Planning Scheme

Overview

The Isaac Regional Planning Scheme helps us manage growth, plan for a sustainable future and guide the way land is used and developed in the Isaac Region.

The Isaac Region Planning Scheme 2021 (Planning Scheme) was adopted by Council on 24 February 2021 and came into effect on 1 April 2021. The current version of the Planning Scheme is Version 1.1 which came into effect on 1 July 2024.

The Isaac Region Planning Scheme 2021 does not apply to the Priority Development Areas within the Moranbah Priority Development Area or the area contained within the Galilee Basin Development Scheme (see schemes in later pages).

Accessing the Isaac Council Regional Planning Scheme

Downloads

Isaac Region Planning Scheme Version 1.1(PDF, 6MB)

Strategic Framework Maps - Non Resident Worker Accommodation(PDF, 7MB)

Zoning Maps(PDF, 8MB)

LGIP Maps - Priority Infrastructure Area (PIA)(PDF, 5MB)

LGIP Maps - Parks and Land for Community Facilities (PPCL_PFTI)(PDF, 5MB)

LGIP Maps - Sewerage (SEW_PFTI)(PDF, 3MB)

LGIP Maps - Water Supply (WS_PFTI)(PDF, 4MB)

LGIP Maps - Transport (TR_PFTI)(PDF, 13MB)

Overlay Maps - Acid Sulfate Soils (OM1-OM1.15)(PDF, 7MB)

Overlay Maps - Agricultural Lands (OM2-OM2.15)(PDF, 12MB)

Overlay Maps - Airport Environs (OM3-OM3.2)(PDF, 2MB)

Overlay Maps - Bushfire (OM4-OM4.4)(PDF, 45MB)

Overlay Maps - Bushfire (OM4.5-OM4.15)(PDF, 10MB)

Overlay Maps - Coastal Hazards (OM5-OM5.19-1)(PDF, 11MB)

(PDF, 6MB)Overlay Maps - Environmental Significance (OM6-OM6.7)(PDF, 9MB)

Overlay Maps - Environmental Significance (OM6.8-6.15)(PDF, 6MB)

Overlay Maps - Extractive Resources and Minerals (OM7-OM7.15)(PDF, 8MB)

Overlay Maps - Flood Hazard (OM8-OM8.15)(PDF, 9MB)

Overlay Maps - Heritage (OM9-OM9.15)(PDF, 8MB)

Overlay Maps - Potential Hazardous Dust (OM10)(PDF, 493KB)

Overlay Maps - Regional Infrastructure (OM11)(PDF, 10MB)

Overlay Maps - Water Resource Catchments (OM12-OM12.15)(PDF, 9MB)

Feasible Alternatives Assessment Report - Flooding Hazards(PDF, 5MB)

Accessing the Isaac Council Regional Planning Scheme Online Mapping

Council’s Online Mapping allows users to view property and land information, planning zones and aerial photography.

Access maps here

Adopted Planning Scheme Amendments

Isaac Region Planning Scheme Version 1.1

Amendments Under Preparation

Major Amendment (Flood Hazard)

Council is proposing changes to the Planning Scheme to develop a more comprehensive approach to the regulation of development in flood prone areas. The amendment will also incorporate more detailed flood mapping developed as part of recent flood studies undertaken by Council.

Major Amendment (Flood Hazard).jpg

Interim Local Government Infrastructure Plan Amendment
Council is proposing changes to the Planning Scheme to ensure that the content of Council’s Local Government Infrastructure Plan remains consistent with Council’s long term trunk infrastructure capital planning.

Interim Local Government Infrastructure Plan Amendment .jpg

Adopted Planning Scheme Amendments

On Tuesday 28 May 2024, Council adopted Isaac Regional Planning Scheme 2021 version 1.1 inclusive of Administrative Amendment 1. The Isaac Regional Planning Scheme 2021, version 1.1 will take effect on and from Monday 1 July 2024.

The overall purpose and general effect of Administrative Amendment 1 is to:

correct spelling and drafting errors throughout the scheme;
update version numbers and page numbers throughout the scheme;
reflect the Planning (State Development Assessment Provisions) Amendment Regulation 2022 and the Planning (Secondary Dwellings) Amendment Regulation 2022;
update map errors on the Coastal hazard overlay maps;
update defined administrative terms on the Strategic Framework maps; and
include a new schedule for designation of premises for development.

A full list of the amendments can be viewed here(PDF, 297KB).

Version 1.1. of the Planning Scheme can be viewed here(PDF, 6MB).

Planning Scheme 1.jpg

What is a Planning Scheme?

A Planning Scheme is a living and evolving document that provides a set of rules and guidelines that regulate how land in specific areas can be used and developed.

A Planning Scheme is designed to shape future land use development decisions and address other matters related to land use and development.

The Isaac Regional Planning Scheme was developed with significant community input to ensure the delivery of development outcomes that are consistent with the communities needs and goals and support Council’s vision of being “a region that feeds, powers and builds communities, now and for the future”.

A planning scheme is the document a local government uses to tell the public and other levels of government how it plans to manage development and growth in its region and respond to long-term change.

Planning schemes are both:

a policy document, setting out the long-term strategic vision for the local government area – typically about 20 years; and
a legal document which sets out rules for regulating development and criteria for assessing development applications.

Planning schemes also include:

the localised expression of state and regional planning policies; and
planning for major local government infrastructure networks.

Planning schemes are written, adopted and applied under the Queensland Government’s Planning Act 2016. The Act provides the framework for Queensland’s planning system which is performance-based, applicant driven and established through a hierarchy of planning instruments. These factors influence, and in some respects prescribe, the content and layout of planning schemes.

For more general information about Queensland’s planning framework, refer to the Queensland Government’s Planning State Development website.

Why have a Planning Scheme?

As a Council, we have a lawful obligation under the Planning Act 2016, to have a planning scheme and to review it every 10 years.

The planning scheme allows the community and Council to make informed decisions about what development can occur where and how the impacts of development will be appropriately managed.

It provides a framework for:

making consistent, transparent and accountable decisions; and
making decisions which contribute to, and do not detract from, achieving a shared longer-term
vision for our region.

From an economic development perspective, the planning scheme can offer policy indications to the property and development markets, as to the form and nature of development that would be positively received in the region to support and stimulate growth in various contexts.

Amendments to the Isaac Regional Planning Scheme

Amendments Under Preparation

Interim Local Government Infrastructure Plan

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Issued under Planning Act 2026

Chapter 5, Part 2 of the Minister’s Guideline and Rules ver 3.0

INTERIM LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
ADOPTED INFRASTRUCTURE CHARGES RESOLUTION Ver 4

Isaac Regional Council is seeking submissions about any aspect of the draft Interim Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) which form part of the proposed Isaac Regional Council Planning Scheme during the following period:

Wednesday 25 March 2026 to Friday, 17 April 2026

The purpose and general effect of the Interim LGIP is to:

Integrate infrastructure planning with land use planning identified in the planning scheme;
Provide transparency regarding Council’s intentions for the provision of trunk infrastructure for water, sewerage, transport (roads) and park networks;
Enable Council to estimate the cost of infrastructure provision to assist its long-term financial planning;
Ensure that trunk infrastructure is planned and provided in an efficient and orderly manner; and
Provide a basis for the imposition of conditions about infrastructure on development approvals.

Input material from the Interim LGIP is being used to update the associated Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution no. 4 (AICR). The ARICR determines the amount of infrastructure charges for different types of development and outline administrative processes for their collection.

The key changes are:

Changed definitions as per adopted Planning Scheme amendment;
Revised sections in 8.2 ‘Determining the establishment cost of trunk infrastructure’;
Update AICR to reflect changes in Part 4, mapping and SoW in proposed Interim LGIP;
Increased indexed capped rates:
Adjusted network proportion allocation across locations as per modelled demand.

The Interim LGIP would supersede the current LGIP contained in the Isaac Regional Planning Scheme. It would have force and effect over the entire Isaac Regional Council area.

To review the draft Interim Local Government Infrastructure Plan and draft Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution visit:

Submissions to the draft Local Government infrastructure Plan in relation can be lodged:

ONLINE: Make a submission through speakup.isaac.qld.gov.au and click on LGIP consultation

SPEAK UP: Interim Local Government Infrastructure Plan Public Consultation March 2026 | Speak Up Isaac

VIA EMAIL: records@isaac.qld.gov.au with Planning Scheme Submission in the subject line

BY POST: Isaac Regional Council, PO Box 97 Moranbah, QLD 4744, addressed to Planning Scheme Submission

IN PERSON: Delivered to any Isaac Regional Council library at Clermont, Dysart, Glenden, Middlemount, Moranbah, Nebo or St Lawrence.

Valid submissions must be made in writing, have address of submitter(s), be signed by all submitters (unless lodged digitally), state the grounds of the submission plus circumstances relied upon to support the submission, and be submitted no later than close of business on the 17 April 2026.

For further information please call Council’s Customer Service Centre available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1300 ISAACS (1300 472 227).

BACKGROUD

Interim Local Government Infrastructure Plan Amendment

On 12 December 2023 Council resolved to amend the Planning Scheme to ensure that the content of Council’s Local Government Infrastructure Plan remains consistent with Council’s long term trunk infrastructure capital planning.

Interim Local Government Infrastructure Plan Amendment .jpg

Minor Amendment (Flood Hazard)
On 30 October 2024 Council resolved to amend the Planning Scheme to update the Flood Hazard Overlay mapping to reflect the outcome of five recently completed flood studies.

9.8 Flood Studies Consultation Report and Commencement of Minor Amendment to the Isaac Regional Planning Scheme

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Council has been progressing the development of multiple flood studies across the Isaac Region. These flood studies have recently undergone community consultation and Council resolution is now sought to adopt the flood studies and to commence a minor amendment to the Isaac Regional Planning Scheme to update the Flood Hazard Overlay mapping.

OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION

3. Resolve to prepare a Minor Amendment to update the flood hazard overlay mapping in the Isaac Regional Planning Scheme 2021 in accordance with section 20 of the Planning Act 2016 and Chapter 2, Part 2 of the Ministers Guidelines and Rules

res no 8908_1.jpg res no 8908_2.jpg

Links

Adopted Planning Scheme Amendments

The overall purpose and general effect of Administrative Amendment 1 is to:

correct spelling and drafting errors throughout the scheme;
update version numbers and page numbers throughout the scheme;
reflect the Planning (State Development Assessment Provisions) Amendment Regulation 2022 and the Planning (Secondary Dwellings) Amendment Regulation 2022;
update map errors on the Coastal hazard overlay maps;
update defined administrative terms on the Strategic Framework maps; and
include a new schedule for designation of premises for development.

A full list of the amendments can be viewed here(PDF, 297KB).

Version 1.1. of the Planning Scheme can be viewed here(PDF, 6MB).

Planning Scheme 1.jpg

Superseded Planning Schemes

Belyando Planning Scheme 2009

Belyando Shire Planning Scheme(PDF, 4MB)

Development Guide - Home Business (Belyando)(PDF, 564KB)

Broadsound Planning Scheme 2005

Broadsound Shire Planning Scheme(PDF, 544KB)

Development Applications Guide - Working Home(PDF, 54KB)

Development Applications Guide - Caretakers Residence(PDF, 54KB)

Map 01 - Context Map(PDF, 555KB)

Map 02 - Map Key(PDF, 515KB)

Map 03 - Carmilla - Rural Preferred Use Area(PDF, 6MB)

Map 04 - Rural Preferred Use Area(PDF, 4MB)

Map 05 - Rural Preferred Use Area(PDF, 5MB)

Map 06 - Rural Preferred Use Area(PDF, 5MB)

Map 07 - St Lawrence - Rural Preferred Use Area(PDF, 6MB)

Map 08 - Dysart - Rural Preferred Use Area(PDF, 5MB)

Map 09 - Middlemount - Rural Preferred Use Area(PDF, 5MB)

Map 10 - Rural Preferred Use Area(PDF, 5MB)

Map 11 - Rural Preferred Use Area(PDF, 5MB)

Map 12 - Rural Preferred Use Area(PDF, 4MB)

Map 13 - Dysart - Urban Preferred Use Area(PDF, 1MB)

Map 14 - Middlemount - Urban Preferred Use Area(PDF, 879KB)

Map 15 - St Lawrence - Urban Preferred Use Area(PDF, 1MB)

Map 16 - Clairview - Urban Preferred Use Area(PDF, 1MB)

Map 17 - Carmilla - Urban Preferred Use Area(PDF, 1MB)

Map 18 - Carmilla - Urban Preferred Use Area(PDF, 1MB)

Map 19 - Greenhill - Urban Preferred Use Area(PDF, 899KB)

Map 20 - Rural Residential Urban Preferred Use Area(PDF, 1MB)

Map 21 - Conservation Preferred Use Area(PDF, 2MB)

Map 22 - Natural Hazard Management Areas - Bushfire(PDF, 4MB)

Nebo Shire Planning Scheme 2008

Nebo Shire Plan - Contents.pdf(PDF, 6MB)

Nebo Shire Plan - Pages 1-64(PDF, 39MB)

Nebo Shire Plan - Pages 65-109(PDF, 42MB)

Isaac Region Planning Scheme Version 1.0

The Isaac Region Planning Scheme version 1.0 was adopted by Council on 24 February 2021 and came into effect on 1 April 2021.

