Southport Priority Development Area: Strengths, Weaknesses and Recommendations

The report provides a detailed overview of the Southport Priority Development Area and identifies the strengths and weaknesses within it. It further recommends the modification required in the planning. The report identifies four precincts that are CBD, residential neighborhood, garden residential neighborhood and open space. The report further identifies the infrastructure sought to support the modification planned. The report further identifies strengths and weaknesses of the planning and recommends some of the modification that can potentially improve the planning and better support the business and residential lives of the city.

Running head: URBAN PLANNING
URBAN PLANNING
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Executive Summary
The state government of Queensland, Australia has a scheme for bringing economic and
community development to the particular sections of their cities. They named it Priority
Development Area. The significant growth of business in the Southport area seeks for
implementation of PDA. This will enable the CBD to support the growing innovative business in
the area. The finding of the report identifies four precincts that are CBD, residential
neighborhood, garden residential neighborhood and open space. The report further identifies the
infrastructure sought to support the modification planned. The report further identifies strengths
and weaknesses of the planning and recommends some of the modification that can potentially
improve the planning and better support the business and residential lives of the city.

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Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................1
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Objective of the study......................................................................................................................4
Overview of Southport Priority Development Area........................................................................5
Declaration and Adaptation.........................................................................................................5
Location.......................................................................................................................................5
Elements of PDA Scheme...........................................................................................................6
Land Use Plan..............................................................................................................................6
Precinct 1.................................................................................................................................7
Central Business District.........................................................................................................7
Precinct 2.................................................................................................................................8
Residential Neighborhood.......................................................................................................8
Precinct 3.................................................................................................................................9
Garden Residential neighborhood...........................................................................................9
Precinct 4...............................................................................................................................10
Open Space............................................................................................................................10
Infrastructure and Implementation strategy...............................................................................11
Strengths and weaknesses of the development plan......................................................................12
Strengths....................................................................................................................................12

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Minimization of the ‘Wall Effect’.........................................................................................12
Crime detection and safe dwelling place...............................................................................12
Innovative designs.................................................................................................................13
Well connected designs for enhancing community interactions...........................................13
Active transportation.............................................................................................................13
Weaknesses................................................................................................................................14
Lack of green space...............................................................................................................14
Continuous business environment.........................................................................................14
Lack of EPA..........................................................................................................................15
Status quo...............................................................................................................................15
Key issues..............................................................................................................................15
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................16
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................17
References......................................................................................................................................18
Appendix........................................................................................................................................20

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Introduction
The state government of Queensland, Australia has a scheme for bringing economic and
community development to the particular sections of their cities. They named it Priority
Development Area. The local government loses its authority for planning urban development to
the particular area of the city where the PDA scheme is initialized. However, the already lodged
applications with the local government continue to be assessed under the Sustainable Planning
Act 2009 (Gchaveyoursay.com.au 2017). The PDA facilitates in removal of the barriers that have
been preventing the businesses from starting and thriving in the particular area. Several factors
have influenced the government of Queensland to mark Southport as the PDA. The area
considered by many is the traditional centre of Gold Coast city that reflects the highest
concentration of employment, greatest share of office space with a workforce of 24,857
individual. This is also the most populated area of the city with a resident population of 28.315
and growing (Burton 2017). These growing factors have called for the PDA scheme in the
Southport for providing the opportunity to facilitate the growth and advancement that is required
for supporting the growth of the business district. This report provides a detailed overview of the
Southport PDA and identifies the strengths and weaknesses within it. It further recommends the
modification required in the planning.
Objective of the study
The objective of the study is to provide a greater insight of the priority development area
scheme undertaken for the development of the Southport area of the Gold Coast city. The
Southport area of the city is known as the business area supporting the highest concentration of
industries. The residential concentration level is also highest in Southport compared to the other

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parts of the city. The purpose of the scheme is to develop this particular part of the city for
supporting future development and business growth. The study reviews the Southport Priority
Development Area Scheme that has been proposed. It further identifies the strengths and the
weaknesses within the development scheme taken for the economic development in the area. It is
to analyze the efficiency of the scheme and provide further recommendation based on the
identification made. In other words, the purpose of the report is to increase the efficiency of the
priority development area scheme made for the Southport section of Gold Coast city.
Overview of Southport Priority Development Area
Declaration and Adaptation
This declaration of the PDA scheme in Southport took place on 4th October 2013 and was
approved by the state government on 5th September 2014. The notification for the scheme came
out under the Economic Development Act 2012 that invited the interested business
organizations, residents, communities and major stakeholders to view the proposed scheme and
submit their concern within 22nd May 2014, so that the Minister for Economic Development
Queensland can consider the proposals. The government Gold Coast cities reviewed the
submissions received and prepared a report accordingly, which was then forwarded to the
MEDQ (Dilgp.qld.gov.au 2017).
Location
The Central Business District and former Gold Coast hospital sites are the locations
under development within the Southport Priority Development Area. The areas falls under the
195.7 hectares of the PDA are Broadwater Parklands, north of Railway Street, south of Queen
Street (Goldcoast.qld.gov.au 2017).

