Reports, plans and publications

• Heritage Management Framework
• Creative Cultural Futures Strategy 2016-2026 
• Creative Cultural Futures and Heritage Action Plan 2018-2020
• Creative Cultural Futures and Heritage Action Plan 2020-2022
• Creative Cultural Futures and Heritage Action Plan 2022-2024
• Creative Cultural Futures and Heritage Action Plan 2024-2026

More information about the plans and strategies guiding arts, culture and heritage in the Central Highlands is available here.

Central Highlands has a thriving RV, caravan and camping visitor economy based on outstanding experiences that attract overnight visitor spend, increase yield for the tourism industry across the year, and enhance the desirability of the region for work and play.

Caravan and Camping Strategy

The Central Highlands 2043 Community Vision represents people’s aspirations for the future of the region. During the engagement period over 1,900 community contributions were received to inform the vision document and ensure it is an accurate reflection of aspirations and hopes for the region as we move toward 2043.  The vision was received by council in December 2023.

Council has also completed a 2043 Vision Highlights flyer to inform community about council projects between January and June 2024 that already align with the Vision. A similar flyer will be published at the beginning of each financial year and reported on as part of council’s annual report.

As part of this project Community Profiles were created for the region and each of our 13 communities.

A new edition of the Central Queensland Highlands Visitor Guide is now available.

Packed with itineraries, must-see attractions, events, and maps, the guide inspires visitors to Explore More of the region and encourages longer stays.

The Guide is available online here and here’s how to get copies for your business:

• If you’re located within the Central Queensland Highlands, call into the Visitor Information Centre in Emerald to collect a box of guides.
• If you’re located outside the region, you can order directly with Link Logic here.

CHDC has also produced a town map for Emerald, mini guides for Emerald Regional Botanic Gardens, Emerald Mosaic Pathway and van Gogh Painting, Emerald CBD Artwork Trail, Lake Maraboon, and Bedford Weir near Blackwater.

The community financial report is included in each of council’s annual reports. The community financial report provides details of the year’s financial statements in a plain readable way that is easy for the community to understand.

Community Financial Report 2023-2024

The Community Engagement System is a suite of documents that council use to ensure effective and productive Community Engagement.

The system, endorsed in October 2023 which includes the Policy, Strategic Action Plan, Engagement Statement, and Engagement Framework can be found via the links below.

Community Engagement Statement

Community Engagement Framework

Community Engagement Strategic Action Plan 2024 -2028

Beginning 22 April 2025, council will survey residents from across the region to gauge their satisfaction with council’s services and facilities.

This biennial survey was conducted via phone call by Brisbane-based independent market research consultant Taverner.

Survey participants will be randomly selected, but have a demographic spread across age, gender and location to ensure the results represented the region.

Highlights from the 2022 Community Satisfaction Survey Results 

2022 Community Satisfaction Survey Results

Highlights from 2020 Community Satisfaction Survey Results

2020 Community Satisfaction Results

2018 Community Satisfaction Survey Results

Every local government in Queensland is required to prepare a five-year corporate plan under the Local Government Act 2009.

A corporate plan is council’s main planning tool, providing the basis from which specific council strategies, plans and policies are developed.

Council will use this plan to guide and deliver our annual budget, capital works program and operational plan for the coming years.

Download the Central Highlands Regional Council Corporate Plan 2022-2027.

The Customer Service Strategy and Action Plan details our commitment to be a customer-focused organisation and provides a framework for us to deliver services in a way that places the customer at the centre of everything we do.

This will be achieved by innovating and investing in process, technology and people.

The strategy aligns with the Central Highlands Regional Council Corporate Plan 2017-2022 and the Operational Plan 2018-2019.

Digital Strategy 2023-2026

Emerald Airport Master Plan 2025

Our audited and certified General Purpose Financial Statements detail council’s financial position for the respective financial year. They are included in each of our annual reports.

General Purpose Financial Statement 2023-2024

The GHD Advisory – All Hazards Risk Assessment 2021 was endorsed by council on 22 September 2021.

This has been compiled to provide an overview of the process, background reference material, preparation and results of the All Hazards Risk Assessment review facilitated by GHD for Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC). The content of the report sections and appendices are summarised under each
heading below.

Our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2025- 2027 will focus on strengthening our relationships, promoting the importance of valuing culture of the different Traditional Custodian groups, and improve employment and economic and social outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the region.

Action plan report cards

• January – June 2020

The library strategic action plan will assist visitors to:

• Relax by providing vibrant and inclusive spaces.
• Learn through participation in programs and use of educational and recreational resources.
• Connect with one another, the wider community and council.
• Connect with one another, the wider community and council.
• Discover opportunities and access community information.

Action plan report cards

• 2018-2019
• 2019-2020
• 2021-2022

Local Disaster Management Plan 2025-2026

Mosquito Management Plan 2021-2026

The operational plan is the detail of the corporate plan. It shows which projects, services and activities are current for the financial year and the progress of each as at the end of each quarter (three-month period).

Operational Plan for 2026-2027

Operational Plan for 2025-2026

• 2025-26 Q1 Performance Report
• 2025-26 Q2 Performance Report
• 2025-26 Q3 Performance Report
• 2025-26 Q4 Performance Report

Operational Plan for 2024-2025

• 2024-25 Q1 Performance Report
• 2024-25 Q2 Performance Report
• 2024-25 Q3 Performance Report
• 2024-25 Q4 Performance Report

Operational Plan for 2023-2024

• 2023-24 Q1 Performance Report
• 2023-24 Q2 Performance Report
• 2023-24 Q3 Performance Report
• 2023-24 Q4 Performance Report

Operational Plan for 2022-2023

• 2022-23 Q1 Performance Report
• 2022-23 Q2 Performance Report
• 2022-23 Q3 Performance Report
• 2022-23 Q4 Performance Report

Operational Plan for 2021-2022

• 2021-22 Q1 Performance Report
• 2021-22 Q2 Performance Report
• 2021-22 Q3 Performance Report
• 2021-22 Q4 Performance Report

Operational Plan for 2020-2021

• 2020-21 Q1 Performance Report
• 2020-21 Q2 Performance Report
• 2020-21 Q3 Performance Report
• 2020-21 Q4 Performance Report

Priority Projects Advocacy Plan 2026-2028

Services Catalogue 2025-2026

The Youth Strategy is council’s plan for the Central Highlands’ young people to identify their priorities. For more information, visit the Youth Development page.

Action plan report cards

• 2018-2019
• 2019-2020
• 2024-2028

Water Security Strategy 2022-2042

Water Security Action Plan 2022-2025

Water Demand Management Plan 2023-2028

Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan 2023-2030