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Planning scheme - In this section
In this section

Planning Scheme 2016

The Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 is a living and evolving document that regulates the way land, buildings and structures are used and developed in the Central Highlands to make sure the right development happens in the right locations. It also helps plan for infrastructure to support growth and create a more diversified economy while continuing to protect our regions values and way of life. The Planning Scheme is driven by community aspirations and reflects ongoing engagement with stakeholders to enable continuous improvement.

The Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016, adopted by Council on 24 February 2016, supersedes the four Planning Schemes and associated planning scheme policies of the former Emerald, Duaringa, Bauhinia and Peak Downs Shires. The Central Highlands Planning Scheme 2016 does not apply to the priority development areas of Blackwater and Blackwater East. Development in these areas is managed by Economic Development Queensland.

The current version of the planning scheme is Amendment No. 7 which commenced 7 June 2024.  You can access this version of the scheme here.

Superseded versions of the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 can be found by following this link.

Council still also holds copies of the former shire planning schemes for each of the  previous shires. Please note that these planning schemes are no longer applicable for strategic planning and development assessment purposes as they were replaced by the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016.

Amendments to the planning scheme are made regularly. Planning scheme users are encouraged to regularly check for such amendments. Visit the Have Your Say website for information on draft amendments.

Planning Scheme Amendment No.7 Superseded and Former Shires Planning Schemes

Helpful resources

  • Planning scheme

    Access the Central Highlands Planning Scheme 2016 eplanning portal to:

    • Search and read the full planning scheme or just those parts applicable to you.
    • Search for a particular property by lot or address with our interactive mapping tool and view aerial imagery, zone and overlay mapping.
    • Request a property report.
    • Download and print code compliance tables and PDFs of the planning scheme.
    • Use your mobile device’s gps to locate your current position and search nearby properties.

    For assistance navigating the planning scheme and interactive mapping, refer to this guideline document.

    *Please use a modern internet browser such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari or Opera to access the eplanning portal. Internet Explorer is not supported by this site.”

  • Amend and improve the plan

    Council is committed to ensuring that the Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 is a living and evolving document that is responsive to changing community needs, legislation, policy and other factors.

    We achieve this through an ongoing program of community engagement, research and review and amendment of the existing planning scheme.

    The Planning Act 2016 and the Minister’s Guidelines and Rules set out the process for making and amending the planning scheme which council must follow.

    The amendment process takes time anywhere from 1 to 5 years, depending on the type of amendment and what matters are being considered. Each amendment involves a combination of research, consultation and review by Council, the community and the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning (Queensland Government).

    For more information about planning schemes and the process of amendment, refer to the Queensland Government website.

    We encourage you to regularly check this page to see what planning scheme amendments have been proposed and/or are underway and their current status.

    If a current amendment is taking place you can view this on council’s Have Your Say page.

    If you have any questions, please phone 1300 242 686 and ask to speak with someone from the Strategic Land Use team.

  • 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.

    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.

  • 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)

    There are no TLPIs currently in effect.