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Elements of PDA Scheme
The PDA scheme proposed for the Southport consists of three elements that are land use
plan, infrastructure plan and implementation plan. First element of the scheme proposes the
vision of future Southport as the Gold Coast CBD, whereas, the second element narrates the
infrastructure required for supporting the land use plan in PDA. The last element describes the
strategies and mechanisms that are planned for implementation of the land use plan and
infrastructure plan in the Southport PDA (Wearegoldcoast.com.au. 2017).
Land Use Plan
The vision of the scheme is to turn CBD of Gold Coast into world-class centre for
employment, community services, commerce and retail. The future Southport will offer its
residents a wide variety of housing options and highly desirable lifestyle amenity. The complete
Southport according to this vision is divided into four segments or precincts that are Central
Business District, Residential neighborhood, Garden Residential Neighborhood and Open Space.

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Figure 1: Map of Southport PDA
Precinct 1
Central Business District
This segment of the PDA will be comprised with the commercial offices and medium to
high retail organizations. The will be marked as the business district of Southport. The main
streets of Scarborough and Nerang will be supporting the high end retails. This will be the
central hub for innovative businesses and it will thrive for 24 hours and 7 days continuously
(Wearegoldcoast.com.au. 2017).

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Figure 2: Central Business District
Precinct 2
Residential Neighborhood
This area of the PDA will be highly urbanized supporting the largest residential segment.
The residential buildings of this area will be high-rise supporting maximum population per sq-ft.
It will further support the non-residential purposes like small-scale businesses in the
neighborhood along with local services where necessary.

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Figure 3: Residential Neighborhood
Precinct 3
Garden Residential neighborhood
This area will be comprising medium to high density residential colonies ranging from
town houses to medium rise residential buildings. This will also be supporting the non-residential
uses such as street level small scale neighborhood business and services where the people will be
getting some of everyday household items. In addition to these amenities, the place will be
covered with a degree of greenery with prominent green streetscapes.

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Figure 4: Garden Residential neighborhood
Precinct 4
Open Space
The open Space in Southport PDA will be a combination of naked nature and technology.
The development of this particular segment will be focused is such a fashion that it can support
the major events like commonwealth 2018. This will provide the residents to perform the leisure
activities in their daily lives. The open space is constituted with the parks and water bases that
will be recreated to support the development of the rest of the segments. These areas will be free
from the physical dominance.

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Figure 5: Open Space
Infrastructure and Implementation strategy
The infrastructure of the Southport PDA will have a proper network chain with
modernized building to support the business growth. The networking infrastructure includes
water supply, wastewater infrastructure, storm-water, and modernized transport and recreation
facilities. Moreover, the CBD building infrastructure includes addresses the economic growth of
the area. The funding for network infrastructure will base upon the approvals for provision and
agreements. Funding for the CBD building infrastructure on the other hand will be shared by
both public and private sector organizations under special rate or charges
(Wearegoldcoast.com.au. 2017).

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Strengths and weaknesses of the development plan
The strengths of the planning methods have helped in the undertaking of the proficient
planning functions. The planning steps helps in examining the strengths of undertaking the
procedure. On the other hand, there are limitations that affect the structure of the improvements
that are being planned for the improvements in the urban structure (Refer to Appendice 1). The
strengths and the weaknesses of the plans are being discussed in this section of the report.
Strengths
Minimization of the ‘Wall Effect’
The ‘wall effect’ that is being faced by most of the development projects affects the
quality of the air and the atmosphere. It is based on the erection of the high storied buildings in
the development area. The wall effect is being minimized in this project and thereby it helps ion
maintaining the quality of the air and the other resources that the region holds. The important
changes in the framing of the buildings and the planning that is being undertaken in order to
bring in the improvements to the region has helped in the undertaking of enhancing the resources
of the region (Hundloe, McDougall and Page 2015). The region faces the sea, which is not
obstructed by the high raised buildings. On the other hand, the complex structures of the
buildings are not undertaken, which helps in their sustenance.
Crime detection and safe dwelling place
The planning has enabled the usage of the CCTV’s in certain areas around the region. It
helps in the detection of the crime, thereby ensuring the safety of the inhabitants of the area. the
consideration of safeguarding the interests of the people helps in the gradual development of the
area as a crime free zone (Dedekorkut-Howes 2013). On the other hand, the increasing crime

