Local Sunshine Coast Council Building Approval Overlays – What Do These Mean?

If you are considering building, your local Sunshine Coast Council building approval overlays will play a role in your planning and design. It is important to note that each council have their own set of overlays which are used to determine suitable building locations and are used in the building application assessment. The purpose of the Sunshine Coast Council building approval overlays is to identify areas that are sensitive to the effects of development, land or resource constraint. Here at The Shed House, we want to set your Sunshine Coast Council building application up for success. Although the overlays could seem restrictive, we have clever ways of overcoming what may seem like a tricky spot to build in. Let’s explore the common local Sunshine Coast Council building approval overlays and what they will mean for your build.

Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Code

• Purpose – to ensure that ecologically important areas are protected, rehabilitated, enhanced and improved in the future. 
• What this may mean for your Sunshine Coast Council building application? Possibly, to include buffers to waterways, wetlands or native vegetation. Exclude any building in the mapped areas or to minimise adverse effects on the land.

Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code

• Purpose – to ensure that development avoids or mitigates the potential, adverse impacts of bushfire on people and property.
• What does this mean for your Sunshine Coast Council building application? Your building will need to be compatible with the nature of the hazard. Depending on the BAL rating, infrastructure will need to be designed to function effectively during a bushfire event.

Coastal Protection Overlay Code

• Purpose – to protect people and property from coastal hazards. In addition, to protect coastal landforms from development.
• What does this mean for your Sunshine Coast Council building application? Your design must protect against any potential hazards, structurally speaking.

Flood Hazard Overlay Code

• Purpose – to ensure that development will protect people and will avoid or mitigate adverse impacts of flood and storm tide inundation.
• What does this mean for your Sunshine Coast Council building application? Moving your proposed building area to a non-flooding zone or ensuring that the building sits above flood levels.

Heritage and Character Overlay Code

• Purpose – to protect local heritage places and character places.
• What does this mean for your Sunshine Coast Council building application? Your design may need to be in line with your street character aesthetic. Your design must blend old with the new.

Landslide Hazard and Steep Land Overlay Code

• Purpose – to ensure development avoids or mitigates potential adverse impacts of landslide hazard on people, property and the environment. 
• What does this mean for your Sunshine Coast Council building application? Your building must be compatible with the localised risks and building on very steep land is minimised (not to be mistaken with sloping land).

In addition, it is important to note that there are further Sunshine Coast council building approval overlay codes including –

Acid Sulphate Soils Overlay Code

Airport Environs Overlay Code

Extractive Resources Overlay Code

Regional Infrastructure Overlay Code

Scenic Rim Amenity Overlay Code

Water Resource Catchments Overlay Code

Feel free to read more about the Sunshine Coast Council building approval overlays, here.

Moreover, it is important to recognise that each parcel of land in the Sunshine Coast will be subject to different overlays. No two areas will be the same. Once your plans have been created, we will assess your building location to work out if your design will impede on any of the Sunshine Coast Council building approval overlays.

If for example you are building in a bush fire zone, we do have ways to ensure your building application will be successful. Firstly, we will need to submit information to obtain the required reports – in the case of a bush fire zone we will consult with an environmental management consultant. After receiving the Bushfire Management report back, we will have a better understanding of what materials are needed for your build. In the case of a high rated BAL zone, you will need to install steel screens, build with steel materials only, and so on.

Get in touch with our team today to obtain your free site assessment. Before beginning your plans we can tell you which Sunshine Coast Council building approval overlays will apply to your new build. Trust The Shed House team to bring your building dreams to life.