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Planning Scheme
On this page you can find
Current Planning Scheme
The Longreach Regional Council Planning Scheme helps us manage future land use and development in the Longreach Region.
A planning scheme:
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A planning scheme only regulates new development. Existing uses can continue to operate indefinitely, even if they are inconsistent with the provisions of the current planning scheme, provided they were established lawfully. However, a change in the nature or scale of an existing development will be assessed against the new or amended planning scheme that is current.
View the current Longreach Regional Council Planning Scheme here
Proposed Planning Scheme Amendment – Major Amendment No. 2
We’re committed to ensuring our planning scheme remains consistent and relevant in response to changing community needs and legislation. That’s why we’ve proposed a suite of amendments to our planning scheme and throughout the process we’ll be seeking input from our community.
The proposed amendments cover a range of issues but their main aim is to bring our planning scheme up to date, encourage development that sets our community up for the future, and make the planning process better for everyone involved. The proposed amendments consider broad strategic matters, specific uses, building works and operational matters, and other minor administrative amendments.
Strategic Issues
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Integrating the Thomson River Master Plan (TRMP) |
How will the planning scheme incorporate and support the objectives of the Thomson River Master Plan? |
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Advancing Aboriginal knowledge, culture and tradition |
Council is committed to supporting the recognition, protection and promotion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture and tradition. |
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Visitor accommodation |
We want to consider the way in which the planning scheme regulates bush camping for tourism, and AirBnB/Stayz style use of residential buildings. |
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Emerging technologies |
We want to consider how the scheme treats:
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RAPAD Pathfinder priorities |
We want to review the strategic level objectives of the planning scheme to ensure consistency with the RAPAD pathfinder priorities, as they relate to the Longreach region. |
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Rural residential and lifestyle lots |
We want to test the demand and desire for rural lifestyle lots in our region. |
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Tiny houses and liveable shipping container conversions |
How will the scheme treat these emerging trends? |
Other Issues
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Roo Boxes |
We want to consider the way the planning scheme treats chiller boxes used in connection with macropod harvesting. |
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Car Parking |
We want to consider issues related to car parking for developments in the main commercial areas of Longreach. |
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Building work table of assessment |
We’ve received feedback that this table is difficult to read and interpret. |
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Sheds |
We want to address thresholds for shed sizes and consider how exemption certificates are issued. |
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Development Approvals for operational works associated with a Material Change of Use |
We want to require design standards to be met, and information to be provided to Council, for operational works associated with a material change of use on sites less than 1200m2. |
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Other minor/administrative amendments
We’re also maintaining a register of minor and administrative updates that can be included as part of this amendment package. For example, these include things like:
- correcting typographical and formatting errors in the document;
- updating mapping to reflect particular development which has been approved and completed; and,
- removing redundant or outdated references in the document.
If you’ve spotted something in the current document that fits in this category, we’d love to know!
A more detailed breakdown of the full list of proposed amendments is available here.
Have your say
There will be multiple opportunities to have your say during the process. The first of these was our public survey, gathering feedback on all aspects of the current planning scheme. The survey closed at 5pm on Friday, 4th March 2022. Following the survey, two public workshops held in April and May discussed the amendments in depth with our planning consultants and stakeholders. The consultants are now drafting the proposed amendments and a formal public comment period will follow the State Interest review. Stay tuned to this page for updates on when the comment period commences.
The Major Amendments Process
The typical timeframe for making Major Amendments to a Planning Scheme takes anywhere from one-and-a-half to two years. Council began this process at its December meeting, where it passed a resolution moving to inform the Minister of our intent to make amendments to the scheme. Starting in early January, Council will begin a comprehensive public consultation process. This will be designed in several stages to identify issues and seek feedback relating to the current scheme and how it may be improved in the interests of everyone in our region.
These preliminary consultations will inform the preparation of draft amendments, which will undergo a state interest review. The state interest review is the Queensland Governments opportunity to identify any special interests it has associated with the proposed amendments. Following this review, the draft amendments enter a formal public comment period, during which members of the public can lodge submissions and have their say on the draft amendments.
The submissions and draft amendments are then formally considered by the government, who may require revisions to the draft or impose conditions on certain amendments. A material review will ensure everything is in place for the new scheme to be adopted.
After the end of the process the amended planning scheme comes back before Council for adoption at a meeting, and takes effect immediately, superseding the current version of the scheme.
Preliminary Public Consultation
At various stages of the process there will be opportunities for everyone in our communities to have their say. However, in addition to general feedback, we will be seeking input from targeted stakeholder groups relating the strategic and other issues that are identified.