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rates in the area can be controlled and minimized through the careful implementation of the
crime detection functions that were planned in the development procedure of the region.
Innovative designs
The innovative designs that are being undertaken in the planning of the Southport
developmental scheme have helped in enhancing the living conditions of the residents and the
visitors of the area (Refer to Appendice 2). On the other hand, the high quality urban designing
helps in the connectivity of the communities and thereby bring in integration in the process. it
also helps in undertaking different national and international investments that might help the area
in developing economically with the growth of the industrial sector of the area (Dedekorkut-
Howes 2013). The innovative designs that are being undertaken by the planning have helped in
the processing of the different structures of the developmental scheme.
Well connected designs for enhancing community interactions
The designs that are planned in the scheme helps in improving the connectivity between
the people and the communities. The framing of the community halls and the other
infrastructures helps in the ensuring the connectivity among the people. It helps in bringing in
integration among the communities resulting to their economic and spiritual growth.
Active transportation
The active transportation procedures that are considered in the planning helps in
connecting the local and the regional spaces. It helps in the progress of the industrial sector.
Therefore, proper planning is being undertaken with the view of connecting distant place with
the region, which might result to a good trade relation.

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Weaknesses
Lack of green space
The developmental process, that is being undertaken by the state governments have
focused greatly on improving the industrial sector of the region. On the other hand, the
requirements of the inhabitants and the tourists are also being adhered by the scheme through
their detailed designing procedure (Alidoust and Bosman 2015). However, the plans lack a space
for maintaining the green space around them apart from the open stadiums and the other
establishments that are being erected with the view of supporting the needs of the inhabitants of
the area. The lack of green space might affect quality of the air and the water sources available in
the region. Therefore, it can be taken as one important setback of the planning scheme that is
being undertaken by the state government of the region (Dedekorkut-Howes and Mayere 2015).
Continuous business environment
The continuous business environment affects the environmental setting of the region. The
long business undertakings create a havoc impact on the environment of the area. The natural
resources too face the risk of being depleted by the long working hours and the growth of the
industrial sectors in the area. On the other hand, the continuous business environment affects the
quality of the air and the water (Refer to Appendice 3). It also affects the soil of the area, which
might cause the loss of productivity of the area. The vegetation-plantation of the area might face
a decline in the structure (Gurung et al. 2015). Therefore, the continuous business environment
causes the barrenness of the area, which must be considered by the state government authorities
before implementing the plan on the area.

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Lack of EPA
The assessment of the environmental protection is lacking in the region, which affects the
environmental concerns that are being undertaken by the plans. The assessments help in the
understanding of the procedures that are affecting the environment of the developmental area.
However, the lack of such assessment leads to the understanding of the practices that are harmful
for the environment.
Status quo
The inability to change and the satisfaction with the prescribed plans affects the structure
and the improvement that the state governments seeks to undertake of the area. The changes that
are being undertaken by the state governments are based on the needs of industrial
developments, while compromising the eco-friendly assumptions (Kveladze, van der Spek and
Kraak 2012). Therefore, changes are required to be undertaken in order to empower the
environmental aspects. However, the inattentiveness of the people towards undertaking the
required change for their sustainable growth falls under the context of the status quo (Cutaia
2016).
Key issues
The key issues that can be identified with the implementation of the plan are:
 The involvement of the plan is based on the lack of the eco-friendly approach of the plan
 The steps industrialization creates a havoc impact on the land use and thereby results to
lack of resources in the area
 The concerns of the safe disposition of the industrial wastes are not being formed which
might affect the environment

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 The lack of the sustenance of the land use based on the proportions
Recommendations
The recommendations are being formulated with the view of improving the planning
strategies that are being undertaken by the state governments in order to improve the economic
condition of the regions. The important aspects of the change are more focused on the
improvements in the living conditions of the people and again improve the industrial sector of
the region. The set of recommendations for the betterment of the plans are being discussed in this
section of the report.
 Proper assessment of the environmental factors must be undertaken in order to undertake
the eco-friendly approach. It helps in understanding the different loopholes in the
planning procedure based on their focus on the industrial development of the region.
 Green spaces must be maintained in the plans in order to ensure the balance between the
pollution that is being caused through the functions undertaken by the industries of the
region and the atmosphere. The green spaces help in maintaining the scenic beauty of the
place and thereby make the place worth living for the inhabitants of the area (Bajracharya
et al. 2015).
 The plans must also make provisions for the safe disposition of the wastes from the
factories and the residents in order to maintain the proper sustainable approach of the
environment. It must also take steps in order to enforce rules to prohibit the loss of
resources from the area.
 The people and the plan must be able to take steps in order to bring in modifications in
the systems. It helps in bringing in continuous modifications for improving.

