Residents’ concerns have led Council to draft the Better Housing Amendment. Compelling feedback from Moreton Says surveys, customer enquiries, previous submissions and other planning and engagement activities have informed the proposed changes.

To better understand the issues being experienced and inform future policy changes, Council has:

• undertaken statistical research to better understand current and emerging demographic trends
• reviewed relevant development applications
• reviewed and compared Council’s current planning scheme against other council planning schemes in South East Queensland and across Queensland
• received inputs and advice from Council’s design experts on best practice urban design principles for key housing types
• documented key findings and recommendations into a series of supporting policy direction papers.

A planning scheme amendment is a legal process set by the State Government through legislation. There are different types of planning scheme amendments that can be undertaken.

The Better Housing Amendment is a ‘major amendment’, which means it is proposing changes to policy that need to be reviewed by the State Government, Planning Minister and community.

This process involves:

• preparation of the amendment by Council
• State Government review of the draft Amendment, which may result in further changes
• public consultation, where formal submissions are invited during a 20-business day period
• Council’s review, response to, and further possible changes based on submissions received. This must be documented in a consultation report that is publicly available
• Planning Minister’s consideration of the draft Amendment and whether Council can adopt it
• formal adoption and commencement (i.e. approved amendment becomes part of the planning scheme).

To learn more about the amendment process click here.

The Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning will now review the Better Housing Amendment and advise Council if the Amendment may be adopted (with or without conditions). Proposed changes to the Planning Scheme will take effect once the proposed Amendment is approved by the Minister and Council subsequently makes a decision to adopt and commence both Amendments.

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