Document section

• Foreward, contents, part A: introduction ( 537 KB)
• Part B: Regional framework ( 468 KB)
• Part C, section 1: Sustainability ( 147 KB)
• Part C, section 2: Environment ( 1.2 MB)
• Part C, section 3: Rural futures ( 153 KB)
• Part C, section 4: Strong communities ( 206 KB)
• Part C, section 5: Engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people ( 394 KB)
• Part C, section 6: Settlement pattern ( 815 KB)
• Part C, section 7: Strong economy ( 579 KB)
• Part C, section 8: Infrastructure servicing ( 655 KB)
• Part C, Subregional narratives ( 806 KB)
• Part D and part E ( 136 KB)

The draft WBB Regional Plan will guide land use and development in the region over the next two decades. It provides a planning framework to help sustain the region’s communities, strengthen its economy, inform the delivery of social services and infrastructure, and protect its environment. The draft WBB Regional Plan outlines eight desired regional outcomes which are supported by a range of policies and programs:

• Sustainability and climate change
• Environment and natural resources
• Rural futures
• Strong communities
• Engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Settlement pattern
• Strong economy
• Infrastructure and servicing.

Land use categories

The draft WBB Regional Plan establishes the use of three land use categories to classify parts of the region – Urban Footprint, a Rural Living Area and a Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area for the region.

The Urban Footprint will be the focus for urban growth in the region to at least 2031. The nature and the extent of the land uses in the Urban Footprint will be determined through local government planning schemes. A broadhectare study was completed in 2009 which established the amount of land available for residential use in the region. This study assisted in determining the amount of additional land that needed to be included in the Urban Footprint.

The Rural Living Area identifies land suitable for future rural residential development. Limiting rural residential development to land within the Rural Living Area will help ensure effective access to services and facilities and protect agricultural lands.

Land included in the Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area will be protected from inappropriate development, particularly urban and rural residential development. However, some diversification may be supported, for example appropriate small-scale tourist, recreation, business or industrial development.

A series of fact sheets have been developed to provide an overview of how the draft WBB Regional Plan specifically effects each of the regional councils in the Wide Bay Burentt. You can also download the Regulatory Maps that show the boundaries of the Urban Footprint, Rural Living Area and the Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area for the region.

Have your say

You can have your say on the draft WBB Regional Plan and the draft WBB State Planning Regulatory Provisions 2010 which are open for public comment until 5pm, Friday 24 December 2010. A series of public information sessions on the draft plan and regulatory provisions are also being held across the region.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha