What is the project?

Gladstone Regional Council is reviewing our planning scheme, Our Place Our Plan, to understand if it is still fit for purpose and meeting the needs of our communities, businesses and industry. This 10-year review is also a requirement under the Planning Act 2016.

Our Place Our Plan sets the land use direction for how the Gladstone Region will grow and respond to change over time. It is an important tool to plan for the built and natural environment, regulate land use and to inform future investment.

As part of the review, we need your valuable feedback. This will help us to determine whether, and to what extent, the current planning scheme needs to be amended.

What decision was made?

Council has adopted the Planning Scheme Review report and its recommendation to strengthen our region’s current scheme with a series of major amendments.

The Review report found that the current planning scheme operated effectively and was fundamentally sound, however there were opportunities to strengthen alignment with recent local and state policy, update mapping and studies that serve as the scheme’s foundation and reflect emerging trends throughout the Gladstone Region.

What is the next step?

Following Council’s decision to adopt the Review report, Council officers will scope the contents of the first amendment based on Council’s priorities and recommendations made in the report.

The proposed Amendment 1 scope will be presented to Council for endorsement at a General Meeting before the end of 2024.

Work on the projects that compose Amendment 1 is expected to be completed late 2025/early 2026 (subject to change).

Future amendments will be scoped towards the end of work on Amendment 1 to ensure Council can react to changing priorities and emerging trends.

Planning Scheme Review Report is now available

How can I join the conversation?

Current engagement activities

Past engagement activities

Survey

Drop-In Sessions

What else do I need to know?

A planning scheme is a framework for to manage and assess how land can be developed. The planning scheme for the Gladstone Region is called Our Place Our Plan.

A planning scheme takes information from state and regional policies and incorporates our local environment and context. State and regional policies apply to all local planning schemes in Queensland to ensure a consistent approach to local government planning systems and outcomes across the state.

A planning scheme sets out requirements for new development and guides the type of development that is considered suitable. It also identifies which land uses and types of development require development approval and the standards that new development should meet (including matters like building setbacks, building height, addressing natural hazards like flood, coastal and bushfire).

A planning scheme takes a long-term vision to appropriately balance economic, environmental and social matters.

Our Place Our Plan covers the entire Gladstone Local Government Area.

A 10-year review of local government planning schemes is a requirement under the Planning Act 2016. The review will assess how the planning scheme is working and what could be improved.

The Gladstone Region has changed since our planning scheme commenced in 2015.

Some of the benefits of the review include:

  • Ensuring planning requirements are as streamlined as possible;
  • Reducing the complexity of the planning scheme; and
  • Identifying opportunities for economic growth, environmental protection or improving social outcome.

The review will involve answering some key questions including:

  • Is Our Place Our Plan meeting community expectations and reflecting community values?
  • Is Our Place Our Plan fit for purpose given emerging industries and changes in state policy and legislation?
  • Are Council and stakeholders satisfied with the useability of the planning scheme?
  • How many years of land supply does the Gladstone Region have and does it meet the changing needs of community and industry?
  • Are the planning scheme provisions appropriate given population projection and demographic characteristics?

It is intended that the review will be completed mid-2024. The Review report will provide a recommendation on the pathway Council should follow; amend the current planning scheme, replace the current planning scheme, or maintain the current planning scheme with no changes.

Council will consider the Review's recommendation, along with additional factors, to determine the most appropriate pathway to follow.

Council will make a final decision on the pathway moving forward at a General Meeting in mid-2024.