Planning Progress

At the Fraser Coast Regional Council March 26 Meeting, the Council took a major step in its strategic planning and development activities by initiating amendments to the Fraser Coast Planning Scheme. These changes aim to refine the region’s urban framework while addressing land use challenges and infrastructure needs.

The amendments will culminate in version 13 of the Fraser Coast Planning Scheme. As part of the rebranding effort, the year “2014” is set to be removed from the title, reinforcing the planning scheme’s adaptability as a dynamic and responsive policy document—not a new scheme, but a refined evolution of its current version. The motion also included Council’s intent to concurrently progress with preparation of the next 2 priority amendment packages which include Package 2 – Inundation risk (flood and coastal) and Bushfire risk (State mapping updates and revised risk assessment); and Package 3, the Nikenbah and Dundowran growth area investigations, including planning scheme content deliverables.

Of note is Package 3’s intent — Hervey Bay’s rapid growth over the last four years has highlighted a pressing need for practical urban land solutions. While significant serviced or serviceable land exists within the urban area, much of it remains held for rural purposes, creating constraints on land availability. The Nikenbah and Dundowran Urban Growth Investigation Areas intends to begin work on establishing structured development plans for greenfield urban land in these areas, addressing the region’s housing affordability concerns. The process seeks to address the gap between available urban land and ever-increasing housing demands. Accelerating planning for the Nikenbah and Dundowran areas will ensure sustainable urban land pipelines, mitigating affordability concerns and supporting future growth.

Confidentiality and Public Engagement

The proposed amendments—marked in Attachments 1–14—will remain confidential until after the State Minister approves public consultation. Once this milestone is reached, community input will be sought, ensuring collaborative growth and development. Public notification is expected to commence toward the end of 2025.

Proposed changes

Despite the confidentiality of the change to the planning scheme, Council has provided a broad summary of changes. InsiteSJCs most notable changes include:

• Introduction of the ‘low-medium density residential zone’ within parts of the existing Hervey bay and Maryborough urban area to encourage infill development opportunities;
• Introduction of a ‘Township zone’ to better support the unique characteristics and development opportunities within rural and coastal townships;
• Changes to the minimum lot sizes in the low, medium and high-density residential zones to ensure lot sizes encourage a diversity of housing types;
• Changes to the minimum lot size for the Rural residential zone in the reconfiguring a lot code to encourage better utilisation of existing rural residential zoned areas;
• Replace ‘dual occupancy code’ with ‘dual occupancy and triplex code’ to improve design outcomes and include self-assessable requirements for triplex development to encourage gentle density and housing diversity in well serviced locations
• Changes to the ‘character overlay code’ and mapping to reduce onerous triggering of applications and improve clarity to support infill development and adaptive reuse

You can find a summary of the changes here: (link pdf attached)

Looking Ahead

These amendments signify the Council’s commitment to strategic planning and sustainable development. By addressing risks, land supply, and growth patterns, the new Fraser Coast Planning Scheme aims to foster a thriving and balanced community equipped to meet future challenges.