SUNSHINE Coast councillors will stand firm in not accepting state government population numbers for new green field developments.
They want the government to back the community’s position on growth but are ready for an expected showdown on the issue.
Many say a bigger threat than green field development to existing communities is the push for massive population increases to existing communities.
The infill development, or “densification” as it is also called, would add 37,000 homes to existing urban areas. The government also wants more than 61,000 new dwellings to be built in green field developments here by 2031.
Letters signed by community groups, sent to all councillors this week, have urged them to reject those numbers and to determine future population on the basis of proper planning.
The letters said planning should take into account sustainable carrying capacity, existing character and scale of an area, biophysical constraints and the provision of infrastructure.
Councillors will attend a special meeting today to consider their response to the state government’s draft master plan for Caloundra South, Palmview and central Maroochydore.
The government wants more than 70,000 people to be accommodated in those areas.
Each councillor has received a letter signed by the heads of OSCAR and Sunshine Coast Environment Council as well as Development Watch calling on them to represent the strong community view that future population should be controlled by council and not “forced on us by the state”.
It said that councillors rejecting that position would not only be rubbing out Mayor Bob Abbot’s “line in the sand” on growth but also their credibility with the community.
OSCAR is the peak body for 24 community associations across the region, while SCEC represents 10,000 members and member groups on environmental issues. The organisations are concerned that detailed planning assessments on residential growth capacity and the rate of that growth within the urban footprint have not been done.
Cr Abbot said there was no wavering of council’s opposition.
“There is an overall logic of councils being in control of their communities’ destinies,” he said.
“If that is to be tested it will be tested here.”
A Daily survey of all eight councillors yesterday found universal support for planning from the ground up rather than on the basis of mandated numbers.
Councillors said they were well aware of the overwhelming authority the state possessed. But equally they would not be part of a planning process which did not limit growth to the region’s carrying capacity and the delivery of services.
Concern that council would not stick to its guns was not evident with all councillors expressing frustration and disappointment at the government’s threats to take over the planning process if the council did not do what the minister wanted.
“The community wants us to toughen up and stick to our guns,” councillor Ted Hungerford said. “If the minister is going to come in over the top of us that’s up to him.”
The letter to council said the community was developing an impression that councillors were being railroaded by the state and by its own bureaucrats.
“The stance that you and your fellow councillors take at this special meeting will be evident to all the community when the structure plans are publicly notified. We trust the result will reinforce the community mandate and council’s previously adopted policy,” it said.
“Your policy of determining residential growth capacity and rate as part of the new planning scheme was reiterated in council’s submission on the draft South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031.
“The community applauded this stance, which reflected voters’ expectations, when you were elected to the new Sunshine Coast council. Understandably, there is a continuing expectation that the community’s voice will not only be heard but also acted upon.”
Councillor Lew Brennan took offence at the implication that the council needed to be pressured to stand up for its policies.
“That’s disappointing,” Cr Brennan said. “They should have more faith in the council.”
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) has vowed to fight a Queensland, Australia state government development plan that would see almost 100,000 more homes built. Mayor Bob Abbot said that it was an example of "top-down" development at the whim of developers.

"We don't know whether ... that long term it's not going to destroy our lifestyle," Mr Abbot said. He also stated that the SCRC preferred a "bottom-up planing process", where the community had a say in what the region should look like in the future.

"We'll apply those values and work out what the population will be, rather than going the other way and just blandly state a population level on a whim, with no justification other than some application that have been brought forward by the development industry."

State treasurer Andrew Fraser told Australian Associated Press that there would need to be proposals made to limit population growth.

"Population growth isn't governed by government policy, and to stop it would be an incredible infringement and an un-Australian infringement on the rights of Australians to have children and move freely about the nation. The challenge is to plan for that population growth that's occurring."

Of the near 100,000 homes to be built, 31,000 would be built in existing urban areas. 61,000 new homes would be built on what is being referred to as "greenfield sites".

"The community wants us to toughen up and stick to our guns," councillor Ted Hungerford said. "If the minister is going to come in over the top of us that's up to him."