Bringing Blackwater Back (into the planning scheme)

What is “Bringing Blackwater Back?”

The urban area of Blackwater, north of the Capricorn Highway, is affected by two Priority Development Areas (PDAs) declared under the Economic Development Act 2012, meaning that development and planning in this area is bound by different provisions to the rest of the Central Highlands.

Council is working with Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) to progress the revocation of these PDAs, which would see these urban areas incorporated back into the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme (the planning scheme). This process is referred to as the "revocation" of the PDAs. Once completed, revocation would mean that development applications in the Blackwater urban area (above the highway) would be assessed under the same codes and legislation as the rest of the region. It also means that the community will be able to have more influence over how development is guided in this area in the future.

What are Priority Development Areas (PDAs)?

Priority Development Areas (PDAs) are parcels of land within Queensland, identified for specific accelerated development with a focus on economic growth and community benefit. The Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) may declare a PDA under the Economic Development Act 2012.

Blackwater is home to two Priority Development Areas (PDAs) which were intended to facilitate development which supported the resource sector.

1. The Blackwater Priority Development Area (Blackwater PDA) was declared on Friday 30 July 2010. It encompasses the town north of the Capricorn Highway. The Blackwater PDA includes existing houses, as well as some accommodation facilities, commercial and light industrial uses and associated infrastructure. Follow this link for more information.
2. The Blackwater East Priority Development Area (Blackwater East PDA) was adopted by the State Government on 24 April 2014 and identifies an area to the East of Blackwater for future residential development in response to the potential growth demands in the Bowen Basin associated with the mining resource sector. Follow this link for more information.

What will be involved in the revocation of the Priority Development Areas (PDAs)?

Provisions under the Economic Development Act 2012 (ED Act) and the Planning Act 2016 (Planning Act) allow a single process to be undertaken to revoke the PDAs and incorporate these areas back into the planning scheme.

This means that council will need to propose (through a draft for public consultation) zone changes throughout the current PDAs to align with zones utilised in the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (the planning scheme).

In most instances, the zones under the PDAs will transition into comparable zones in the planning scheme. For example, a Residential zone under the Blackwater Urban Development Scheme may be rezoned to a General Residential Zone under the Planning Scheme.

Council will be seeking community input on whether the zone proposed to be used in the future is the most appropriate for that particular area or lot. There may also be discussion around whether particular lots should be rezoned for other uses.

Once these changes are “adopted”, any development applications in Blackwater will go through the same processes and work under the same “rules”, planning scheme and legislation that guides development for the rest of the region.

How can I get involved?

Council undertook community engagement in Blackwater on 23 and 24 October 2023. During these days, council accepted community input on what the most appropriate zone to be used in the future for a particular area or lot might be. There was some discussion around workers accommodation camps, whether some lots should be zoned for different types of uses including rezoning unused parks for housing or aged care facilities.

Public consultation is now open (from Monday, 23 February 2026 to Friday, 10 April 2026). During this time, you can make a written submission about your views on the proposed changes.

Council invites community members to learn more about the proposal and share their feedback. You can get involved by:

1. Reviewing the information sheets and other information available on this page (see the documents in the right‑hand panel)
2. Viewing the proposed changes in the ePlan(External link)
3. Attending one of six drop‑in engagement sessions in Blackwater, Emerald, or online (see below)
4. Contacting Council by phone (1300 686 242) or email (townplanning@chrc.qld.gov.au(External link)) to speak directly with a planner
5. Making a submission - For information on how to make a submission - refer to Information Sheet #3: How to make a submission.

Join Us at a Community Drop‑In Session

As part of the public consultation on the proposed Planning Instrument Change, Council is hosting a series of drop‑in engagement events across Blackwater, Emerald and online. Come along, speak with our team, and learn more about the proposed changes.

Upcoming Sessions:

• Wednesday, 4 March 2026 – Blackwater
  • 11:30 am – 2:00 pm, Blackwater Shopping Centre
  • 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Blackwater Library
• Thursday, 12 March 2026 – Emerald
  • 11:00 am – 6:00 pm, Emerald Civic Centre (Gallery Room)
• Tuesday, 17 March 2026 – Online
  • 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Microsoft Teams Meeting (link TBA)
• Thursday, 19 March 2026 – Online
  • 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Microsoft Teams Meeting (link TBA)
• Thursday, 26 March 2026 – Blackwater
  • 5:00 pm, Blackwater CRG – Civic Centre

We encourage community members to drop in, ask questions, and share their feedback.

How can I stay informed?

Project updates will be shared on this page. Select 'subscribe' (on the right of the page or at the bottom of the page on a mobile device) if you would like to receive project updates via email.

For enquiries about this project, please contact council's Strategic Land Use team on 1300 242 686 or townplanning@chrc.qld.gov.au.