Council adopts LAP

THE Palmwoods Local Area Plan has been adopted by Maroochy Shire Council and will be incorporated into the New Town Planning Scheme.

The plan covers a series of new urban precincts, each with its own specific guidelines for development, such as preferred land use types, character and design criteria and environmental and access issues.

The Local Area Plan was prepared as a framework to guide and manage development so that "Palmwoods remains a distinctive and attractive country town and does not become just another suburb."

The LAP includes a range of suggested works which would support its implementation. These include the Margaret Street streetscape project; a village/town square project; traffic management; streetscape and footpath construction; signage; railway station and environs; heritage study; local employment opportunities/economic development investigations and parklands master planning.

These works will be subject to budget considerations.

Some minor works are in the process of being implemented in accordance with a $20,000 budget allocation. Future works will consider better definition of the central shopping area; rationalisation of areas for convenient kerbside parking, footpaths, street trees, pedestrian crossings and refuges and outdoor cafe dining; and conservation and enhancement of significant vegetation, rock walls and other elements in the town’s public spaces.