In December 1993 approximately 6,800 hectares of land at Aldoga, north-west of Gladstone, was declared a state development area. The declaration followed an extensive review of land in the Gladstone region suitable for future large-scale industrial development.

This land was considered broadly suitable for large-scale industrial development on the basis that it conformed to acceptable engineering, environment and social criteria, as identified in the Gladstone Industrial Land Use Study. A social infrastructure strategic plan is also being developed for the Gladstone Region.

The Gladstone State Development Area has been amended several times and now comprises approximately 28,000 hectares. Amendments include:

• 1997: inclusion of the existing Yarwun Industrial Estate and a materials transportation and services corridor linking the Aldoga and Yarwun areas to Fisherman's Landing and the proposed Wiggins Island wharves.
• 2001: inclusion of 4600 hectares of state owned land adjacent to the Aldoga and Yarwun areas.
• 2002: inclusion of 7355 hectares of land at Targinie.
• 2007: inclusion of three areas to facilitate more effective management, planning and control over industrial and infrastructure development (both existing and proposed) within the state development area.
• July 2008:  the inclusion of three new areas.

The new areas are as follows:

• The Curtis Island Industry Precinct provides for the establishment of liquefied natural gas facilities on the west coast of southern Curtis Island.
• The Restricted Development Precinct has been applied to the area of Kangaroo Island and is intended to provide for the establishment of essential transportation infrastructure within the Gladstone State Development Area.
• The Environmental Management Precinct has been applied to the area east of the range on southern Curtis Island to recognise, protect and maintain areas of high ecological significance.

Major industries currently established on the Gladstone State Development Area include:

• Rio Tinto (formerly Comalco) Alumina refinery
• Orica Chemical Manufacturing complex
• Transpacific Industries Waste Management and Recycling facility
• Air Liquide Air Separation facility.

Development scheme for the Gladstone State Development Area

A development scheme for the Gladstone State Development Area prepared by the Coordinator-General was approved by the Governor-in-Council in 2000. The scheme has been reviewed on a number of occasions to reflect increases in the size of the state development area.

The latest amendments to the development scheme were approved by the Governor in Council on 31 July 2008. These amendments modified the development scheme and precinct plans to incorporate the additional areas included in the Gladstone State Development Area and other changes to improve the operability of the development scheme.

The development scheme, which is supported by a number of policies formulated by the Coordinator-General, is a land use planning instrument which is administered by the Coordinator-General for the purpose of guiding future development in the Gladstone State Development Area.

• Development scheme ( 272 KB)
• Policies ( 117 KB)

Precinct map

A precinct map forms part of the development scheme. This precinct map divides the Gladstone State Development Area into a number of land use precincts. The precinct map identifies those parts of the Gladstone State Development Area considered broadly suitable for various types of industrial and infrastructure development. The precinct map also identifies a dedicated materials transportation and services corridor and buffer area separating the corridor from land use outside the Gladstone State Development Area.

• Precincts map ( 992 KB)
• Regulation map ( 2.61 MB)

In addition to guiding future development in the Gladstone State Development Area, the development scheme and policies will also ensure that development is well planned and balanced in a way which meets the needs of industry, the Gladstone community and the environment. This will occur through continuing investigations and detailed planning for the Gladstone State Development Area and, as part of the decision-making process, the assessment of all new development proposals consistent with contemporary environmental standards.

The assessment of new development proposals will, in appropriate cases, be assisted by the use of the Gladstone Air-shed Modelling System developed by the Coordinator-General in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency. The use of this model to predict the likely impact of future industrial emissions on air quality as part of the assessment process will help to ensure that the region’s air quality remains within acceptable standards.