New “Iconic Places” Declared

19 June 2008 New “Iconic Places” Declared

Another two areas of Queensland have been declared “Iconic Places” and will be protected from inappropriate development.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas said parts of the central Capricorn Coast and the Blackall Range will join the former Noosa and Douglas shires under the Iconic Queensland Places Act.

“These are unique areas that help define Queensland’s character and the local communities want to make sure they’re protected,” said Mr Lucas.

“Over 1000 thousand expressions of support were received for the Blackall Range declaration —clearly the local community wants the protection offered by the Iconic Queensland Places Act.

“The Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington has also been vocal in his support for giving this area Iconic status.

“Twenty-one sites for protection have been identified in the former Livingstone Shire on the central Capricorn Coast, between Keppel Sands and Farnborough.

“The Blackall Range area of the former Maroochy Shire includes the towns of Montville, Flaxton and Mapleton.

“The iconic places laws recognise that the natural and built character of these areas was being well cared for under the planning schemes of the former shire councils.

“This won’t affect putting up your garden shed, these laws only deal with large or controversial developments.

“This is about making sure that protection isn’t eroded under the much larger amalgamated regional councils.

“The iconic places laws do not add to, remove or replace these existing local planning schemes; development that was possible under the existing schemes is still possible.”

Mr Lucas also announced the makeup of the independent development assessment panels for the former Noosa and Douglas shires.

The panels—each comprising five people, including people with community experience, technical experts and a councillor—will have the option of deciding on development applications for premises in the iconic places.

“Locals with a true understanding of exactly what makes Noosa and Douglas so special make up the majority of both panels,” said Mr Lucas.

“Four of the five people on the Noosa panel are locals, including Peter Bycroft and John Mainwaring, some of the fathers of Noosa as we know it today.

“They are the experts who designed the area’s planning scheme and the Noosa foreshore.

“I am confident these panel members have the skills to decide large development applications and will be beyond reproach when they do so.

“Leo Jenson and Peter Wood will bring extensive planning experience to both panels and ensure they operate in a uniform manner.

“All members will be required to avoid potential conflicts by adhering to a code of conduct and declaring their interests on a members’ register.

“The panels will now meet as required to determine whether or not they will decide particular development applications instead of Councils.”

Noosa panel

Peter Bycroft Local resident, Former Noosa Shire Council Councillor

John Mainwaring Local resident, Architect and Chair of the Queensland Heritage Council’s Development Committee

Cr Russell Green Local resident, Sunshine Coast Councillor with the portfolio of Statutory and Regional Planning, former chair of Noosa Shire Council’s Environmental and Planning committee

Peter Wood Local resident, former Toowoomba City Council Deputy Mayor and Commissioner of the Qld Local Government Grants Commission

Leo Jensen Past President of Planning Institute of Australia (Qld), nominated by PIA

Douglas panel

Ken Dobbs Local resident and President of the Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce

Gary Hunt Local resident and former member of the Northern Territory’s Town Planning Appeals Committee

Cr Julia Leu Local resident, Cairns councillor and member of the Douglas Shire Sustainability Working Group

Peter Wood Former Toowoomba City Council Deputy Mayor and Commissioner of the Queensland Local Government Grants Commission

Leo Jensen Past President of Planning Institute of Australia (Qld), nominated by PIA

Public nominations will now be sought for panel members for the central Capricorn Coast and Blackall Range areas.

ICONIC PLACES

Noosa Douglas

Entire former shire council area. Entire former shire council area.

Central Capricorn Coast Blackall Range

Farnborough Planning Area No. 19 (Maroochy Plan Bangalee Causeway Lake 2000), including:

The Keppels

Mulambin Flaxton

Pacific Heights Montville

Barlows Hill Mapleton.

Emu Park

Meikleville Hill

Zilzie

Yeppoon

Keppel Sands

Inverness

Hidden Valley

Taroomball

Taranganba

Cooee Bay

Lammermoor

Tanby

Rosslyn

Kinka Beach

Media contact: Matthew Klar 0437 435 223 or Robert Hoge 0419 787 868