Date: 3 October 2014

Contact: Mr Mark Harvey Location: Surfers Paradise

Telephone: 07 5581 7165

CITY OF

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Your reference: Our reference: #45715542

Ms Julie Harris Director SEQ Planning Pty Ltd 19 Paterson Road Yatala QLD 4207

Dear Julie

. ___ .N_QRTHERN G..OLD COAST CANE LANDS

As promised, I write following our recent meeting on the subject of the future of the Northern Gold Coast canelands (the northern canelands).

The northern canelands area is outside of the existing urban footprint of the current planning scheme (2003) and is mostly zoned Rural. Under the draft City Plan 2015 the area remains outside of the urban footprint and is proposed to continue to be zoned Rural.

As part of the consultation process for the draft City Plan, a range of submissions have been received in relation to the northern canelands. Council will give consideration to these submissions via the City Plan Sub-Committee initially and ultimately the Council in its deliberations on the finalisation of the City Plan 2015.

While I am aware that the QIC has approached the Department of State Development and Infrastructure Planning regarding a possible master planning process for the northern canelands with a view to transitioning the area to a range of urban uses (including residential), there are a number of other relevant issues to be considered which make it premature at this stage to consider such a process. These include:

• Consideration of potential and continuing future agricultural uses of land as part of a Resource and Agricultural Lands Study which will investigate these types of land uses throughout the City and which is due to commence in late 2014-15.

The Northern Gold Coast Agricultural Futures Study is. currently being undertaken by the Economic Development and Major Projects directorate on the 11 ,OOOha northern canelands area. This study will include input from a specialist agricultural economist to further study the viability of a range of agricultural and other products that could be grown in the area, and will involve extensive engagement with stakeholders related to the cane, agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and supporting industries, along with all relevant local community and business groups.

The study will assess the value of the provision of high quality recycled water to the existing cane industry. It will also investigate whether other agricultural, horticultural, aquaculture and supporting industries, including relevant industrial uses, can be enhanced or created from the sustainable supply of recycled water from Gold Coast Water's Pimpama sewerage treatment plant. It is anticipated that the initial findings of this study should be available in mid-2015 at the conclusion of the current pre­feasibility phase. Depending on the findings of the study it is expected that a

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business case process will then be adopted to further analyse potential investment by Council into the provision of recycled water infrastructure to the study area.

Council's decision to progress an investigation into the potential demand/viability for the expansion of the recycled water pipeline to supply high quality recycled water to the northern canelands area to prolong the viability of existing agricultural production activities and to provide the potential for new types of production.

A call for registrations of interest from existing and potential future users of recycled water is planned to be advertised in late October. This registration of interest covers all of Council's four existing recycled water schemes, one of which is the Northern Supply Scheme, which supplies a number of customers in the northern canelands area. Results from the registration of interest will be utilised to inform and guide further steps in the development of long term integrated water and economic development plans for the whole of the Gold Coast. In relation to the northern canefields area, the results of the Northern Gold Coast Agricultural Futures Study will be a key input to future decisions relating to recycled water use in the area:---- - -

A number of other matters are also relevant:

- Council's decision to undertake a study to explore the possibility of an "adrenaline activities" precinct;

- the value of the area as an inter-urban break; and

- the new draft SEQ Regional Plan which is not due to be released until mid-2015.

Council has a strategic planning program which includes relevant land use planning studies and these will continue as determined by Council. Importantly, the canelands area will be considered as part of this strategic planning program and a range of studies will be undertaken in the future in accordance with priorities established by Council. Amongst these studies are some that will impact on the northern canefields, including:

• Employment land planning study

This study will identify the City's current supply of employment land, by sector, to identify whether there is an under or over supply of zoned land in the City Plan 2015 (by sector in the south, central and north of the city) when compared against the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research's (NIEIR) employment forecasts.

It is anticipated the study will identify a program of amendments to the City Plan 2015 that will be delivered across current and future financial years. The planning horizon for this study will be approximately 20 years to assist Council in meeting its growth and jobs targets (from the SEQ Regional Plan) into the future.

This study is commencing now and should be completed by March/April next year.

• Housing strategy study

This study will determine the City's current supply of land zoned for housing (by type) and deliver a strategy to address the City's longer term housing needs when compared against the City's projected demographic, economic and social profile. The study will ensure that the City provides a sufficient supply of suitably zoned land and supports/encourages the development of a mix of housing tenure, size, type and intensity in appropriate areas, and to meet the diverse needs of communities.

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It is anticipated the study will identify a program of amendments to the City Plan 2015 that will be delivered across future financial years. The planning horizon for this study will be approximately 20 years to assist Council in meeting its housing targets (from the SEQ Regional Plan) into the future.

This study is scheduled to commence in the next financial year.

As you are aware, Council has adopted a 5 year strategic planning program associated with the delivery of the City Plan 2015 and subsequent Amendments. As part of that program, a series of city-wide and issue-specific studies will be undertaken to inform future Amendments and related policy matters. In particular, the preparation of the 'Agriculture and Resource Lands Study' and the 'Adrenaline Precinct Study' will be of relevance to future planning activities for the northern canelands area. These studies are not within the scope adopted by Council for the City Plan 2015, however, they may be considered as part of the scope for Amendment 1 to the City Plan. At that point, should Council agree to a budget allocation for these studies, appropriate consultation with stakeholders will be undertaken.

Yours sincerely

~soo CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Council of the City of Gold Coast

cc: Mayor Tom Tate Cr Donna Gates Director Planning and Environment Director Economic Development and Major Projects Director Gold Coast Water

Incorporated, by leave

Clerk at the Table: