Want to learn more about ShapingSEQ 2023

Supporting documentation

Frequently asked questions

About ShapingSEQ 2023

  • Since the release of the South East Queensland Regional Plan in 2017 SEQ has experienced unprecedented interstate migration, changes in household composition and significant pressures in the housing market, leading to an increase in housing demand.

    By 2046, South East Queensland is expected to have a population of around six million people. Based on population figures from 2021, that’s an additional 2.2 million people requiring almost 900,000 new homes and almost one million new jobs.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 is the Queensland Government’s regional plan to shape the future of South East Queensland, setting a long-term vision and framework for how the region can respond to growth, and increase housing supply and housing choice. The plan includes the 12 local government areas of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Sunshine Coast, and Toowoomba (urban extent).

    In SEQ, growth is inevitable, and we need to prepare for it. When done well, growth is an opportunity to support the different needs and lifestyles of all South East Queenslanders. Growth is the catalyst for creating more education and health facilities, more art and lifestyle precincts, more parks and green spaces, more businesses, jobs and career opportunities. To make the most of these opportunities, it is critical that we plan for it in the right way—to meet the current and future needs of a changing population.

    In addition to targets for housing supply and sub-targets for housing diversity, ShapingSEQ 2023 includes revised approaches to housing resilience and thoughtful design adapting to a changing climate, better access to economic centres and jobs, connectivity and infrastructure planning, biodiversity protection, and prioritising the interests of our First Nations peoples.

  • A regional plan is a strategic document that helps the Queensland Government and local government work together to prepare for the region’s future. A regional plan sets the long-term direction that guides overall growth patterns and land use outcomes, including the key regional values to be protected. This process aims to ensure that future development is planned in a way that creates good outcomes for communities, the economy and the environment.

    A regional plan aims to:

    • Focus on issues at a regional rather than local scale
    • Identify a region’s comparative economic advantages and opportunities
    • Ensure enough land is available in the right locations to support community needs (including housing, services, and business areas)
    • Help local government align planning decisions to manage regional growth in the most environmentally, economically and socially responsible way
    • Protect lifestyle values and enhance the liveability of regional localities and communities
    • Reduce land use conflicts and improve land use certainty for community and industry sectors
    • Identify future regional infrastructure needs to support economic and social growth
    • Manage impacts on the natural environment
    • Guide future planning for all levels of government and industry to support joined-up action
    • Articulate and promote linkages with neighbouring regions

    A regional plan doesn’t specify planning matters such as zones, the height of buildings, or the housing density in a street – these remain the responsibility of local governments to decide, in consultation with the community when drafting their planning scheme.

    A planning scheme aims to:

    • Articulate how a local government plans to manage development and growth in its area
    • Provide a local response to state and regional planning policies
    • Maximise the liveability of communities by ensuring there is green space, community facilities, places to work and shop, and there is a range of housing options
    • Plan for efficient use of major local government infrastructure networks
    • Protect natural and non-natural features such as heritage buildings
    • Make communities more resilient to natural hazards such as floods and bushfires
    • Set design standards appropriate for the type of development and the local area.

    A planning scheme can achieve this by outlining what type of development should occur (through zoning and neighbourhood plans), what development looks like (through assessment benchmarks) and what type of assessment process is required (whether it needs a development application and what sort of application it needs).

  • ShapingSEQ 2023 is based on a data-driven approach to determine land supply to accommodate growth, and to inform dwelling targets across the region. This approach involves a better understanding of where and how people want to live, integrated with transport planning, and consideration of protecting environmental areas and avoiding hazard areas.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 comprises six critical elements that work together to shape the future of our region:

    • 1 vision that gets us to 2046 and beyond
    • 10 regional priorities to set the overarching focus for the plan, which are carried out through specific policy interventions and policy actions
    • 5 themes of Grow, Prosper, Connect, Sustain and Live
    • 36 outcomes to set more specific policy directions for achieving our vision for South East Queensland
    • 154 Strategies to action the plan and achieve the vision
    • 13 priority actions to establish short-term actions for delivery, closely tied to regional priorities

    ShapingSEQ 2023 includes both dwelling supply targets and dwelling diversity sub-targets to identify the amount and type of housing the region needs to accommodate growth. It also includes gentle density strategies and the high amenity areas framework to provide support to increase housing density in suitable areas across the region. Potential future growth areas are identified and form part of the strategy to provide efficient land use where long-term urban growth may need to be accommodated. Priority actions within the regional plan seek to support the delivery of these strategies.

