Master planned areas are typically greenfield sites which are to transition from rural, non-urban land to urban land. In some cases, the area may require additional detailed planning in order to facilitate future development. Chapter 4, Planning Partnerships, of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA) gives provisional powers to the planning minister, the Minister for Regional Planning or a local government to identify areas as a master planned area.

The planning minister must declare a master planned area, and can do so irrespective of whether the land is already an identified master planned area. The minister’s declaration commences the formal statutory process for planning and development of the area.

Current declared master planned areas

• Caboolture West
• Coomera Town Centre
• Kinross Road
• Maroochydore Principal Activity Centre
• Mount Peter
• Palmview

Planning process for master planned areas

The planning partnership provisions in SPA set up a flexible, three stage planning framework to facilitate the development for large, generally undeveloped and un-serviced areas of land.

The three key stages include:

• preparing a structure plan
• preparing master plan applications
• undertaking development assessment.

It is not essential or necessary for a master planned area to use the later two stages of the planning partnership framework.

Structure plans

A structure plan is an integrated land use plan which is intended to set the strategic and broad development framework for future development. It establishes the strategic intent, conceptual development patterns, land use constraints and opportunities and conceptual infrastructure requirements.

If the minister declares an area to be a master planned area, the local government is required to prepare a structure plan in accordance with Section 140 of SPA.

The below diagram illustrates the procedural steps for the preparation of a structure plan.

Master plan applications

A master plan application is only required where key areas have been identified within a structure plan that require more detailed planning consideration.

The master plan process requires an applicant to submit an application to their relevant local government. This application provides additional detail about how the plan advances the objectives of the structure plan.

Development assessment

Development assessment involves the lodgement of development applications to the relevant local government for review and decision. Development applications are required to be made in accordance with the Integrated Development Assessment System (IDAS) under Chapter 6 of SPA.

In some instances, development applications for a master planned area will not be necessary. Applications will not be necessary where the structure plan or a subsequent master plan approval makes certain development types exempt, self-assessable or a matter for compliance assessment.

Further information

• Statutory Guidelines
• Queensland Planning Provisions

For further information, contact the department.