Notice is hereby given under the Planning Act 2016 and the Minister’s Rules and Guidelines (September 2020), that Central Highlands Regional Council is undertaking public notification of a draft amendment (Business Improvement and Innovation) to the existing Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme.
The purpose and general effect of this amendment is to support improvement and innovation in the areas of tourism, agriculture, emerging technologies, mapping, improving urban amenity and the reduction of red tape to support new or expanding businesses.
Local farmers, businesses, and residents may be affected by the amendment changes, according to General Manager Communities John McDougall.
‘This amendment will support our agribusiness sector by diversifying potential income streams. For example, the proposed tourism and ecotourism precincts could support short-term guest stays on local properties,’ he said.
‘The amendment also seeks to simplify boundary realignment processes by reducing the required development assessment process for simple applications like resolving boundary encroachments.
‘The program supports new development in urban areas by lowering application requirements for supported land uses, such as rooming accommodations (e.g. boarding houses) in high-density residential areas.
‘Lastly, as the Central Highlands is mostly categorised as ‘rural’, it’s also worth noting that minimum lot sizes for subdivisions may change in certain cases,’ Mr McDougall continued.
These are just a few of the many changes that are drafted to be made to the planning scheme amendment.
The draft amendment can be viewed on council’s eplanning platform here, downloaded from the council website, or inspected at council’s customer service or transaction centres in Emerald, Blackwater, Capella, Duaringa, Springsure, Rolleston and Tieri.
You can make a submission regarding any aspect of the amendment between now and 31 March 2023.
For more information on the amendment, view the Have Your Say page here.
Alternatively, call 1300 242 686 and ask to speak with the strategic land use team or send a request via email planningscheme@chrc.qld.gov.au.
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