    Access the ShapingSEQ 2023 Summary ( 10.2 MB)

  • ShapingSEQ 2023 will be delivered through two pathways; existing processes in the planning framework such as local government plan making and development assessment, and through 13 priority actions aligned to the regional priorities in the plan under each theme: Grow, Prosper, Connect, Sustain, and Live.

    To understand more about how ShapingSEQ 2023 is being delivered, including accessing progress updates, visit Delivering ShapingSEQ 2023.

  • Hard copies of ShapingSEQ 2023 have been distributed to all local governments and are available for public viewing through local council libraries and customer service facilities.

    Those interested in accessing this document online are encouraged to access copies electronically on the department website:

    The department has a limited number of printed copies of the regional plan to assist in reducing environmental footprint. However, should you live in a remote community and have difficulties accessing a local community facility, please contact ShapingSEQProjects@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au for options available to view a hard copy of the plan.

  • Publicly available data layers from ShapingSEQ 2023 are available to download on the Queensland Spatial Catalogue by searching ‘ShapingSEQ 2023.’ ShapingSEQ 2023 relies on many datasets generated by other state agencies such as Matters of State Environmental Significance, agricultural land, koala habitat. Not all of these datasets may be available for public download.

  • The department has finalised a series of background reports published on this website. These background reports contain additional details on data that informed the review, as well as further information that supports the policy outcomes within the regional plan, and on the implementation framework.

    To view the background papers, visit Supporting Documentation.

  • The government has committed to reviewing all regional plans in Queensland by 2028 - this includes ShapingSEQ. The timing of the review will be informed by growth monitoring and findings through priority actions underway as part of implementation of ShapingSEQ 2023.

    To register for future updates please contact ShapingSEQProjects@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au.

Key outcomes of ShapingSEQ 2023

  • The 2022 Queensland Government Housing Summit set out a range of actions to address the housing needs of Queenslanders. One of the commitments included an update to the South East Queensland Regional Plan, ShapingSEQ 2017, to increase land and housing supply.

    The lack of diversity in housing choice across the region is one of the key contributors to the current housing pressures being experienced. ShapingSEQ 2023 itself does not deliver homes but ensures planning is not a barrier to housing delivery in the region. Local governments are required to find ways to increase housing supply and diversity that are appropriate to the local community and align with policies identified in ShapingSEQ 2023.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 identifies areas that can accommodate greater density and more types of homes. The plan also outlines areas of urban footprint expansion where long-term land supply shortages have been identified, as well as where a regional need for detached dwellings has been identified. This ensures that now and into the future the right types of homes are available to support our diverse community. ShapingSEQ 2023 includes both dwelling supply targets, dwelling diversity sub-targets, and priority actions that support the delivery of this housing.

  • Increasing affordable housing is linked to creating greater housing supply, choice and diversity.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 has a combined target of 20% social and affordable housing for new homes across South East Queensland. This includes market-affordable housing that creates more affordable product but does not necessarily rely on a government subsidy, for example ‘affordable by design’ housing.

    The social housing and affordable housing target will drive government, the private sector and community housing providers, to bring forward greater volumes of social housing and affordable housing more efficiently and cost-effectively.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 is just one mechanism used to plan for future housing affordability. The plan is supported by several federal and state government policies and incentives such as the Housing Support Program and the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, the Housing Australia Future Fund and National Housing Accord that can be applied to encourage the delivery of housing affordability.

    Delivery of social housing is led by the Department of Housing and Public Works (DHPW) in partnership with community housing providers, while being supported by local governments and other state government entities such as Economic Development Queensland.

    Local government will work closely with the building and development industry to continue to adapt and develop responses to population growth and the changing needs of our community. One way to do this is by developing innovative housing products and materials, and sustainable construction techniques, that respond to the needs of communities and the subtropical and warmer environment of South East Queensland. In the short term, industry will work proactively to address factors that are influencing housing construction, including cost escalations and labour shortages.

  • ‘Gentle density’ is development that provides more housing in established suburbs, rather than expanding into greenfield area on the edges of cities. ‘Gentle density’ development could mean small studios or Fonzie flats, duplexes, row or terrace houses, triplexes or low-rise townhouses. This is an incremental approach to density to provide more housing choice, while avoiding abrupt changes in scale, density, or character of existing communities.

    Learn more about gentle density under the Grow theme.

  • ShapingSEQ 2023 includes a high amenity areas framework which is a tool to help identify areas that can accommodate greater dwelling density and different types of homes. Through implementation of the regional plan, local governments will work with the department to identify high amenity areas using this framework.

    As per the criteria in ShapingSEQ 2023, high amenity areas are areas with existing features such as activity centres, education facilities, community facilities, high frequency public transport and green spaces. This means these areas can support higher densities as they are well serviced by infrastructure and located near supporting services.

    Outside of these high amenity areas, there will be an incremental approach to dwelling density through gentle density – an approach to provide more housing choice, while avoiding abrupt changes in scale, density, or character of existing communities.

    Once the department and local governments have identified high amenity areas, they will work on policy changes to support an uplift in densities in these areas.

    High amenity areas will also be used to inform updated long-term infrastructure demand planning as part of the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan.

    Learn more about high amenity areas under the Grow theme

  • ShapingSEQ 2023 is focused on growing jobs across the region, creating more jobs where people live and identifying the infrastructure required to support economic growth.

    Through the Prosper theme, the plan introduces a new regional strategic approach to employment and industrial land in South East Queensland. Key areas of the region are now approaching a critical shortfall of available industrial land. A region-wide focus, rather than a local government area focus, is critical to achieving many of the region’s goals relating to jobs creation, economic growth and innovation. The regional plan includes a Priority Action to establish a regional industrial land framework to investigate and support future establishment of industrial areas across the region.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 has strengthened provisions around protecting industrial areas, as well as clarified the policies for Regional Economic Clusters (RECs) and the Regional Activity Centre Network (RACN) to ensure these areas can continue to support the growth of the region.

    Learn more about the Prosper theme.

  • ShapingSEQ establishes a new regional approach to planning for natural hazards. There is a clear need to create a growth pattern that is disaster resilient and adaptive to change.  Adapting and building resilience will increase the collective ‘capacity to cope’ and will help SEQ, and its communities and economies, deal with the inevitable natural hazard events that will occur in the future.

    State and local governments have undertaken significant work since 2017 to better understand strategic floodplain risk, coastal hazards and bushfire risk.  However, it is acknowledged that local government across SEQ are at differing levels of maturity in practice, capacity and data/intelligence.  Land use policies and approaches to risk tolerance differ.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 adopts a regional policy maturity approach, consistent with state-level directions and in collaboration with stakeholders, to demonstrate how policy changes can be integrated into regional planning processes over time.

  • A Potential Future Growth Area (PFGA) is an area outside of the Urban Footprint that may be suitable for future urban growth, if modelling shows demand for additional residential or employment land, and subject to further investigation undertaken by the department. PFGAs are not needed to accommodate the dwelling supply targets or employment planning baselines of ShapingSEQ 2023. Importantly, these areas do not represent a development commitment so are not spatially identified through site boundaries but instead are indicatively shown.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 identifies 11 PFGAs:

    • Wellcamp (Employment/industrial)
    • Westbrook
    • Highfields
    • Lanefield / Grandchester
    • Glamorgan Vale
    • Halls Creek
    • South Logan (Industrial)
    • Buccan
    • Stapylton (Industrial)
    • Mundoolun
    • Beaudesert East.

