Regional planning

Regional planning plays a key role in helping Queensland communities meet the challenges associated with rapid growth, population change and the increasing demand for public services at a local level.

In late 2006, the state government commenced implementing a strategy to accelerate regional planning in regional and rural Queensland. This was supported through an accelerated regional planning program following a three point plan:

  1. developing and implementing a consistent and contemporary framework for effective regional planning across Queensland.
  1. accelerating implementation of the existing regional plans.
  2. delivering regional plans in rural Queensland.

The Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA) provides a framework for coordinating and integrating planning at the regional level to seek ecological sustainability.

The department is working in partnership with Queensland councils to consult and engage with the community and stakeholders in relation to regional planning. To achieve this, the department coordinates a range of regional planning projects throughout Queensland.

Existing statutory regional plans

The South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031 was launched in July 2009. 

Consultation on the Draft South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009–2031 has closed. After a review of the submissions an updated South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009–2031 will be released in July 2009.

The Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031 (FNQ Regional Plan) was launched on Friday 13 February 2009 and is the over-arching plan for the region.

Draft regional plans

The state government is developing a number of regional plans across Queensland to help build strong and sustainable communities. These regional plans are part of the Queensland Government Blueprint for the Bush initiative.

The regional plans will be statutory and include regulatory processes where required, as set out in the Integrated Planning Act 1997. Their legal nature will ensure that they are more effective than other local plans, policies, schemes and non-statutory plans.

The development of a statutory regional planning program for Queensland is part of the state government planning reform program, which commenced in 2007 and will help manage planning and development across Queensland.

The draft Blueprint for the Bush regional plans for Maranoa and Districts, Central West and South West regions were released for public comment on 5 August 2008.

The Draft North West Regional Plan was released for comment on Thursday 25 June 2009. Submissions close at 5 pm on Friday 18 September 2009.

Non-statutory regional plans

Seven Queensland regions have non-statutory plans in place. These plans have been developed in close partnership with local councils, communities and business and industry representatives. These plans were developed before the commencement of statutory regional plans and do not have legislative power.

The Department of Infrastructure and Planning will work with local communities to review some of the non-statutory plans to bring them into the statutory framework.

Non-statutory regional plans