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Conclusion
The PDA Scheme offers several benefits that will definitely work in favor of the residents
and the businesses that are operating in the area. Most notable of the scheme are the
improvement in the network, which will now be able to support advanced business growth in the
area. However, despite of the strengths identified in the planning, there are certain weakness that
should be looked after with concern, such as the amount of open space. It is low in respect to the
urban segment. Hence, the planning should be modified as per the recommendation to attain
maximum efficiency.

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References
Alidoust, S. and Bosman, C., 2015. Planning for an ageing population: links between social
health, neighbourhood environment and the elderly. Australian Planner, 52(3), pp.177-186.
Bajracharya, B., Too, L., O’Hare, D. and Khanjanasthiti, I., 2015. Planning for the Gold Coast:
processes, challenges and opportunities. The Gold Coast Transformed: From Wilderness to
Urban Ecosystem, p.159.
Burton, P., 2017. Localism and neighbourhood planning in australian public policy and
governance. Localism and Neighbourhood Planning: Power to the People?, p.215.
Cutaia, F., 2016. Strategic Environmental Assessment: Integrating Landscape and Urban
Planning. Springer International Publishing.
Dedekorkut-Howes, A. and Mayere, S., 2015. Planning the unplanned City: The story of the gold
coast.
Dedekorkut-Howes, A., 2013, November. City without a plan: How the Gold Coast was shaped.
In State of Australian cities conference proceedings.
Dilgp.qld.gov.au 2017. Southport. [online] Dilgp.qld.gov.au. Available at:
http://www.dilgp.qld.gov.au/planning/priority-development-areas/southport.html [Accessed 7
Dec. 2017].
Gchaveyoursay.com.au. 2017. FAQs | Southport PDA Proposed Development Scheme | GC have
your say. [online] Available at: https://www.gchaveyoursay.com.au/southportpda/faqs [Accessed
7 Dec. 2017].

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Goldcoast.qld.gov.au. 2017. City of Gold Coast | Southport Priority Development Area (PDA)
Development Scheme. [online] Available at: http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/business/planning-
for-the-southport-pda-19325.html [Accessed 7 Dec. 2017].
Gurung, T.R., Stewart, R.A., Beal, C.D. and Sharma, A.K., 2015. Smart meter enabled water
end-use demand data: platform for the enhanced infrastructure planning of contemporary urban
water supply networks. Journal of Cleaner Production, 87, pp.642-654.
Hundloe, T., McDougall, B. and Page, C. eds., 2015. The Gold Coast transformed: From
wilderness to urban ecosystem. CSIRO PUBLISHING.
Kveladze, I., van der Spek, S.C. and Kraak, M.J., 2012, November. The recognition of temporal
patterns in pedestrian behaviour using visual exploration tools. In 7th International Conference,
GIScience 2012, Columbus, OH, USA, September, Proceedings 7478 (Paperback).
Wearegoldcoast.com.au. 2017. Cite a Website - Cite This For Me. [online] Available at:
https://wearegoldcoast.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Southport-Priority-Development-
Area.pdf [Accessed 7 Dec. 2017].

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Appendix
Appendice 1
Strengths Weaknesses
 Minimizing the ‘wall effect’ and open
to the skies and the seas
 Safe environment through the
implementation of the crime detection
 Innovative designs which are
sustainable in nature
 Well designed and connected areas for
community interactions
 Active transportation facilities and
sufficient car-parking zones
 Lack of green space
 A continuous business undertaking
which might deplete the region
 Lack of proper EPA (Environmental
Planning and Assessment)
 Satisfaction with the inevitable change
relating to the status quo
Figure 6: Strengths and weaknesses of the Southport development plan
(Source: Hundloe, McDougall and Page 2015. )

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Appendice 2
Figure 7: The structure of the plan
(Source: Hundloe, McDougall and Page 2015. )

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Appendice 3
Figure 8: Median value of the buildings
(Source: Hundloe, McDougall and Page 2015. )