On 13 December 2023, Council resolved to amend the MBRC Planning Scheme 2016 and decided to progress the amendment (Major Amendment No.4 Morayfield South Emerging Community Area and Designated Bushfire Prone Areas) and send it to the Minister for State interest review. Following a period of early consultation where we asked for feedback on the draft Morayfield South Structure Plan, this amendment proposes the updated Morayfield South Structure Plan be incorporated into the Planning Scheme. You can read what we heard, and our response, in the Communication and Engagement Summary.

To read more about this part of the amendment, click on the Morayfield South Planning tab.

In addition, the proposed amendment will address a gap relating to the Planning Scheme's 'Designated Bushfire Prone Areas' and the requirements for building work in these areas. The proposed amendment does this by removing certain exclusions that currently exist, which mean specific areas across the city are not part of the designated 'Bushfire Prone Area'. The proposed change will ensure particular types of new buildings in all areas mapped as 'Bushfire Prone Areas' need to comply with requirements for building works to improve bushfire resilience and public safety. To read more about this proposed amendment, click on the Designated Bushfire Prone Areas tab.

On 14 August 2025, the Planning Minister notified Council of the State interest review outcome, including Ministerial conditions, and advised that Council may proceed to public consultation. Subject to a decision of Council, the community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the amendment during a statutory consultation period. It is anticipated this will occur in the coming months. To be notified of the opportunity to have your say, click the +Follow button at the top left of the page.

City of Moreton Bay has remade the existing Morayfield South Emerging Community Area Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) to provide continued clarity and direction for residents and developers for a further 12 months from 17 September 2025. This will allow Council to finalise Major Amendment No.4 - Morayfield South Emerging Community Area and Designated Bushfire Prone Areas, setting a clear direction for future growth and development for years to come.

The remade TLPI was approved by the Planning Minister, subject to a Ministerial condition, and adopted by Council on 10 September 2025. The Ministerial condition required Council to update the TLPI to specifically identify and protect four future State school sites in Morayfield South. These sites are included in the Interim Structure Plan as part of the TLPI, which you can view at Morayfield South Emerging Community Area TLPI. It is important that property owners are aware of these new sites as it may impact them directly. The Queensland Government’s Department of Education are the responsible entity for the planning and delivery of future State schools. If you are one of these property owners and require further information, please contact the Department of Education directly via email to ISD_PropertyServices@qed.qld.gov.au or by phoning (07) 3034 4660.

Morayfield South is the second largest growth front in the City of Moreton Bay. It is estimated that in time Morayfield South will contain 9,800 dwellings and be home to approximately 26,000 people. We are listening to the community to plan for our city's future growth. This includes managing future development; ensuring roads and services are well planned and located; the community has the services and facilities it needs; and environmental corridors are protected.

Council responded to significant and increasing development pressure in Morayfield South by implementing the Morayfield South Emerging Community Area Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) in September 2021, which included an Interim Structure Plan to guide development. The originating TLPI was extended in September 2023 and expired on 16 September 2025.

On 5 August 2025, the Planning Minister provided approval for Council to adopt a further remake of the TLPI, subject to a Ministerial condition to specifically identify and protect four future State school sites in Morayfield South. Council at its General Meeting of 10 September 2025, resolved to adopt the TLPI , incorporating necessary changes to satisfy the Ministerial condition.

The TLPI took effect from 17 September 2025, for a period of 12 months.

Since the introduction of the Interim Structure Plan, Council has undertaken more land use, infrastructure and environmental investigations. These investigations, as well as feedback received from the community during early (non-statutory) community consultation, have informed changes to the Interim Structure Plan which we are referring to as the Draft Morayfield South Structure Plan. The updated Draft Morayfield South Structure Plan will not replace the Interim Structure Plan in the TLPI immediately, instead it has been included within the associated proposed amendment to the Planning Scheme - Major Amendment No.4 - Morayfield South Emerging Community Area and Designated Bushfire Prone Areas.

Between 14 September and 12 October 2023, we asked the community to provide feedback on the new Draft Morayfield South Structure Plan. You can view the version released for public consultation here. Consultation is now closed. We would like to thank all those who shared their views with us.

You can read what we heard, and our response, in the Communication and Engagement Summary.

On 14 August 2025, the Planning Minister notified Council of the State interest review outcome for the proposed planning scheme amendment, including Ministerial conditions, and advised that Council may proceed to public consultation. Subject to a decision of Council, the community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the amendment during a statutory consultation period. It is anticipated this will occur in the coming months.

New buildings in Australia must be constructed in accordance with the National Construction Code (NCC). The NCC includes requirements for building work in 'Designated Bushfire Prone Areas'.

For City of Moreton Bay, 'Bushfire Prone Areas' are identified by the Planning Scheme's Bush Hazard Overly Mapping and designated by Part 1, Table 1.6.1 of the Planning Scheme.

Currently our Planning Scheme (through Part 1, Table 1.6.1) excludes land in General residential, Township, Centre and Industry Zones from the 'Designated Bushfire Prone Areas'. This means that some residential buildings (Class 1-3 and 10a buildings) and other specific Class 9 buildings (such as health care, most education and residential care buildings), can be constructed in these zones without meeting the NCC safety requirements for buildings in 'Bushfire Prone Areas'.

The proposed amendment removes these exclusions from the 'Designated Bushfire Prone Areas' to ensure resilience and public safety is improved in the construction of applicable new buildings across the city.