A local MP has taken landholders’ concerns about the Blue Heart Sunshine Coast project to the state government.
State Member for Ninderry Dan Purdie, of the LNP, has put a parliamentary question on notice to Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning Meaghan Scanlon regarding the project, which is a partnership between Sunshine Coast Council, the state government and Unitywater.
The Blue Heart covers more than 5000ha of publicly and privately held land across the lower Maroochy River catchment, with council’s website saying the project is committed to sustainable and adaptive floodplain management.
Mr Purdie’s question to Ms Scanlon notes that “the project boundary does not relate to an overlay or zoning in council’s local planning scheme” and asks “will the minister advise the purpose and intent of this project”.
Specifically, Mr Purdie asks: “(a) why it needs to be ratified by the state government as part of the updated South East Queensland Regional Plan, (b) how its inclusion in the SEQ Regional Plan will impact the private landholders whose land it encompasses, (c) why the state government has allocated $7m to this project and (d) what this funding will be used for?”
The question was asked on February 14, with the answer from Ms Scanlon due by March 15.
The Blue Heart has been brought into sharper focus in past weeks after a series of signs criticising the project were displayed prominently around Bli Bli, with a series of community meetings also being held recently.
Mr Purdie told Sunshine Coast News that constituents had raised concerns about the Blue Heart project with him.
“My primary concern is the lack of consultation that has taken place with those landholders whose properties are impacted by the Blue Heart ‘zone’,” he said.
“They’ve told me council has done none to very little consultation up until now, and provided limited information about the project, which is very concerning, considering the number of privately owned properties that are impacted.
“Affected landholders are apparently now also seeing massive increases in their insurance premiums which they’ve been told are due to the Blue Heart designation.”
In a response to SCN, a council spokesperson said the new mayor and councillors would be briefed on the project after March 16 local government elections.
“Blue Heart is a major project being delivered as part of council’s strategic directions for a sustainable Sunshine Coast,” they said.
“Following the election’s conclusion, the new council will be briefed on all major projects, including the Blue Heart.
“In the meantime, we refer you to our webpage, which clarifies information currently in the public arena.”
The council’s website addresses several criticisms of the project, including that it has resulted in insurance premium increases and limits what landholders in the Blue Heart can do with their properties.
“Specific limitations on the use and subdivision of the land at a regional planning level have existed since 2005, when the first ‘statutory’ SEQ Regional Plan was introduced and the original ‘Urban Footprint’ regional land use category established,” it states. “The limitations are not a consequence of the Blue Heart project and would continue to exist regardless of the Blue Heart project.”
It further states that the project is not the cause of insurance premium increases, which aren’t isolated to just Blue Heart landowners, but rather are a reflection of flood mapping recommendations.
“Flood mapping does not create more risk on a property. It simply provides information that enables people to understand the existing and future risk. This risk exists for the properties in this area regardless of the Blue Heart project,” the website states.
Mr Purdie said he was concerned at the lack of clarity for landholders around the future use of their land should it be included in the SEQ Regional Plan.
“In her recent response, the minister has indicated the Blue Heart project boundary doesn’t relate to an overlay or zoning in council’s planning scheme, which contradicts the advice provided by council,” he said.
“It’s no wonder landholders have grave fears.”
Mr Purdie said he approved of efforts to manage the Blue Heart area but disagreed with how it had been implemented.
“I fully support efforts of council to restrict development on flood plains and land with high ecological and environmental values, however it seems like council is trying to reclaim this land by stealth,” he said.
“Council should have been up front and honest with their intentions from the start, and consulted with landholders before proceeding with this project. They should have also been given the option to opt in, which was not the case.
“The lack of information and transparency has left them with a deep mistrust and serious concerns of council’s true intentions, which are still not clear.”
The council’s website states the Blue Heart project is recognised and reflected in documents including the Environment and Liveability Strategy and Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy, which both went through comprehensive and formal community consultation before they were tabled for discussion and adopted by council.
It says four landholder drop-in information sessions were held in 2021, and in 2023 there were engagement opportunities ranging from guided tours to information stalls at events, presentations and webinars, as well as face-to-face meetings with landholders.
“Council has been engaging with landholders and residents in the Blue Heart as well as a variety of relevant groups and organisations,” it states.
In December the council revealed it had spent $6 million to secure 120 hectares at Coolum for the Blue Heart initiative, and planned to introduce tidal waters to aid the natural transition to wetland habitat.
The same month the council said it had secured another 37ha of land on Oyster Bank Road at Bli Bli, adding to the 97ha already purchased for the project in 2021. The land is also within the Blue Heart area.
“Open spaces like these can also play a part in our climate change response by providing areas for flood water storage, a key objective of the Blue Heart project,” divisional councillor Maria Suarez said at the time.
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