Part 1 Current Town Centre Area Characteristics

The study area has been the subject of a variety of planning studies and investigations over recent years. The actual planning framework and regulations are additionally driven from a number of sources. This is all further complicated by the fact that the study area adjoins the Queensland border where a different planning structure and strategy are in place. The following key documents/ policies or strategies have been identified as setting some form of development guidance or controls for the study area:

• Development Control Plan No 18 - Tweed Heads
• Development Control Plan No 2 - Site Access And Parking Code
• Draft Tweed Coast Strategy 2002 Discussion Paper
• Tweed Shire Economic Development Strategy 2002
• Tweed Local Environmental Plan 2000
• Gold Coast City Council Planning Scheme - Coolangatta Local Plan
• Tweed Heads 2000+

Discussions with developers indicate that there is considerable complexity and numerous incongruities in planning controls, and in the planning approval process that governs the town centre area. This has contributed to less development activity and lower land prices than would otherwise be achieved. The nature of the existing controls is considered a principal reason why development in the Tweed Heads area has lagged behind development in Coolangatta and elsewhere in the Tweed region.