    Learn more about PFGAs under the Grow theme.

ShapingSEQ 2023 and integration with other policy areas

  • Engagement activities with both Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities and Torres Strait Islander communities were undertaken during the public notification period and finalisation of ShapingSEQ 2023. Feedback from this engagement has informed changes to references to First Nations peoples, strategies and priority actions throughout the plan.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 recognises First Nations peoples as key stakeholders with differing needs and aspirations. First Nations peoples are integral to shaping our cities. Implementation of ShapingSEQ 2023 commits to engage early and on an ongoing basis, building lasting relationships with First Nations peoples who have planned and managed Country for millennia in a sustainable way.

    Ongoing engagement with First Nations peoples will occur as part of implementation of Priority Action 7 – First Nations engagement framework.

    Learn more about the Sustain theme.

  • ShapingSEQ 2023 reinforces the need to adjust our transport approach to achieve a more sustainable, healthy and accessible transport system.

    Embracing more walking, cycling and public transport solutions will help reduce the environmental footprint of the transport system while improving connectivity for our communities. ShapingSEQ 2023 prioritises building a high frequency public transport network, promoting active transport and investing in Region-Shaping Infrastructure (RSI) projects. RSI are a series of planned transport and freight projects needed to support our growing population.

    Map 12 – Connect - Region Shaping Infrastructure ( 1.0 MB) (page 110 of ShapingSEQ 2023) reflects the most up-to-date region-shaping infrastructure data sources.

  • The focus on protecting koala habitat in ShapingSEQ 2023 aligns with the SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy 2020-2025 which provides the strongest koala protections in Queensland. This work was undertaken by the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, who are responsible for the monitoring of koala populations.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 reflects the strengthened environmental measures, including updated Koala habitat mapping and matters of state environmental significance (MSES) mapping.

    Map 16 – Sustain – Koala habitat ( 9.3 MB) (page 130 of ShapingSEQ 2023) has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date koala habitat area data sources.

    In addition, priorities within the Sustain theme include protecting and enhancing South East Queensland’s biodiversity corridors and taking a regional focus to maintaining the natural environment, key habitat and native wildlife.

  • ShapingSEQ 2023 focuses on strategies to strengthen communities and the economy by delivering integrated land use and transport planning. This integration is essential, as it improves connectivity and accessibility within the region, ultimately enhancing how we all live, work and play.

    To facilitate this, the Queensland Housing Summit required the development of a new South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan (SEQIP) to manage regional growth and service provision in SEQ. Due to the urgency of addressing housing pressures in Queensland, the scope of the SEQ Infrastructure Plan was revised to fast-track the delivery of a targeted SEQ Infrastructure Supplement (SEQIS).

    SEQIS services the growth and housing supply of the region and was prepared in conjunction with and aligning to ShapingSEQ 2023.

    Due to the nature of infrastructure planning, SEQIS has been finalised with local governments and other state government agencies. It provides clearly aligned infrastructure planning strategies to address housing pressures and maximise the opportunity of Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure.

    The next review of the SEQ Regional Plan will be concurrent with a new Regional Infrastructure Plan.

ShapingSEQ 2023 Regional Land Use Categories

  • All land in SEQ is included in one of three regional land-use categories, defined below.

    Urban Footprint

    Identifies land within which the region’s urban development needs will be met in a way that is consistent with the outcomes and strategies of ShapingSEQ. Currently 14% of the region is Urban Footprint.

    Urban Footprint supports minimising urban sprawl to protect the environment, while maximising the use of existing services and infrastructure. Not all land in the Urban Footprint is suitable for urban purposes or development activity. Constraints may include natural hazards, scenic amenity, or the need to protect vegetation that forms part of the regional biodiversity network.

    Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area

    Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area (RLRPA) Is the area that provides important values that help sustain the region, socially, economically and environmentally. The natural assets and regional landscapes of this area are protected from encroachment by urban and rural residential development, to ensure their sustainable use and management. The RLRPA also supports the development and economic growth of rural communities and industries. Currently 84% of the region is RLRPA.

    Rural Living Area

    Rural Living Area (RLA) identifies areas for rural residential development. These areas provide for housing and lifestyle choice in specific locations to limit the impact of rural residential development and its inefficient use of land on the Urban Footprint and the RLRPA. Currently 2% of the region is RLA.

  • There are multiple ways to determine the Regional Land Use Category of your property:

    • The region-wide Regional Land Use Category map in ShapingSEQ 2023 and the ShapingSEQ 2023 Summary ( 10.2 MB).
    • Searching via the SPP or DAMS online mapping tools.
      • For SPP interactive mapping, the Regional Land Use Category layer is listed under 'Information Purposes', then 'Administrative Layers'.
      • For DAMS interactive mapping, the Regional Land Use Category layer is listed under 'SARA DA Mapping', then 'SEQ Regional Plan Triggers'. Layers can be turned on and off. Properties can be found by manually zooming to the known location on the map or using the 'Search for Land Parcel' on the top tool banner.
    • Through Map 20 - Regional land-use categories ( 9.3 MB)  (page 150 of ShapingSEQ 2023), which has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date sources.

  • Regional Land Use Category changes occurred as part of ShapingSEQ 2023 to respond to the projected demand for land supply in SEQ when and where it is needed. New land included in the Urban Footprint has been informed by demand outputs of the modelling process, the identified regional need for industrial land, submissions received during public consultation, and an assessment against the Urban Footprint principals and constraints analysis listed on page 153 of ShapingSEQ 2023.

    The ShapingSEQ 2023 Consultation Report ( 26.0 MB) describes how the department considered any RLUC change requests from the community and how decision making occurred.

    An area of approximately 5,250ha was added to the Urban Footprint from RLRPA (compared to the size of the Urban Footprint in ShapingSEQ 2017). SEQ’s Urban Footprint is now approximately 333,000ha, representing 14% of the total land in the region. No land was removed from the Urban Footprint as part of ShapingSEQ 2023. For further detail on the new Urban Footprint areas in the region refer to map in the Summary of Amendment document ( 5.0 MB).

    Two Potential Future Growth Area (PFGAs) identified in ShapingSEQ 2017 were changed from RLRPA to Urban Footprint at Elimbah and Southern Thornlands.

    One PFGA (Burpengary East) identified in the draft ShapingSEQ 2023 Update transitioned to the Urban Footprint in the final plan.

    Additional areas were included in the Urban Footprint throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba. These additional areas are for both residential and employment purposes.

    The table below displays the changes across the three categories from ShapingSEQ 2017, the draft ShapingSEQ 2023 Update and final ShapingSEQ 2023.

     

    ShapingSEQ 2017

    Draft ShapingSEQ 2023 Update

    ShapingSEQ 2023

    Urban Footprint

    328,000ha

    331,000ha

    333,000ha

    Rural Living Area

    40,000ha

    40,000ha

    40,000ha

    Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area

    1,934,000ha

    1,931,000ha

    1,929,000ha

    Note: numbers in table are approximate and have been rounded for reporting purposes.

  • All requests to change to a Regional Land Use Category went through a detailed assessment and decision-making process.

    The ShapingSEQ 2023 Consultation Report ( 26.0 MB) outlines the assessment process for Regional Land Use Category changes. A table identifies where a Regional Land Use Category change was made and the reasons for the change. Figure 5-2: Summary of RLUC change requests across SEQ (page 112 of Appendix A in ShapingSEQ 2023 Consultation Report ( 26.0 MB) shows a map where the change occurred.