Planning Scheme (text without mapping)(PDF, 5MB)

Strategic Framework Maps - Non Resident Worker Accommodation(PDF, 9MB)

Zoning Maps(PDF, 8MB)

LGIP Maps - Priority Infrastructure Area (PIA)(PDF, 5MB)

LGIP Maps - Parks and Land for Community Facilities (PPCL_PFTI)(PDF, 5MB)

LGIP Maps - Sewerage (SEW_PFTI)(PDF, 3MB)

LGIP Maps - Water Supply (WS_PFTI)(PDF, 4MB)

LGIP Maps - Transport (TR_PFTI)(PDF, 13MB)

Overlay Maps - Acid Sulfate Soils (OM1-OM1.15)(PDF, 7MB)

Overlay Maps - Agricultural Lands (OM2-OM2.15)(PDF, 12MB)

Overlay Maps - Airport Environs (OM3-OM3.2)(PDF, 2MB)

Overlay Maps - Bushfire (OM4-OM4.4)(PDF, 45MB)

Overlay Maps - Bushfire (OM4.5-OM4.15)(PDF, 10MB)

Overlay Maps - Coastal Hazards (OM5-OM5.19-1)(PDF, 11MB)

(PDF, 6MB)Overlay Maps - Environmental Significance (OM6-OM6.7)(PDF, 9MB)

Overlay Maps - Environmental Significance (OM6.8-6.15)(PDF, 6MB)

Overlay Maps - Extractive Resources and Minerals (OM7-OM7.15)(PDF, 8MB)

Overlay Maps - Flood Hazard (OM8-OM8.15)(PDF, 9MB)

Overlay Maps - Heritage (OM9-OM9.15)(PDF, 8MB)

Overlay Maps - Potential Hazardous Dust (OM10)(PDF, 493KB)

Overlay Maps - Regional Infrastructure (OM11)(PDF, 10MB)

Overlay Maps - Water Resource Catchments (OM12-OM12.15)(PDF, 9MB)

Feasible Alternatives Assessment Report - Flooding Hazards(PDF, 5MB)

Other development Schemes in affect in the Isaac region

Galilee Basin State Development Area

Declared in June 2014, the 105,996-hectare Galilee Basin State Development Area (SDA) comprises two 500-metre wide corridors from the Galilee Basin to the Port of Abbot Point. Development in the Galiee Basin State Development Area is undertaken under the Galilee Basin Development Scheme 2014 which is administered by the State Government.

The Development Scheme documents and mapping can be accessed on the States website.

The Galilee Basin is a 247,000 square kilometre thermal coal basin in central Queensland. It is located approximately 200 kilometres west of the Bowen Basin, extending north past Hughenden, south to Charleville and west beyond Winton and Middleton as shown on the below map.

The Galilee Basin SDA will support the development of the Galilee Basin and provide an efficient way to transport coal to the Port of Abbot Point- one rail corridor is designed to service the central Galilee Basin and a second corridor will service the southern Galilee Basin.

The SDA enables a coordinated approach to developing multi-user common rail corridors whilst minimising impacts on landholders and the environment.

The exact timeframe for development of the rail corridors is dependent on investment decisions made by private sector proponents.

Galilee-Basin-State-Development-Area

Revoked Development Schemes previously in affect in the Isaac Region

Moranbah Urban Development Area Development Scheme

The Queensland Government declared the Moranbah Urban Development Area on 30 July 2010. It encompassed large areas of vacant land, part of the Moranbah Golf Course and a small amount of residential and industrial land.

The Queensland Government approved the Moranbah Urban Development Area Development Scheme (Development Scheme) on 29 July 2011. Development within the PDA was regulated in the Moranbah Urban Development Area Development Scheme (development scheme) until its revocation on 14 February 2025.

Following its cessation the land that was previously within in the priority development reverted to being regulated by the Planning Act 2016 and the Isaac Regional Planning Scheme 2021.

The effects of the cessation of the priority development area and relevant regulatory transitional provisions are contained in Subdivision 2 of the Economic Development Act 2012.

The Moranbah Urban Development Area Development Scheme can be accessed here.

Temporary Local Planning Instruments

A Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) is a statutory instrument created under the Planning Act 2016. A TLPI may suspend or affect the operation of another planning instrument (e.g. the Isaac Regional Planning Scheme),but does not amend or repeal that instrument.

A TLPI can be effective for up to two years after its effective date, or sooner if stated in the instrument or repealed.

Generally a TLPI is created if:

a significant risk of adverse cultural, economic, environmental or social conditions is happening in the local government area
the delay involved in making or amending another local planning instrument (e.g. the planning scheme) would increase the risk
a state interest would not be adversely effected by the proposed TLPI.

There are no TLPI’s currently in effect in the Isaac region.