Protecting the Inter-Urban Break is vital for the Region
Often referred to as the gateway to the Sunshine Coast, the Regional Inter-urban Break on the lands of the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Peoples separates the Sunshine Coast region from the Greater Brisbane area. This important and irreplaceable green space extends from the hinterland and rural areas surrounding the iconic National Heritage listed Glass House Mountains in the west to the stunning RAMSAR-listed Pumicestone Passage and coastline in the east. It contributes significantly to the region's natural environment and unique landscapes, which are the foundations of the Sunshine Coast way of life and identity. It holds deep and enduring cultural values for First Nations Peoples.
With its close proximity to major urban centres, the Regional Inter-urban Break is one of South East Queensland’s few expansive places of outstanding values and benefits where people can enjoy nature and water-based recreation activities.
Key facts and benefits
- Total of 63,000 hectares located across the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay local government areas (LGA)
- 32,034 hectares located within the Sunshine Coast LGA
- Contains nationally significant landscape of the Glass House Mountains and RAMSAR listed Pumicestone Passage
- Contains protected areas such as National Parks, Conservation Parks and environment reserves
- Provides habitat and bioregional corridors for native fauna and flora
- Supports diverse ecosystems while generating vital ecosystem services
- Provides much needed 'green relief' from the built environment
- Includes productive farmlands and rural townships
- Includes both native and pine plantation State Forests mostly managed for timber supply, conservation and recreation
- Includes significant cultural heritage places and landscapes important to our First Nation Peoples
- Provides opportunities for local agricultural production and forestry, increasing food security and local employment
- Offers unique tourism opportunities to contribute to the region’s natural attractions
The Inter-Urban Break is currently under threat with Coochin Creek Developments posing significant risks
Coochin Creek, a tranquil interconnected tributary of this unique waterway, is set to be transformed by the intensive developments of a Big4+ Tourist Park and a mega-festival and exhibition site by the Comiskey Group after these developments were controversially ‘called-in’ and approved by the Queensland Deputy-Premier and Planning Minister, Jarrod Bleijie MP
The scale and use from these developments are incompatible with the magnificent values and characteristics of this area within the Inter-Urban Break green belt, bringing significant risks to the water quality and ecology of Pumicestone Passage, migratory shorebirds, threatened species and amenity. And of course, unacceptably further fragmenting and eroding the inter-urban break.
Community Coalition Condemns Major Developments in the Northern Inter-Urban Break
A Community Coalition, representing 10 resident and environmental groups across the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay, are deeply concerned over recent State Government approvals for large-scale developments within the Northern Inter-Urban Break (NIUB), including the Coochin Creek Mega Music Festival and Exhibition Centre and an adjacent large-scale tourist park on the edge of the Pumicestone Passage.
The coalition considers the scale and intensity of these developments, including events of up to 35,000 people per day, are fundamentally incompatible with the NIUB’s long-standing role as a protected greenbelt safeguarding wildlife habitat, landscape character and regional separation.
Serious Concerns
Significant environmental, bushfire, flooding, traffic and public safety risks remain unresolved, and imposed conditions are considered inadequate.
The approvals follow a controversial Ministerial call-in process and disregard the expert advice of the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA), which found the tourist park proposal:
- failed to comply with relevant planning legislation and policies
- demonstrated no overriding public need
- conflicted with the Northern Inter-Urban Break
- posed unacceptable risks to the Ramsar-listed Pumicestone Passage and surrounding protected areas
Weakened Protections
These decisions have been compounded by amendments to the Planning Regulation that came into effect on 28 November 2025, during the Minister’s decision-making period.
These changes weakened critical protections for the Northern Inter-Urban Break, rural landscapes and the principle of overriding public need — long advocated for by the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC), local governments and the wider community.
The coalition warns these amendments risk diminishing the ability of planning authorities to deliver robust, independent assessments and sustainable development outcomes into the future.
Why This Landscape Matters
The Pumicestone Passage, part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park and a recognised Ramsar wetland, is connected to the National Heritage-listed Glass House Mountains through the Northern Inter-Urban Break.
This is more than a line on a map, it is a living landscape that:
- preserves the distinct identity of the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay regions
- supports wildlife corridors and natural ecosystems
- protects one of South East Queensland’s most ecologically significant waterways
- provides essential agricultural land, recreation areas and green space
The coalition warns that large-scale event infrastructure and tourism expansion risk fragmenting and further eroding this greenbelt and accelerating cumulative environmental impacts.
A Risky Precedent
“This decision ignores expert advice and significant community concern, undermines the integrity of Queensland’s planning system, and places an internationally significant wetland at risk,” according to the coalition
“The Pumicestone Passage is not an experimental tourism site and is already under pressure. This is not low-impact, nature-based eco-tourism, and conditions that are difficult to monitor or enforce cannot guarantee protection of these fragile ecosystems.”
The coalition emphasises that the region’s long-term tourism appeal and economic resilience depend on protecting its natural assets — not sacrificing them for short-term, limited gains based on overstated economic assumptions.
The approvals set a concerning precedent for protected green spaces across Queensland.
What Now?
EPBC Assessment
Importantly, federal approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is still required before any work can begin, due to potential impacts on nationally protected wetlands, threatened species and migratory birds. As the developer continues to stall on preparing a referral, the coalition is calling for the developments to be urgently referred for full assessment under federal environment laws.
Sign the Petition Please sign and share this petition calling for federal assessment and stronger protection of the Pumicestone Passage and the Northern Inter-Urban Break.
Urgent Action required today!
Conditions on the Tourist Park development were already weak, however the developer is now seeking approval from the Deputy-Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie MP to have 29 relevant conditions either removed entirely or fundamentally changed - this is not a ‘Minor Change’
The Developer's request for condition changes and Sunshine Coast Council’s Affected Entity response can be found here. Add your voice and email the Deputy Premier today, a decision is due by 17th April, so urgent action is required - click below to send email.
More information here on the Ministerial Call-In page - tab down to Coochin Creek Music Festival and Exhibition Centre and Coochin Creek Tourist Park.