    There are multiple ways to determine the Regional Land Use Category of your property:

    • The region-wide Regional Land Use Category map in ShapingSEQ 2023 and the ShapingSEQ 2023 Summary ( 10.2 MB).
    • Searching via the SPP or DAMS online mapping tools.
      • For SPP interactive mapping, the Regional Land Use Category layer is listed under ‘Information Purposes’, then ‘Administrative Layers’.
      • For DAMs interactive mapping, the Regional Land Use Category layer is listed under ‘SARA DA Mapping’, then ‘SEQ Regional Plan Triggers.’ Layers can be turned on and off. Properties can be found by manually zooming to the known location on the map or using the ‘Search for Land Parcel’ on the top tool banner.
    • Through Map 20 - Regional land-use categories ( 9.3 MB) (page 150 of ShapingSEQ 2023), which has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date sources.

  • There are various reasons why a request to change the Regional Land Use Category was not supported. For requests asking to include land in the Urban Footprint, the change may not have been supported because:

    • the modelling process did not outline a need or dwelling supply shortage in this area, or that there was demand for a certain dwelling type in this area
    • values and constraints on the land such as protected vegetation including wildlife habitat, productive agricultural land, topography or flooding were identified
    • no future infrastructure services were identified
    • the ability to service the land with cost-effective infrastructure such as water or sewer was not identified
    • potential conflict with established rural uses
    • conflict with local government strategic planning intentions
    • significant urban land supply in the local area over a 25-year horizon
    • the site was unable to meet the Urban Footprint principles outlined on page 153 of ShapingSEQ 2023.

    During the development of ShapingSEQ 2023, no land was removed from the Urban Footprint and added to the Rural Living Area or Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area as this type of change was not part of the scope of the review. In addition to this, there were no changes to the RLA.

    Lastly, the regional plan cannot make changes to the zoning in local government planning schemes. If a request was received for a zoning change, this was not considered as it sits outside the power of a regional plan.

  • As part of the ShapingSEQ review, the Regional Land Use Category spatial dataset was translated to a 2023 cadastre dataset to reflect current property boundaries. The translation process ensures that the 2023 Regional Land Use Category layer aligns with current property boundaries displayed on online interactive mapping like the SPP and DAMS. In doing this, small corrections, tidy ups, and changes to parcels around the fringe of the Urban Footprint have been completed. Changes also occurred as parcels are shifted and corrected through improvements in surveying of the cadastral layer, with some noticeable changes around waterways and coastline boundaries.

  • The department is not currently accepting submissions for Regional Land Use Category changes. Requests for a Regional Land Use Category change typically occur during the review and drafting of South East Queensland Regional Plans.

    To register for future updates please contact ShapingSEQProjects@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au

Consultation outcomes on the draft ShapingSEQ 2023 Update

  • Consultation was undertaken with key stakeholders including First Nations peoples, state agencies, local governments, industry and community groups during both the drafting and public notification period for the plan.

    During the public notification period from August to September 2023, the department undertook community engagement at local venues at each of the 12 local government areas. Alongside this, an extensive media campaign was used to raise awareness about the draft plan and encourage community input into the draft plan.

    All feedback and submissions received during the consultation period were considered and helped to inform ShapingSEQ 2023.

    Access the ShapingSEQ 2023 Consultation Report ( 26.0 MB).

  • The consultation report provides details on consultation activities and the feedback received from submissions during the public notification period. During the notification period, two types of submissions could be made - one on general policy in the draft ShapingSEQ 2023 Update, and secondly, a submission to request a Regional Land Use Category change. The consultation report outlines the methodology for how the department considered both types of submission.

    Feedback received at consultation events was analysed and data extracted to identify common topics and sentiment at both the local government and regional level. Where feedback related to topics that were in the scope of the regional plan review, this was considered for the finalisation of the plan. A summary of feedback received from consultation events is contained within the Consultation Report.

    Access the ShapingSEQ 2023 consultation report ( 26.0 MB).

  • In mid-2023, the draft plan went through extensive consultation with state agencies, SEQ local governments, industry, the community and other stakeholders during a public notification period.

    After reviewing over 2,500 submissions and other feedback from the community and other stakeholders, the department identified a range of changes to the plan.

