Background
Residents’ concerns led Council to prepare the Better Housing Amendment. Compelling feedback from Moreton Says surveys, customer enquiries, previous submissions and other planning and engagement activities informed the adopted changes.
To better understand the issues being experienced and inform the adopted policy changes, Council has:
- undertaken statistical research on 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.
Amendment process
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 involves 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.
Next steps
The Better Housing Amendment and supporting Planning Scheme Policies Amendment will take effect on and from 30 October 2024. An updated version of the current planning scheme will incorporate both amendments.
Upon commencement of the updated version 7 of the Moreton Bay Regional Council Planning Scheme, the current version will become a 'superseded planning scheme'.
The updated planning scheme will be available to view on Council's website when it commences.