Have your say on plan to attract hotels

Community consultation is now underway for a proposed Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) aimed at providing short-term planning incentives to encourage the development of upscale hotels.

The proposed TLPI is in response to the urgent need for four- and five-star, full-service hotels. 

The Sunshine Coast has a current and forecast shortfall in serviced visitor accommodation of more than 2,000 hotel rooms - many of these potential visitors are staying elsewhere and travelling in by car or simply not visiting at all.

Only a small number of development applications for upscale hotels are expected to be approved under the TLPI.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli encouraged people to have their say today.

“This proposal was prepared in response to the needs of our region. Just one upscale hotel will provide an estimated minimum visitor spend of $29.5 million every year. It will also provide approximately 422 jobs during construction and another 165 ongoing,” Mayor Natoli said.

“There are huge potential flow-on benefits - opening the doors to new skills, capital, innovation and a significant opportunity to further accelerate the region’s economic growth.

“That said, our community deserves to be consulted on changes to our planning. Likewise, it is vital for us to understand industry and stakeholder sentiment.”

The proposed TLPI includes additional building height allowances and reduced on-site car parking requirements. It would apply to less than one per cent of the Sunshine Coast region, where hotels can already be built.

Under the TLPI, the additional building height allowance will be consistent with existing buildings heights within the Sunshine Coast.

After the consultation period, responses will be assessed and Council will decide whether the proposed TLPI progresses. Should that occur, it will be submitted to the Queensland Government Planning Minister for approval before adoption.

People can visit haveyoursay.qld.gov.au to find more information and provide feedback until 7 October.

FAST FACTS

• Only one per cent of our region’s hotels are considered luxury, the last was built in 1989.
• Each new hotel in the region is estimated to generate an additional $29.5m yearly.
• Upscale hotels attract visitors that spend two to three times more than average.