    Access the ShapingSEQ 2023 consultation report ( 26.0 MB) which outlines where a topic raised through submissions resulted in a change to the final regional plan.

    View the summary of amendments ( 5.0 MB) to see the key changes made to the plan from draft to final.

  • Following lodgement of a submission, an automatic response was generated and sent to you. This response confirmed a submission was received.

    As there were over 2500 submissions received, the department has summarised submission topics and sentiment to help people reading the consultation report to understand the range of views and topics that were raised in submissions. As submissions are confidential, the department is unable to publicly release them.

    Where submissions contained information that was out of the scope for the regional plan review or related to other state agency matters, these were not reported on through this process.

    Access the ShapingSEQ 2023 consultation report ( 26.0 MB).

  • ShapingSEQ 2023 has been finalised and commenced in December 2023. Engagement with stakeholders will occur as part of the implementation of the plan and at the commencement of the next review before 2028.

    Further information regarding future reviews will be posted on the ShapingSEQ 2023 website.

    To register for future updates please contact ShapingSEQProjects@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au

SEQ regulatory provisions for ShapingSEQ 2023

  • A SEQ development area (SEQ development areas) is an area that has been identified for future homes or employment opportunities but due to its size and complexity, needs a collaborative effort by state, local government and industry to facilitate its development. SEQ development areas serve the purpose of restricting further development, in order to safeguard against premature or out of sequence development that could compromise the area before appropriate planning and investigations can take place.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 and the Planning Regulation introduce two categories of SEQ development areas and updated assessment provisions. Category 1 SEQ development areas prohibit certain material change of use and reconfiguration of a lot until State or local government structure planning is undertaken. ShapingSEQ 2023 includes five category 1 SEQ development areas: Burpengary East, Elimbah, Narangba, Yandina and Southern Thornlands. Some types of low-intensity development, unlikely to compromise the future land use and infrastructure planning are excluded from the prohibition, for example a dwelling house and particular rural activities in a rural zone.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 retains Beerwah East as a category 2 SEQ development area, identified originally as the only Major Development Area in ShapingSEQ 2017. Sandstone Point, Stapylton, West Toowoomba, and a portion of the Elimbah SEQ Development Area are added as category 2 SEQ development areas. The assessment provisions for category 2 SEQ development areas require applications to demonstrate alignment with the future planning intent for the area.

    View the amendment regulation and explanatory notes.

  • A SEQ major enterprise and industrial area (SEQ MEIA) is an area that accommodates the region’s most significant areas of medium and high-impact industries, and employment associated with state transport infrastructure. MEIAs are major drivers of economic growth.

    The specific locational requirements for MEIAs – near existing or planned freight and supply chain networks, including internodal terminals, where they can accommodate regionally or state-significant agglomerations of industry and business activity – make identifying new areas difficult. The overarching principles of the strategies in ShapingSEQ 2023 is to protect the land within existing MEIAs for a range of industrial-related uses. Their operation into the future must be protected from encroachment by incompatible uses. Development within MEIAs must be consistent with their regional role and function.

    ShapingSEQ 2023 strengthened the outcomes sought for SEQ MEIAs and maps these areas. Regulatory provisions in the Planning Regulation 2017 include a prohibition on a material change of use for certain accommodation activities, when in a SEQ MEIA and an industry zone in the local planning scheme.

    View the amendment regulation and explanatory notes.

  • ShapingSEQ 2023 continues to protect the Northern Inter-Urban Break (NIUB) identified in ShapingSEQ 2017 by identifying a cadastral boundary for most of the area. The mapped area of the NIUB is approximately 58,000ha.

    The Planning Regulation 2017 includes provisions for the SEQ NIUB, acknowledging its significance and providing more protection than the Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area provisions and thresholds in place since 2017. Development applications that are triggered for assessment against the Planning Regulation 2017 are assessed against the values of the NIUB as identified in ShapingSEQ 2023, as well as a locational and overriding needs assessment.

    View the amendment regulation and explanatory notes.

Last updated: 25 Jun 2024