Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016

Planning scheme amendments are required from time to time to keep the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 up to date and operating effectively.

Planning scheme users are encouraged to regularly check for such amendments. Each time an amendment is adopted a superseded planning scheme is created.

Proposed and adopted planning scheme amendments

The Central Highlands Regional Council is undertaking or has completed the following amendments in accordance with the applicable statutory instrument.

Amendment number	Nature of amendment	Proposed changes	Stage
1	Administrative	Correcting mapping errors which are in conflict with the Ministerial approval of the planning scheme.	Completed. Amendment commenced 23 September 2016. Queensland Gazette 23/09/2016
2	Alignment	Amend the Planning Scheme to align with the Planning Act 2016.	Completed. Amendment commenced 3 July 2017 Queensland Gazette 30/06/2017
3	LGIP	Incorporate the compliant Local Government Infrastructure Plan.	Adopted: 12 September 2017 Effective: 15 September 2017 Queensland Gazette 15/09/2017
–	(Major 1) Rezoning	The purpose and general effect of the amendment was rezoning areas identified in the Public Consultation phase of the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016.	This Amendment was withdrawn on 22 October 2019 (refer to Council Resolution 2019/10/22/003). Proposed rezoning amendments to be incorporated into Amendment 6.
4	(Major 2) Renewable Energy Facilities	The purpose and general effect of the amendment is to elevate the category of development and assessment for renewable energy facilities on irrigated land, Class A or B land from code assessable to impact assessable with the view to balance the potential for conflict between agricultural areas and the location of renewables.	Adopted: 5 December 2019 Effective: 16 December 2019 Queensland Gazette 12/12/2019
5	(Major 3) Flood Hazard	The purpose and general effect of the amendment is to elevate the category of development and assessment for land uses within the flood overlay from code assessable to impact assessable with the view to balance the potential for conflict between land use and flood risk. This is due to the impending expiration of the Temporary Local Planning Instrument for Operational Work within a Flood Hazard Area (the TLPI) on 31 March 2020.	Currently undergoing the First Interest State Review.
6	(Major 4) Business Improvement and Innovation	The purpose and general effect of the amendment is for integration of updated SPP’s and general changes to strategic framework, levels of assessment and development codes that aim to support Business Improvement Innovation.	Currently undergoing the First Interest State Review.
7	LGIP 2	The purpose and general effect of the amendment is to amend the existing Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) to align with the Planning Act 2016. The LGIP identifies Council’s plans for trunk infrastructure that is necessary to service urban development at the desired standard of service in a coordinated, efficient and financially sustainable manner.	Currently undergoing the First Interest State Review.
8	(Major 5) Heritage, Scenic Amenity and Indigenous Interests	The purpose and general effect of the amendments is to facilitate improvements to the Local Heritage Register to identify and preserve places of cultural heritage significance, identify and preserve places or landscapes with high scenic amenity values and reflect Indigenous Interests.	Conception
9	(Major 6) Blackwater and Blackwater East Priority Development Area revocation	Inclusion of the Blackwater and Blackwater East Priority Development Areas, pursuant to these being revoked by Economic Development Queensland.	Conception
10	(Major 7) Urban design guidelines and standards of service	The purpose of this amendment is to incorporate Urban Design Guidelines and Desired Standards of Service for built form and landscaping for into the Planning Scheme. It will consider Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles; equitable access for people with disabilities; planning provisions and/or policies that can create places of high-quality design in parks and town centres which encourage social and economic interactions.	Conception

Draft amendments on public notification

Draft Local Government Infrastructure Plan LGIP 2

Improve the plan

The Central Highlands Regional Council is committed to continual improvement of the Planning Scheme. We continually reflect on all the state government interests and any regional plan updates that exist for the Central highlands region and encourage you to get involved by suggesting improvements for consideration for future updates and amendments.

All suggestions will be considered as part of the ongoing program of amendments. Any changes resulting from your suggestion will be scheduled into the applicable (administrative, minor or major) update packaged. Future amendments will be under the Planning Act 2016 and associated Planning regulation 2017 which took effect from the 3 July 2017 and in line with the statutory instrument for plan making in Queensland, the Ministers Guidelines and Rules (MGR).

You will be advised of the outcome of your suggestions.

Please send all suggestions to tplanning@chrc.qld.gov.au with “Attention: Strategic Planning – CHRC Planning Scheme Improvement Suggestion” as a subject line.

Example of improving the plan

It is advised that Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) have the ability to declare Priority Development Areas (PDA’s). There are presently two (2) declared priority Development Areas within the Central Highlands region, being Blackwater and Blackwater East. These PDA’s are recognised in the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016. All development application are assessed against the Blackwater PDA Development Scheme and the Blackwater East PDA Development Scheme under the Economic Development Act 2012 (ED Act). For more information on these areas please follow the link to Economic Development Queensland’s website. These development schemes are the regulatory documents which assist with planning, carrying out, promoting, coordinating and controlling land development within the specific PDA. The Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) has agreed to a request from Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) to delegate development assessment within the PDA to CHRC. From 4 July 2016, CHRC is responsible for assessing any development applications on behalf of the MEDQ. Development applications are assessed by CHRC against the PDA development scheme providing a streamlined process.

