10 Year Review of the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016

The Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (CHRC Planning Scheme) was adopted on 24 February 2016 and superseded the four schemes and associated policies of the former Emerald, Duaringa, Bauhinia and Peak Downs Shires. The consolidated planning scheme does not apply to the Priority Development Areas of Blackwater and Blackwater East as development in these areas is separately managed under their own schemes.

Since adoption, the CHRC Planning Scheme has been amended several times for a range of minor, major, and administrative amendments. The current version of the planning scheme is Amendment No. 7 which commenced on 7 June 2024.

Why review the planning scheme?

Section 25 of the Planning Act 2016 (the Act) states that the local government must review its planning scheme within ten years after the scheme was made or last reviewed. Based on the outcomes of the 10 Year Review, the local government must decide whether to retain the planning scheme with no changes, make amendments to the planning scheme, or prepare an entirely new planning scheme.

The statutory 10 Year Review process presents an opportunity to pause, regroup and review the performance of the planning scheme and framework, understand the changing circumstances at a strategic state and local level, and contemplate best practice regulatory approaches to current and emerging trends that may potentially impact the Central Highlands region.

What did the review involve?

The review methodology is based on the steps identified in the relevant State guideline “Planning scheme monitoring and undertaking a ten-year review” and investigated the following aspects:

• identification of the current and emerging information base and policy directions that inform the planning scheme;
• engagement with professional staff, scheme users and local stakeholders to gather information on the workability of the current planning scheme and identify the key matters for address;
• review of demographic trends and development activity and their alignment with the settlement pattern envisaged under the planning scheme;
• technical audit of the operation and useability of the planning scheme to identify gaps and opportunities for improvements and alignment with contemporary drafting standards and approaches;
• identification of the current and applicable statutory framework (Planning Act 2016 and Planning Regulation 2017) and review of the alignment of the planning scheme with the most recent versions; and
• identification of the latest State policy context in terms of the integration and delivery of the current State Planning Policy 2017 (SPP) and the regional plan (Central Queensland Regional Plan 2013).

What was the outcome of the review?

The Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 - Amendment no. 7 (the CHRC Planning Scheme) is functionally ‘fit for purpose’ but requires targeted enhancements to address identified gaps and opportunities for improvement.

Key insights include:

• The planning scheme’s structure is fundamentally sound and consistent with other best practice planning schemes, the operation of the planning scheme is functional and effective, and the vertical integration of the planning scheme is well achieved.
• Engagement with professional staff and regular users of the planning scheme report generally high levels of satisfaction with the content and operation of the planning scheme, with no fundamental issues identified for address. A range of refinements and improvements were identified which would benefit the scheme in terms of clarity and responding to local planning and development issues.
• Despite its age, the CHRC Planning Scheme has been continually updated and as such broadly aligns with the latest State Planning Policy and its specific State interests, as well as operates and integrates within the overarching planning framework required by Queensland’s planning legislation.
• Content improvements and refinements to the CHRC Planning Scheme are recommended to:
  • more fully reflect emerging local strategic planning directions,
  • respond to contemporary demographic and economic trends and drivers,
  • more closely integrate all State Planning Policy state interests, and
  • reflect upon learnings arising from scheme use by the Council and industry and identified in the Review audit.

On 20 May 2026, at the General Council Meeting, it was resolved that Central Highlands Regional Council would adopt the 10 Year Planning Scheme Review Report and amend the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Amendment No. 7) via a series of targeted planning scheme amendments.

See the full report here.

What will amending the scheme do for the community?

The proposed amendments would help Council:

• better plan for housing, services and infrastructure;
• support new industries and jobs;
• protect valued natural and scenic environments;
• make development assessment clearer and more consistent;
• ensure local planning rules continue to align with State legislation and policies; and
• reflect community values from the Central Highlands 2043 Community Vision.

Councillors will have multiple opportunities to identify and propose matters for future consideration, including participation in workshops associated with subsequent planning scheme amendments as they are developed. Depending on the amendment, key community stakeholders may be invited to preliminary community consultation to inform drafting prior to the formal public consultation on any future draft amendment package.