Purpose

The Shute Harbour planning study aims to set a strategic direction for Shute Harbour which details the intended future role of Shute Harbour. It gives high level guidance on the future nature, scale and arrangement of uses within the area, in its context within the broader Whitsunday region.

The starting point for this study is to develop a better understanding of the key issues currently facing Shute Harbour. The study also needs to develop an understanding of the extent of available information and to identify important data gaps.

An important part of the process is gathering stakeholder views about issues and possibilities for Shute Harbour through targeted consultation.

The study is being undertaken by Department of Infrastructure and Planning and Whitsunday Shire Council, with the assistance of consultants, Jackson Planning and Buckley Vann Town Planning Consultants.

Given the pressures of rapid growth in the Whitsunday area, a strategic study of this type is critical to ensure long term planning decisions are considered within a structured framework. In this regard, and as a study of this nature for the Shute Harbour area has been planned for some time, the state government and council wish undertake this study as a priority to establish this overview of the future role of Shute Harbour in order to provide a coordinated framework for on going decision making by various government agencies.

This study is considered to be a first stage in an on-going process. The outcomes of the study will not in itself form any type of statutory documentation, though information contained in the study may be used to inform future, more detailed planning for the Shute Harbour area. Appendix A contains a flowchart ( 40 KB) describing what the study is trying to achieve.

Objectives

The strategic objectives of this study are to:

• identify the key social, economic, environmental and physical issues
• determine the future role and scale of activities within the area
• identify commercial and recreational growth opportunities and implications
• consider improved opportunities for public access to water and foreshore
• identify a conceptual land use plan for Shute Harbour through consultative and collaborative process
• prepare a framework for future local and state government action.

Outputs

The study is intended to produce:

• a generally accepted vision for the role, character and development intensity of Shute Harbour
• a land use structure/concept plan with some broad level identification of development principles/design guidance for Shute Harbour
• recommendations on future actions including implementation, potential additional detailed studies, etc.

More specifically, the study team hopes to produce:

• an initial report to state government and council which identifies the issues and proposes overall directions for Shute Harbour (including documentation of the analysis of existing and future conditions based on available data and the feedback from the two stakeholder workshops held to date)
• a report to state government and council based on the enquiry by design workshop (yet to be held) which will seek to document a conceptual land use plan for the harbour area.

Implementation recommendations will form part of these two reports as relevant. It is intended that both reports will assist key state government and council in the conduct of their respective responsibilities in the study area and provide a basis for future work.

Study area

The study is a strategic overview which requires consideration of both the Whitsunday region and also Shute Harbour's role within that context. Consequently, there is no strictly defined study area. However, for the purposes of the Whitsunday region, this area includes the general coastal area from Mackay through to Bowen.

With respect to Shute Harbour, the area of interest includes the:

• residential area of Shutehaven
• general port area (ferry terminal, barge facilities, Whitsunday Rent-a-Yacht and including all car parking areas and facilities)
• foreshore areas from Shutehaven to the Engwirda Marine Contractors Facility and the general harbour waterway area.

Through the identification of issues, it is intended that particular areas of interest can be further targeted. In particular, it is expected that the conceptual land use plan to be developed through the enquiry by design workshop will focus on the central harbour area.

Outputs to date

Stakeholder Forum One: 14 March 2007

The outputs from Stakeholder Forum 1 include:

• Agenda and attendance: Appendix D ( 11 KB)
• Write-ups from the workshop sessions: Appendix E ( 103 KB)
• Summary of the key issues discussion: Appendix E ( 103 KB)
• Summary of the future role discussion: Appendix E ( 103 KB)

Stakeholder Forum Two: 3 April 2007

The outputs from Stakeholder Forum 2 include:

• Agenda and attendance: Appendix F ( 10 KB)
• Write-ups from the workshop sessions: Appendix G: discussion 1 ( 109 KB) and Appendix G: discussion 2 ( 108 KB)

Updates

The next phase of the project is intended to look more closely at the land use components and relationships within the harbour area, and attempt to identify possible solutions, design guidance and development principles for the area.

Shute Harbour Planning Study Interim Report: Issues and Directions

The report outlines the current role and function of Shute Harbour and provides an overview of a potential future role and function based on information reviewed, consultation and forum discussions. Key issues arising from this strategic overview are identified for future discussion and/or analysis.

This initial report has been reviewed by the steering committee and has been endorsed for release online.

The next stage of the project will commence once evaluated feedback on the interim report has been received from stakeholders. Advice on subsequent stages of the study will provided in due course.

Resources

Report

Shute Harbour Planning Study Interim Report ( 369 KB) 

Tables

• Figure 1 ( 203 kB)
• Figure 2 ( 442 kB)
• Figure 3 ( 186 kB)
• Figure 4 ( 735 kB)
• Figure 5 ( 116 kB)
• Figure 6 ( 700 kB)
• Figure 7 ( 164 kB)
• Figure 8 ( 156 kB)
• Figure 9 ( 141 kB)
• Figure 10 ( 175 kB)
• Figure 11 ( 1,271 kB)
• Figure 12 ( 144 kB)
• Figure 13 ( 238 kB)
• Figure 14 ( 1,351 kB)
• Figure 15 ( 153 kB)
• Figure 16 ( 143 kB)

Appendices

• Appendix A ( 41 kB)
• Appendix B ( 10 kB)
• Appendix C ( 10 kB)
• Appendix D ( 11 kB)
• Appendix E ( 103 kB)
• Appendix F ( 11 kB)
• Appendix G: discussion 1 ( 110 kB)
• Appendix G: discussion 2 ( 108 kB)