TAPP is particularly interested in long-term Identified growth areas and will continue to advocate for the Sunshine Coast-Brisbane Inter-Urban Break in order to protect the health and biodiversity of the Pumicestone Passage.
The inter-Urban Break (the dotted red line) is part of the S C Council and the Moreton Bay Council
In line with TAPP’s objectives we will continue to advocate to ensure that future changes to land use in the Pumicestone Passage catchment area will not jeopardise the long-term future health of the Pumicestone Passage or its catchment. We will endeavour to ensure that world best practice standards apply to any development that does occur within the catchment.
There are major concerns regarding the Inter-Urban Break and the health of the Passage. Such as-
1 – The potential development in the Inter Urban Break and how this will influence the Quality of Water in the Pumicestone Passage.
2 – The increased recreational uses of the Passage. The Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay Regional Councils have devised a Recreation Plan for the Inter-Urban Break which is explained in the link below.
Facts about the Inter-Urban Break concerning the Potential Future Growth Area (PFGA) Halls Creek
Fact: The PFGA will reduce the size of the inter urban break.
The Caloundra City Plan (2004) identified the northern extent of the inter-urban break with Moreton Bay. The PFGA area lies within the area designated by Council as open space / inter urban break. Council has consistently used the boundary identified in the Caloundra City plan since then.
Development here will reduce the area that has been designated by Council as part of the inter-urban break since 2004. It is important to recognise that the inter-urban break is not just a line of trees that shield urban development from view as you travel along the high way. It is actually an undeveloped area of open space that is available to the community.
The Key Values of the inter-urban break are:-
- Protect and preserve separation between urban areas
- Maintain and restore hydrological functions and water quality
- Maintain, restore and improve biodiversity and associated ecosystems
- Protect and enhance rural and scenic landscapes and character
- Protect and enhance cultural landscapes and character
- Promote rural economic productivity and growth
- Encourage community access and cohesion
The IUB has a diverse range of landscapes including the iconic Glass House Mountains, Scenic Ramsar protected wetlands with the Pumicestone Passage, Sandy Beaches of Bribie Island as well as a range of forested and agricultural landscapes. Due to these intrinsic values the IUB is of immense importance to the SEQ region in particular as a tourism and recreation destination and is now considered to be worth in excess of $10 Billion per annum.
Fact: Urban development in the IUB has consistently been rejected by Council since the early 2000’s
Caloundra and Moreton Bay Councils submitted to the Qld Regional Plan requesting that the IUB be protected in perpetuity.
In its submission Sunshine Coast Council called on the State Government to: “delete all reference to the ‘Caloundra South Extension’ (Halls Creek) investigation area and keep the land classified in the land use category of Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area”
Fact: Potential Development could add a further 15,000 to the total predicted population in the catchment.
At the 2011 census the population living East of the Bruce Highway between Roys Road and Lake Currimundi ( the catchment for Pumicestone Passage) was 47,762. Infill development in and around Caloundra will increase the population by around 40,000 people over the next 35 years. The approved development of Caloundra South will add a further 50,000 people to this.
Development of the PFGA would add a further 35,000 people to the area. This would mean that the population of the greater Caloundra area would increase from 47,762 in 2011 to over 170,000 in the next 40 years.
Fact: Run off from the PFGA will impact on Pumicestone Passage
Storm water runoff from the area will flow directly into wetlands that are part of the internationally protected Pumicestone Passage wetlands area.
Fact: Forestry can continue as a viable industry
In order for the land to be available for urban development the forestry leases would need to be bought out or surrendered. Development in the area will reduce the available forestry land and create a reduction in agricultural output in the IUB.
Is the PFGA really required under the SEQ Regional Plan as the State claims?
In preparing the new planning scheme Council undertook extensive investigation and concluded that sufficient area was available without inclusion of the PFGA as shown in the SEQ Regional Plan.
Due to the exponential growth in our area Caboolture West is under development. This will hold approximately 70,000 residents. This development is also in the Pumicestone Passage Catchment and in the IUB. As this is a priority development area (PDA) and as such is controlled by Economic Development Qld (EDQ) which means that there is very limited opportunity for public input
More information can be found on the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC) Website at
Protect Our Regional Inter-Urban Break – Sunshine Coast Environment Council (scec.org.au)