x 20 - Coles Group Property Developments
Limited – MCU14/0067 - Sippy Downs Dve & Stringybark Rd Sippy Downs

74 Multiple Dwelling Units - Sword Holdings Pty Ltd – MCU14/0061 - Lot 885 Fiji Ct
Parrearra

Reconfiguration of 1 Lot into 145 Lots - Felix Hill Pty Ltd – REC14/0052 - Sunshine Cove
Way Maroochydore

58 Multiple Dwelling Units - Aria Property Group – MCU14/0079 - 3 Meta Street
Mooloolaba

Relocatable Home Park (119 Sites) - Ruby Development Pty Ltd - MCU14/0074 - 596
David Low Way Pacific Paradise
Page 18
Glossary of Terms
Building Applications lodged include all application types including those in which council was
the private certifier.
Building (Statutory) – refers to applications assessed under council’s Statutory Building function.
Building (Private Certification) – refers to applications which are assessed by Private Building
Certifiers.
DA (development applications) – refers to development applications lodged to council for
assessment and includes Material Change of Use (MCU), Reconfiguring a Lot (REC), Operational
Work (OPW), Building Works and Plumbing or Drainage Works. A subset of “core” development
applications comprising MCU, REC, OPW is presented in some of the graphs.
IDAS (Integrated Development Assessment System) – is a single uniform system for
development approval that enables relevant state agencies to have input in the assessment
process. IDAS is generally divided into four (4) stages – Application stage; Information & Referral
stage; Notification stage and Decision stage.
Code – Code assessment refers to applications that are not subject to public notification.
Impact – Impact assessment refers to applications that are subject to public notification.
B-days – the IDAS process uses business days for the measurement of time. Business days
exclude weekends and public holidays. B-days are used throughout the report unless specified
otherwise.
MCU (material change of use) – development applications for a material change of use require
assessment under council’s Planning Schemes. In general terms, an MCU is the start of a new
use, or an increase in the intensity or scale of an existing use on a site.
REC (reconfiguring a lot) – development applications for reconfiguring a lot require assessment
under council’s Planning Schemes. A REC is the process for the creation of new lots by
subdividing existing lots or rearranging the boundaries of existing lots. A REC also involves
creating access easements.
OPW (operational work) – development applications for operational work require assessment
under council’s Planning Schemes and/or State legislation. OPW involves a wide variety of works
on a site and often are works related to approved MCU and REC applications
Negotiated Decisions - An applicant has a 20 business day appeal period after they have been
advised of Council’s decision about the development application. However, the applicant may
suspend the appeal period to lodge a negotiated decision request with Council.
The request must be lodged within 20 business days of suspending the appeal period.
Created by RSP, Business Performance Team
Page 19
The written representations in the request must state what parts of the Decision Notice the
applicant wishes to negotiate and why (eg. a condition of development). Council may amend the
Decision Notice or refuse to amend the Decision Notice. The applicant then has the balance of the
applicant appeal period to lodge an appeal with the Planning & Environment Court if they do not
agree with Council’s Negotiated Decision Notice.
Plan of Subdivision (Plan Sealing) – refers to council’s final approval of a plan of subdivision. It
is also informally known as a “plan of survey” or the “plan sealing” process. For example – an
application for REC to create a 100 lot residential estate is approved by council. Subsequent
applications for OPW related to the REC are also approved by council. The developer constructs
the estate and when it is finished submits the plan of subdivision to council for approval. Council
checks that all the REC and OPW conditions have been met and then approves the plan (Plan
Sealing). The plan is then submitted to the Titles Office for registration. When the plan is
registered in the Titles Office, the lots are officially created.
Pre-lodgement meetings (PLM) and professional officer appointments (POA) – Council holds
PLMs and POAs to assist applicants through the process of submitting development applications.
The meetings provide information to prospective applicants about issues relevant to development
proposals, such as what details council needs to support an application.
Public Notification – A development application is required to be publicly notified under Chapter
6, Part 4 of SPA if either of the following applies:

any part of the application requires impact assessment
the application is an application to which Section 242 of SPA applies.
The purpose of public notification is to inform the community and relevant stakeholders of the
proposal, and to give them the opportunity to make submissions that must be taken into account
before the development application is decided. A properly made submission secures the right of a
submitter to appeal to the Planning and Environment Court (the Court) about the decision if they
disagree with part or all of the assessment manager’s decision.
Request for Further Information – The Assessment Manager may ask the applicant to provide
further information to assess the application. This is called the Information Request and is issued
twenty (20) business days after the lodgement of the development application (council can extend
the information request period). This means that further information is required so council can
assess the development application. The Sustainable Planning Act 2009 allows the applicant up to
six (6) months from the receipt of the information request to respond to the Assessment Manager.
Page 20