Amendments

We must review our Planning Scheme every ten years to update provisions that respond to revised growth projections and changing economic or environmental dynamics. Nonetheless, during its 10-year life span, the Planning Scheme is considered a live document that will be refined and improved by rolling amendments occurring on average every 18 months – 2 years. Amendments not considered ‘administrative’ will involve public consultation in accordance with State legislation Ministers guidelines and rules.

Amendments in Progress

Amendments Package A – Short-term Accommodation

At the Ordinary Meeting in August 2024, Council decided to make an amendment to the Planning Scheme to address concerns relating to the presence of dwellings used for Short-term accommodation (STA) in the region.

The amendment seeks to strengthen assessment benchmarks within the Planning Scheme to clearly identify that STA is not supported within the Low density residential zone, with the exception of several localities traditionally used for holiday home purposes. 

Key components of the proposed amendment include:

  • Amendments to the Strategic Framework (Part 3) to describe the overarching policy direction for STA in the Low-density residential zone.
  • Amendments to the Table of Assessment for the Low density residential zone to reduce the level of assessment for exception/inclusion areas from impact assessable to code assessable.
  • Amendments to the Low density residential zone code purpose statement and overall outcomes.
  • Additional acceptable and performance outcome within the Short-term accommodation and multi-unit uses code.
  • Addition of two (2) administrative definitions for ‘residential amenity’ and ‘local resident’.

The Amendment Package was submitted to the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works for State Interest Review.

Following the State Interest Review period, Council will review comments from the State and consider whether to proceed to public consultation in accordance with Chapter 2 Part 4 of the Ministers Guidelines and Rules.

View the draft amendments.

Adopted Amendments

Major Amendment and Administrative Local Government Amendment of the Whitsunday Planning Scheme

The Whitsunday Planning Scheme Major Amendment commenced on 3 October 2023, creating Version 4.7 of the Whitsunday Planning Scheme. The purpose of the Major Amendment was to address:

  • issues raised in the rounds of consultation for the formation of the Planning Scheme (2015 - 2017);
  • numerous minor workability problems identified by internal and external stakeholders during the past few years;
  • updating of the different sections of the Scheme as required by State Planning Policy Guidance Materials; and
  • zoning amendment requests (in and outside of the official consultation periods).

The Amendment package included:  

  • Amendments to the Strategic Framework;
  • Amendments to Achieve compliance with the State Planning Policy;
  • Clarification of levels of assessment in part 5;
  • Various zone amendments;
  • Inclusion of the Bowen and Airlie Beach Local Plans;
  • Administrative amendments to Part 4;
  • Various amendments to Development Codes and Overlay Codes;
  • Inclusion of a Building Heights Overlay Code and Mapping to replace the Building Works Table of Assessment;
  • Inclusion of the Biodiversity Overlay Code and Mapping to replace the Environmental Significance Overlay Code and Mapping; and the Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Codes and Mapping;
  • Inclusion of Waste Management Planning Scheme Policy and Stormwater Management Planning Scheme Policy;
  • Administrative definitions and mapping updates in accordance with the State Planning Policy and Qspatial; and
  • Minor workability amendments.

Planning Scheme Policy (Development Manual) Amendment

The Development Manual Amendment, commenced on 20 January 2023, amending Planning Scheme Policy 6.8 (Development Manual) and creating V3.9 of the Whitsunday Planning Scheme 2017. The amendment updated standards, provisions and intent of outcomes within the policy across water, sewerage, open space, drainage and road network standards. See outcomes from consultation for this Amendment within the Submission Analysis Report.

Elements of the Amendment:

  • Updates to align with Australian standards
  • Amendments to parks and roads network desired standards of service
  • Rectifying historical issues and design improvement within the following themes:
    • Erosion and sediment control
    • Parks and open space design
    • Stormwater management
    • Roads hierarchy and design standards
    • Water and sewer design standards

Interim Local Government Infrastructure Plan Amendment

The Interim Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) Amendment commenced on 30 November 2020, amending Part 4 – LGIP and Schedule 3.2.1 - Schedule of Works – Water of the Whitsunday Planning Scheme 2017, creating Version 3.7. The purpose of the proposed Amendment was to remove Water Reservoir (W8), located in Bowen South and applying to Catchment 2 - Bowen. The Amendment removes Water Reservoir (W8) as it is no longer required to meet anticipated growth of Catchment 2 – Bowen, within the next 15 years, subsequently improving Council’s cost and contingency values in the Schedule of Works.   See outcomes from consultation for this Amendment within the below Submission Analysis Report.

Elements of the Amendment:

Administrative amendment and Development Manual amendment

On 21 December 2018, we commenced an administrative and Planning Scheme Policy (Development Manual) amendment to the Whitsunday Planning Scheme 2017, creating Version 3.6. The amendment involved various administrative amendments to grammar, layout and the removal of an error limiting shed building heights. The Development Manual amendment involved updates to various engineering standards and removed standard drawings from the Planning Scheme. Several amendments were also made to these standard drawings, which are now external to the Planning Scheme. See outcomes from consultation for this amendment within the below Submission Analysis Report. 

Alignment Amendment

On 3 July 2017, we commenced an Alignment Amendment to the Whitsunday Regional Council Planning Scheme 2017 Version 3.5 (the Alignment Amendment). The Alignment Amendment was made pursuant to the Alignment Amendment Rules and section 293 of the Planning Act 2016. 

The Alignment Amendment involved administrative changes that have the purpose and general effect of aligning the Whitsunday Planning Scheme 2017 to meet functions and terminology within the Planning Act 2016.

Local Government Infrastructure Plan Amendment

The Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP), being Part 4 and Schedule 3 of the Planning Scheme, commenced on 29 June 2018. The LGIP governs the planning and development of future trunk infrastructure within the Whitsunday Region based on the projected economic and population growth. See outcomes from consultation for this amendment within the below Submission Analysis Report. 

More Information

To learn more about Planning Scheme amendments, contact Strategic Planning on 1300 972 753 or via email info@whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au.

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