Gold Coast approves 27-unit Bilinga development at Pacific Parade

The City of Gold Coast has approved a development permit for 27 multiple dwellings at 66 Pacific Parade and 2A Archer Street, Bilinga, after a division at Tuesday’s Planning & Regulation Committee meeting.

The application was for a material change of use for multiple dwellings. Councillors approved the project with conditions. The minutes do not list those conditions in the extract provided.

The Bilinga vote was one of several planning items before the committee on 17 March, alongside updates to the new planning scheme, a temporary planning instrument for the Guragunbah floodplain, and responses to two petitions about wandering cats and animal noise nuisance.

The meeting also dealt with two other development applications. One proposal for 60 multiple dwellings at 16, 18 and 20 Twenty Third Avenue, Palm Beach, was first recommended for refusal, then changed to approval for 54 dwellings with conditions. Councillors also approved a development permit for 94 multiple dwellings and food and drink outlets at 1395-1405 Gold Coast Highway and 436-438 The Esplanade, Palm Beach, with conditions and property notifications.

Beyond individual sites, council endorsed the Heat Resilient Design Guideline as a non-statutory document to support heat-resilient residential development and to inform future planning scheme provisions. The chief executive officer was authorised to make minor administrative and editorial changes.

Council also noted progress on the New Planning Scheme Program and Local Growth Management Strategy. The committee backed the transition of several places into the new scheme, including Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Coolangatta, Kirra, Nobby Beach, Palm Beach and Surfers Paradise.

The new planning work also covers local plans and station neighbourhoods linked to Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3. The minutes say officers were authorised to integrate placemaking master plans for Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Coolangatta, Kirra, Nobby Beach, Palm Beach and Surfers Paradise, where appropriate, and to bring back further planning priorities for future consideration.

On flood risk, councillors resolved to make Temporary Local Planning Instrument No. 13 for development in the Guragunbah floodplain area, notify the minister and submit the instrument for approval. The instrument is intended to take effect from 1 September 2026.

Councillors also endorsed the overarching Natural Hazards Policy after removing the word Scaffold from the title. The policy will guide decision-making and policy responses related to natural hazards in the new planning scheme.

The committee asked city officers to review options for businesses to provide dining in parks next to their premises, with a report due before September 2026. Councillors also agreed to investigate a local law for abandoned shopping trolleys in public spaces, including mandatory containment systems and penalty options informed by other Queensland councils.