Future amendments are intended to keep improving the plan and outlined in http://www.centralhighlands.qld.gov.au/building-planning-projects/development/planning-documents/central-highlands-regional-planning-scheme/

Background

An extensive amount of work has gone into getting the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 to completion. This not only includes work undertaken by Council, but also from the community who have provided input into Council’s strategies and policies which have fed into the drafting of the Planning Scheme.

The process Council used to develop the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 is regulated by the statutory guideline for making or amending a local planning instrument prescribed by the Sustainable Planning Act 2009. Drafting the new Planning Scheme included the following steps:

Phase	Activity	Timing
Stage 1 (Proposal for new Planning Scheme)	Resolution to prepare a new Planning Scheme	18 January 2010
Stage 1 (Preparation of Planning Scheme)	Preparation of background studies and Priority Infrastructure Plans	February 2010 to March 2014
· (Preparation of Strategic Framework Element)	Drafting	February to June 2012
	Public consultation	August to September 2012
	Adoption of Central Highlands Strategic Framework 2031	31 October 2012
· (Drafting of Planning Scheme)	drafting of Planning Scheme	July 2013 – March 2014
Stage 2 (First State Interest Review)	Council resolved to send draft Planning Scheme to State for review to ensure compliance with State Interests.	23 April 2014 · State formally responded 4 November 2014
Stage 3 (Public Consultation)	Formal public consultation of draft Planning Scheme	January to March 2015
Stage 3 (Public Consultation)	Council considered the submissions received during the public consultation and amended the draft planning scheme accordingly.	March to August 2015
Stage 3 (Ministerial Review)	Council resolved to send draft Planning Scheme to State for review by Minister for final check to ensure compliance with State Interests.	9 September 2015 · State formally responded 8 February 2016
Stage 4 (Adoption)	Council resolved to adopt the Planning Scheme to commence on 4 March 2016.	24 February 2016

FAQ's

What is a planning scheme?

A planning scheme helps us to manage growth through regulating existing land use and new development. This legal document assists to facilitate change within the region by setting direction, improvement and innovation that reflects community aspirations.

What is ‘development’?

The planning scheme regulates land use and development. ‘Development’ is defined under the Planning Act 2016 (the Act) as:

Material Change of Use (MCU) (e.g. establishing a new house, shop or office building);
Reconfiguring a lot (e.g. subdivision);
Operational work (e.g. landscaping works, engineering works, placing an advertising device on premises, vegetation clearing);
Building work; or
Plumbing and Drainage work.

What are the planning scheme objectives?

To produce a single, integrated planning scheme that regulates development across the whole Central Highlands region.
To produce a planning scheme that is simple and easy to use and administer.
To comprehensively address the expectations of the community.
To achieve compliance with the Planning Act 2016, the State Planning Policy and the Central Queensland Regional Plan.

How will the planning scheme affect me?

We had been operating under four planning schemes from the former shire council areas that dealt with development differently and have different provisions. It’s important to have one planning scheme that reflects the needs and aspirations of the whole region.

Does the planning scheme affect existing uses?

The planning scheme does not affect lawful uses which may continue to operate indefinitely in accordance with their relevant approval (if applicable). However, a proposed change in the scale or intensity of an existing use may need to be assessed against the planning scheme.

Why did we need a new planning scheme?

Queensland Government’s introduction of new planning legislation has driven planning reform throughout Queensland. A key objective of the reforms is to improve consistency in purpose and provisions between planning schemes and their interpretation. In response to their reform the many differences between the four schemes that were operational in the Central Highlands region have been resolved through one document. If you own a property or business in the Central Highlands region or live, work or holiday here, the planning scheme will help achieve sustainable local land use and development.

TLPI

A temporary local planning instrument (TLPI) is a statutory instrument created under the provisions of the Planning Act 2016 via the process stipulated in the Minster’s Guidelines and Rules 2017 which may suspend or otherwise affect the operation of a planning scheme for a period of up to two (2) years from its commencement date.

Generally a TLPI is an interim response that:

is put in place quickly to protect a specific local government area from adverse impacts
prevails over the Planning Scheme when an inconsistency arises
enables longer term planning provisions to be shaped while it is in effect (usually a change to the Planning Scheme takes 12 months)

Current TLPIs in effect

TLP 1/2020 (Operational Works within a Flood Hazard Area)

On 15 May, 2020 Temporary Local Planning Instrument 01/2020 – Operational Works within a Flood Hazard Area (TLPI 02/2020) came into effect.

The purpose of TLPI 01/2020 is to ensure that the excavation of land and importation of fill into a flood hazard area is subject to an appropriate level of assessment given that such development may cumulatively cause adverse impacts external to the development site such as reduction of flood storage and changes to flows, velocities or levels for flood events.

Download the Notice from the Government Gazette of Temporary Local Planning Instrument 01/2020.

Download the Temporary Local Planning Instrument 01/2020.

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