Have your say on draft new Ipswich Planning Scheme
15 May 2023
The Ipswich Plan 2024 – the proposed new planning scheme for the city – has been adopted for community consultation between 15 May and 16 July.
Ipswich City Council has prepared a new draft planning scheme, a major overhaul from the last one in 2006, to help plan for the city’s continued growth.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Chair Mayor Teresa Harding said it was a major milestone for the city and would shape planning and development for decades to come.
“Council needed to create this planning scheme to meet the challenges for the future, while protecting and maintaining the things our community loves about life in Ipswich,” Mayor Harding said.
“The draft planning scheme identifies where future growth and development should occur. It will benefit people, places, the environment, and the economy.
“This is a significant moment in the 163 years of Ipswich’s history, and we cannot underestimate the importance of this document for the community.
“Council’s current planning scheme is one of the oldest in Queensland and it’s time for a new scheme. Our community has changed a lot, and we want to make sure our planning scheme reflects modern community expectations, and contemporary planning requirements.
“As Queensland’s fastest growing city, it is vitally important that we get this right. This is the community’s opportunity to shape the process and I certainly encourage residents to have their say.”
Mayor Harding said work started on this new scheme more than three years ago.
“The Ipswich Plan 2024 has been the result of years of development, with councillors having the opportunity to put forward the challenges and opportunities we have experienced across the city,” Mayor Harding said.
“The challenges we face as a growing city – with our current population of 245,000 expected to more than double by 2046 – are changing and we need to be prepared for the future.
“We need to forecast our infrastructure needs to make sure we plan for transport, waste management, housing and open space as our region grows.”
Council recently released its draft Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) to the State Government. The LGIP defines where, when and how council plans to establish new major roads, public parks and land for community facilities over the next 25 years, and its Economic Development Strategy, which outlines council’s plan for sustainable economic growth.
The draft LGIP will be available soon for public consultation at Shapeyouripswich.com.au
Mayor Harding said the release of LGIP, the strategy and proposed new planning scheme dove-tailed with each other and were key parts of Ipswich’s transformation and a “significant step forward for the city’s bright and prosperous future”.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Deputy Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said feedback from stakeholders and the community was the next important step in the planning scheme process.
“With a planning scheme so important to our growing city we are seeking feedback from all in our community and recognise that the development industry is critical in the future of our scheme,” Cr Tully said.
“The consultation period for the new planning scheme, Ipswich Plan 2024, is open until 16 July 2023.
“During this consultation phase, we are seeking your feedback on the planning scheme and its associated policies. This is the biggest consultation program we have ever undertaken on a planning scheme.
“We are also very keen to get feedback from our community and will provide various ways for our community to review and comment on the scheme.
“As a council we value the views of our whole community. But we also know that there are likely to be conflicting views, so we will approach this with the greater community good in mind, on the basis of good planning.
‘’We feel it’s important for the community to think about what we should change, and what we should protect into the future.
“Our community and development industry can expect a planning scheme that should be easier to read and understand.
“We are encouraging everyone to get involved and have their say on the Ipswich Plan 2024.”
Since the commencement of the current Ipswich Planning Scheme (2006) there have been many planning scheme amendments and significant changes in the Queensland planning system, including a new Planning Act 2016, the SEQ Regional Plan and changes in State and Commonwealth government planning policy that have necessitated the preparation of a new planning scheme for the city.
For more information on the draft Ipswich Plan 2024, which will be available soon for public consultation, and how to have your say, go to https://www.shapeyouripswich.com.au/new-ipswich-planning-scheme