Queensland Coastal Plan

The Coastal Protection State Planning Regulatory Provision—the SPRP—is the primary instrument used by local government and the department for assessing development in the coastal zone and the coastal management districts. It suspended the operation of the Queensland Coastal Plan – State Planning Policy for Coastal Protection (SPP 3/11) in October 2012.

The Queensland Coastal Plan – State Policy for Coastal Management remains in operation.

It is intended that the SPRP will be replaced by the single State planning policy (single SPP) during 2013. A draft single SPP has been released by the Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning for public consultation. The draft single SPP includes policies articulating the state's interests in planning and development including revised coastal SPP 3/11 policies. Further information about the SPRP or draft single SPP is available from the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning.

Information on the suspended Coastal SPP 3/11 can be found below.

The Queensland Coastal Plan (see availability) has been prepared under the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 and commenced on 3 February 2012. It replaced the State Coastal Management Plan (2001) and associated regional coastal management plans.

The Queensland Coastal Plan has two parts: State Policy for Coastal Management and the State Planning Policy 3/11: Coastal Protection (SPP 3/11).

The State Policy for Coastal Management provides policy direction for natural resource management decision-makers about land on the coast, such as coastal reserves, beaches, esplanades and tidal areas.

The SPP 3/11 is no longer in operation. It was suspended by the Coastal Protection State Planning Regulatory Provision in October 2012.

• Guidelines
• Townsville Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy Pilot Project
• Mapping
• Frequently asked questions
• What went before?

Guidelines

The following guidelines are available to help implement the Queensland Coastal Plan:

State Planning Policy Guideline 3/11: Coastal Protection

Note: Guidelines associated with the State Planning Policy 3/11: Coastal Protection are no longer in operation but may provide useful background information for planning authorities.

State Planning Policy Guideline 3/11: Coastal Protection (see availability)

• Annex 1 – Part 1 Maps of the Queensland Coast (see availability)
• Annex 1 – Part 2 Development Assessment Code (see availability)
• Annex 1 – Part 3 Storm-tide inundation areas (see availability)
• Annex 1 – Part 4 Planning requirements for specified areas (see availability)
• Annex 1 – Part 5 Factors for determining overriding need in the public interest (see availability)
• Annex 2 Performance criteria used to assess the policy (see availability)
• Annex 3 Locality-specific requirements derived from previous coastal planning processes (see availability)
• Annex 4 Determining scenic preference in the coastal zone (see availability)
• Annex 5 Preparing a shoreline erosion management plan (see availability)
• Annex 6 Coastal hazard risk assessment guidelines (see availability)
• Annex 7 Turtle nesting areas (see availability)
• Annex 8 GIS Multi Criteria Analysis Methodology (see availability)
• Annex 9 Preparing a management plan for dredging activities (see availability)

Coastal Hazards Technical Guide

The Coastal Hazards Technical Guideline (PDF, 253K)* provides information about coastal hazards (coastal erosion and storm tide inundation, including projected sea level rise) and guidance on the methodology used to determine areas at risk from coastal hazards.

Guideline for Preparing a Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy

The Adaptation Strategy Guideline (PDF, 910K)* provides assistance to councils about how to prepare and implement a coastal hazard adaptation strategy to guide and inform future planning and development decisions. The guideline provides a consistent and structured approach to coastal hazard adaptation planning in urban localities taking into account projected sea level rise.

Townsville Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy Pilot Project

To demonstrate how adaptation planning may be undertaken, the Local Government Association of Queensland, Townsville City Council and the Queensland Government have finalised a pilot coastal hazard adaptation strategy for Townsville.

Read more about the Townsville Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy Pilot Project.

Mapping

Mapping products have been prepared to assist users with interpreting where and how the coastal plan will apply. These maps depict:

• the coastal zone
• the coastal management district (where EHP’s development assessment role applies)
• existing coastal building lines (where building works that would normally only be assessable against the Building Act 1975 become assessable development under the Sustainable Planning Regulations 2009)
• areas of ecological significance (refer to nature conservation policies)
• maritime and aquaculture development areas (refer to coastal-dependent use policies)
• statutory erosion prone area maps (refer to coastal hazard policies)
• coastal hazard area mapping (refer to coastal hazard policies).

Find out more about maps available and how to access them online.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers about the Queensland Coastal Plan and SPRP will assist in providing further information.

What went before?

The State Coastal Management Plan (SCMP)—Queensland's Coastal Policy was in operation between February 2002 and October 2011.

For more information please email coastal.support@ehp.qld.gov.au.

Available from the library catalogue

The documents referred to on this page are available from the department’s online library catalogue.

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