Draft North Queensland Regional Plan and Infrastructure Plan
Region at a glance
North Queensland is a diverse and economically significant region that makes an important contribution to Queensland’s economy. As the gateway between inland resource regions and national and global markets, North Queensland plays a vital role in keeping the state moving.
North Queensland is situated at the cross juncture of Queensland’s tropical north, the outback and the Coral Sea. It is home to remarkable landscapes, strong communities and growing opportunity. Its strategic location lends itself to strong traditional industries while backing growth in critical minerals value-adding and processing, new energy industries, advanced manufacturing and diversified agricultural production.
It encompasses the local government areas of:
- Burdekin Shire Council
- Charters Towers Regional Council
- Hinchinbrook Shire Council
- Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council
- Townsville City Council.
North Queensland’s population is projected to grow to 298,000 people by 2046. This growth brings new opportunities and requires careful planning to ensure communities have access to well-located housing and services supported by infrastructure.
The region’s economy is large, diverse and strategically important. North Queensland drives major export activity, supports critical defence, healthcare, education and research capabilities, and underpins strong regional communities built on industry, agriculture and mining.
North Queensland is recognised for its innovation and resilience. It is a hub for logistics, transport and processing, home to nationally significant defence and research facilities, and located alongside some of the world’s most treasured natural assets, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics. The region’s natural assets, together with established industries and regional centres, support the region’s ongoing growth and prosperity.
At the same time, housing supply remains one of the region's most pressing challenges. A coordinated and responsive approach to housing delivery will be critical to supporting growth, protecting the economic assets that underpin the region's prosperity and ensuring North Queensland remains an attractive place to live, work and invest.
Population
237,383 in 2021, growing to 297,834 people by 2046 (QGSO 2025 edition, high series)
New dwellings
at least 20,651 new dwellings required by 2046
Gross regional product
$20.8 billion (2024, NIEIR)
Sugarcane production
12,155,100 tonnes (2020-21, ABS experimental regional estimates)
Annual visitors
1.1 million (2025, Source, Tourism and Events Queensland)
Plan at a glance
The Queensland Government is committed to developing new regional plans with supporting infrastructure plans that cover every corner of the state.
These regional plans will be contemporary, fit-for-purpose integrated land use and infrastructure plans, focused on supporting housing delivery and jobs where they are needed.
The draft North Queensland Regional Plan and Infrastructure Plan 2026 (draft regional plan) was gazetted (
252.1 KB) on 18 August 2026, and open for public consultation from 18 August to 29 September 2026.
The draft regional plan was prepared in partnership with local governments. It sets out the 20-year vision and strategic direction for the region across three key themes: housing, economy and infrastructure.
For the first time, the North Queensland infrastructure plan is included as an appendix to the regional plan – linking land use and infrastructure planning in one place. This ensures transport, water, energy, digital and social and community infrastructure are planned together to support growth.
By 2046, North Queensland’s population is expected to grow from 237,383 (2021) to 298,000 people, requiring at least 20,061 net additional homes. While 96% of projected growth is expected to occur in Townsville, other regional towns and communities are also anticipated to experience meaningful increases over the next 20 years.
Key outcomes
- Increasing supply of housing for local residents, prioritising accommodation in areas with access to existing or future planned services.
- Facilitating purpose-built workforce accommodation across the region for non-residents.
- Setting housing targets to align with the Queensland Government’s goal of one million new homes by 2044.
The North Queensland economy is underpinned by strong agriculture, construction, tourism, resource industries and other established sectors which have long contributed to the region’s prosperity. Building on these strengths, the region is projected to accommodate at least 19,000 additional jobs over the next 20 years, driven by investment in health, defence, education and tourism. While most growth will occur in Townsville, emerging sectors such as biofuels and critical minerals processing will create opportunities across the broader region.
Key outcomes
- Ensuring sufficient supply of employment land in strategic locations to support a diverse and thriving economy.
- Protecting and expanding key industries by safeguarding high-value agricultural and resource areas.
- Supporting coexistence of a range of land uses and enabling economic diversification.
- Promoting tourism and the visitor economy that showcase the region’s nature, culture and sense of place.
The draft North Queensland infrastructure plan provides the strategic direction for infrastructure planning, ensuring infrastructure priorities are aligned with growth, land use outcomes and broader Queensland Government initiatives.
The plan establishes a clear approach to coordinating infrastructure across the region through infrastructure planning policies, strategies and future planning considerations for transport, water, energy, digital connectivity, and social and community infrastructure. These elements support informed decision-making, help guide local planning, and provide a basis for responding to the region’s future infrastructure needs.
Key outcomes
- Efficient transport infrastructure and services support safe, accessible and connected communities, and strategic links and supply chains are identified, protected and enhanced.
- The region’s water supply is supported by innovative management, suitable infrastructure and forward planning.
- An affordable and reliable energy system supports the delivery of energy projects in a responsible manner and in appropriate locations.
- Regional digital connectivity and resilience are enhanced.
- Social infrastructure is planned and delivered to support the diverse needs of local communities.
All maps can be viewed within the draft regional plan.
More information
Draft regional plan ( 42.1 MB)
Read the full document.
→Draft infrastructure plan appendix ( 42.1 MB)
Read the infrastructure plan appendix from page 59.
→2020 Regional plan ( 13.5 MB)
View the current plan.
→Regulation amendment fact sheet ( 291.6 KB)
Read the fact sheet.
→Consultation on the draft regional plan
Consultation on the draft regional plan was open from 18 August to 29 September 2026. The draft regional plan is now under review. Feedback from residents, businesses, community groups, industry and government stakeholders will help inform the final plan and ensure it reflects the region's opportunities, challenges and long-term priorities.
All properly made submissions are being considered as part of the finalisation process, with the final North Queensland Regional Plan and Infrastructure Plan to be released following completion of this review.
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Enquiries
If you have any questions about the draft plan, please email nqregionalplan@dsdip.qld.gov.au.
Last updated: 30 Sep 2026