PROPOSED MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE LONGREACH REGION PLANNING SCHEME incorporating a proposed Planning Scheme Policy amendment

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Published
23rd August 2023

Longreach Regional Council is pleased to advise that the proposed Major Amendment No. 2 to the Longreach Region Planning Scheme (2015), incorporating a proposed planning scheme policy amendment at Schedule 5, has been prepared and is now on public display for comment. The community and stakeholders are encouraged to review the document.

The purpose of the proposed Major Amendment No. 2 and proposed planning scheme policy amendment is to ensure future land use and development is adequately facilitated while being appropriately located and designed to support the growth, prosperity and health of the people and environment of the Longreach Region during the balance of the planning period of the planning scheme, by:

  • clarifying designations made under the building regulation and updating references to the newer Building Regulation 2021
  • recognising and integrating at a strategic level the Thomson River Master Plan adopted by Council in May 2021
  • providing some expanded rural residential and rural lifestyle lot development opportunities within the Longreach Region
  • revising the category of development and assessment for development of commercial-use chiller boxes in certain zones and introducing a use-specific code for chiller boxes
  • revising the category of development and assessment for development of short-term accommodation involving the reuse of existing dwelling or rural workers’ accommodation and introducing a use-specific code for short-term accommodation in such circumstances
  • revising the category of development and assessment for development of a tourist park involving 15 self-contained recreational vehicles or less in the Rural Zone
  • including new provisions in the Rural Zone Code for development involving a renewable energy facility
  • clarifying and improving the workability of the categories of development and assessment applicable for building work (Table 5.6.1)
  • removing the threshold for operational work associated with a material change of use to be anything other than code assessable development (Table 5.7.1)
  • changing the category of assessment for reconfiguring a lot within the flood hazard area from impact to code assessable for red-tape reduction and workability improvements
  • revising the acceptable outcomes for domestic outbuildings (eg. sheds), including to reflect the existing policy position with respect to issuing exemption certificates for sheds less than 180m2 in area and 5.5m in height to the eaves in Low Density Residential Zone and Medium Density Residential Zone
  • revising the acceptable outcomes for car parking provision
  • inserting the referenced, but otherwise missing, industry thresholds table within Schedule 1
  • making updates to reflect updated references and State Planning Policy mapping, changed regulated requirements and changed circumstances; and
  • making various other minor and administrative corrections and updates.

The proposed Major Amendment No. 2 (including mapping), the proposed planning scheme policy amendment (incorporated at Schedule 5) and supporting documents can be viewed:

  • online at longreach.qld.gov.au/townplan
  • in person at Longreach Regional Council’s Branch Offices:
    • Ilfracombe: 1 Devon Street, Ilfracombe
    • Isisford: 20 St Mary Street, Isisford
    • Longreach: 96a Eagle Street, Longreach

Interested parties may request to purchase a copy of the document/s in addition to inspection.
Any person can make a written submission about any aspect of the proposed Major Amendment No. 2 or the proposed planning scheme policy amendment during the public consultation period. 
The public consultation period is from Monday, 21 August 2023 up to and including Friday, 22 September 2023.
Submissions must be made in writing or by email. Properly made submissions must:

  • state the name and residential or business address of each submitter; and 
  • state the grounds of the submission, and the facts and circumstances relied on to support the grounds; and
  • state one postal or electronic address for service relating to the submission for each submitter; and
  • be signed by each person making the submission (however signatures are not required for email (electronic) submissions); and
  • be made to Longreach Regional Council and be received on or before Friday, 22 September 2023.

Submissions can be lodged:

  • By email to assist@longreach.qld.gov.au 
  • By post to PO Box 144, Ilfracombe QLD 4727
  • In person at one of Longreach Regional Council’s Branch Offices listed above.

For more information about the proposed Major Amendment No. 2 or the proposed planning scheme policy amendment, contact Council on (07) 4658 4111, visit Council’s website at longreach.qld.gov.au/townplan or email council@longreach.qld.gov.au.