Draft Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan and Infrastructure Plan
Have your say: consultation open until Monday 14 September 2026
Region at a glance
The Wide Bay Burnett is one of Queensland’s most diverse and productive regions. From coastal cities to rural communities, the region is well placed to accommodate growth, attract new residents and support expanding industries. It encompasses the local government areas of:
- Bundaberg Regional Council
- Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
- Fraser Coast Regional Council
- Gympie Regional Council
- North Burnett Regional Council
- South Burnett Regional Council.
Wide Bay Burnett’s population is projected to grow to around 414,775 people by 2046. With population growth concentrated in key centres and an ageing population, there is an opportunity to deliver well-planned communities to support current and future residents.
The region’s economy is diverse, underpinned by strong agricultural production, manufacturing and resource industries, alongside growing service sectors such as health, education and tourism. Emerging opportunities in energy, critical minerals and waste are expected to support future economic growth and job creation.
World-class visitor destinations, including K’gari and the Great Sandy Marine Park, combined with ongoing investment in transport, digital and social infrastructure, support the region’s continued growth. By aligning land use, housing, infrastructure and economic development, the Wide Bay Burnett is well placed to accommodate growth, attract investment and support prosperous communities into the future.
At the same time, the region faces ongoing challenges related to housing supply, workforce attraction and retention, infrastructure provision and natural hazards. Coordinated planning will be critical to managing growth, supporting communities and strengthening the region’s long-term prosperity.
Population
– 310,730 (2021, ABS census), growing to 359,190 to 414,775 people by 2046 (QGSO 2023 edition, medium and high series)
Dwelling projections
between 25,800 - 48,945 new dwellings required by 2046 (QGSO 2023 edition, medium and high series)
Gross regional product
$18.76B (2024, NIEIR)
Small households
(1-2 people)
63% by 2046 (QGSO 2023 edition, medium series)
People over 65 years old
27% (2021, ABS census), increasing to 35% by 2046 (QGSO 2023 edition, medium series)
Detached dwellings
87.8% (2021, ABS census)
Conservation areas
9% of Wide Bay Burnett is conservation areas (conservation park, national park)
Plan at a glance
The Queensland Government is committed to developing new regional plans covering every corner of the state.
The draft Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan and Infrastructure Plan 2026 (draft regional plan) was gazetted (
244.0 KB) on 31 July 2026. It is a contemporary, fit-for-purpose plan, focused on strengthening housing and economic growth, while aligning infrastructure needs for the region.
The draft regional plan was prepared in partnership with local government and relevant state agencies. It sets out the 20-year vision and strategic direction for the region across five key themes: housing, thriving economy, ecotourism and biodiversity, healthy and liveable communities, and infrastructure.
For the first time, the Wide Bay Burnett 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, Wide Bay Burnett’s population is expected to grow from 310,730 (2021) to between 359,190 to 414,775 people, requiring between 25,800 and 48,945 new homes - about 1,030 to 1,960 annually.
Key outcomes
- Increasing supply of housing in new and established communities and higher density in appropriate, well-serviced locations.
- Setting housing targets to align with the Queensland Government’s goal of one million new homes by 2044.
The Wide Bay Burnett economy is underpinned by strong agriculture, manufacturing, resource industries and other established sectors which have long contributed to the region’s prosperity. Building on these strengths, the region is well placed to capture emerging economic opportunities and strengthen its role as a key contributor to Queensland’s economy.
Key outcomes
- Supporting economic growth and diversification across both urban and rural parts of the region.
- Strengthening regional centres and priority sectors as focal points for jobs and investment.
- Protecting industrial land, primary production, and regionally significant economic assets to meet current and future employment needs.
The draft Wide Bay Burnett 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.
All maps can be viewed within the draft regional plan and infrastructure plan.
Mapping can also be viewed on the interactive mapping for the draft regional plan platform.
To view the interactive mapping please use from the below links depending on your device:
You can also download the spatial data of draft regional plan layers (
2.4 MB).
More information
Draft regional plan ( 85.6 MB)
Read the full document.
→Draft infrastructure plan appendix ( 85.6 MB)
Read the infrastructure plan appendix from page 88.
→Interactive mapping
View interactive mapping for the plan.
→2023 Regional plan ( 14.8 MB)
View the current plan.
→2023 Infrastructure supplement ( 3.1 MB)
View the current infrastuture supplement.
→Have your say
You’re invited to learn more about the draft Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan and Infrastructure Plan 2026 and have your say by the following methods.
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You can send a submission through by doing either of the below options:
- our online survey
- emailing WBBRPIPSubmissions@dsdip.qld.gov.au; or
- posting your submission to PO Box 15009, City East QLD 4002.
As part of the legislative process, submissions must be “properly made” to be formally considered. The online survey makes sure your submission is properly made.
If submitting by other means, a properly made submission must:
- be made to the Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations
- include the name and residential or business address, and an electronic or postal address, of each person making the submission
- be made in writing and, unless the submission is made electronically, be signed by each person who has made the submission
- state the grounds of the submission and the facts and circumstances relied on in support of the grounds
- be made during the consultation period.
A template (
485.8 KB) is available to attach to any email or post submissions. -
Talk-to-a-planner sessions provide an opportunity for you to ask questions about your property or discuss other aspects of the draft plan.
Speaking with a planner is not considered a submission. If you want to formally have your say, submit feedback by the online portal, email or post.
Online
Online sessions are hosted via Microsoft Teams where you can talk with a planner from the comfort of your home.
Online sessions are available from Tuesday 11 August 2026 to Thursday 27 August 2026 during business hours.
In-person
Meet face-to-face with a planner in the region. Registration is not required to attend an in-person event. There are no speakers or presentations at these sessions, so you don’t need to arrive at the start of the session time. You can simply turn up at any time during the session times listed.
- Bundaberg - 18 August 2026 – School of Arts, 184 Bourbong St, Bundaberg – 9:00am to 12:00pm
- Hervey Bay - 19 August 2026 – Hervey Bay Community Centre, 22 Charles St, Pialba – 9:00am to 1:00pm
- Gympie - 20 August 2026 – The Pavillion, Gympie Showgrounds – 12:00pm to 4:00pm
- Kingaroy - 21 August 2026 – Kingaroy RSL – Cnr Markwell St and Short St, Kingaroy – 10:00am to 1:00pm
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Share your feedback on the plan by leaving a post on our ideas board.
All posts will be considered in during the finalisation of the plan, however, these comments are not considered formal (“properly made”) submissions. If you want to formally have your say, submit feedback by the online portal, email or post.
Consultation is open until 11:59pm Monday 14 September 2026.
Real success lies in every Queenslander being involved in shaping how their region grows and changes. This is your opportunity to do so and ensure that regional planning maximises local economic opportunities and enhances the things you love about where you live.
Stay up to date
Subscribe to keep up to date on the progress of the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan and Infrastructure Plan.
Enquiries
If you have any questions about the draft plan, please email WBBRPIPSubmissions@dsdip.qld.gov.au
Last updated: 31 Jul 2026