Neighbourhood and precinct planning - Frequently asked questions
Why is the report called a Future Directions Report?
The draft report is titled the ‘Future Directions Report’ to accurately reflect how it will be used to inform future outputs from the project, such as informing changes to the planning scheme and other Council projects and initiatives. It is expected the subsequent changes to the planning scheme will be referred to as the Neighbourhood Plan or Precinct Plan. The process Council will follow to amend the planning scheme is defined by the State Government. The process includes further public consultation. It is only once the changes are included in the planning scheme that they will have statutory effect.
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Why is Council developing neighbourhood and precinct plans?
We are one of the largest and fastest growing Council areas in Australia. Growth in existing neighbourhoods is inevitable and Council has identified there is a need to examine and engage with the community on how we accommodate growth, while also recognising and enhancing local identity and creating better places at a local level.
The purpose of the Neighbourhood and Precinct Planning Program is to:
- better guide growth and development while considering local identity
- improve the development outcomes on the ground and better align them with the Moreton Bay we all want for the future
- provide opportunities for communities to be included in the planning process for their neighbourhood.
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What is neighbourhood and precinct planning?
Neighbourhood and precinct planning is a process where Council can examine and plan smaller areas of the city in consultation with the community. The process takes time and requires careful examination of community issues and feedback. Neighbourhood and precinct planning is different to other types of planning responses with respect to:
- the scale of the area being planned for
- the level and complexity of issues that can be reasonably addressed
- the level of direction and detail that can be included in statutory planning instruments to provide clarity and support the streamlining of development that is consistent with locally specific visions and outcomes.
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What is a future directions report?
A future directions report is a supplementary planning document that details a vision, strategies and actions to help guide future development in an area or on particular matters.
After a future directions report has been finalised, there will likely be changes made to the planning scheme to reflect relevant aspects of the future directions report and introduce more locally specific development assessment criteria, this may include a Neighbourhood Plan or Precinct Plan being added to the planning scheme.
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Where in the city will neighbourhood and precinct planning be undertaken?
Neighbourhood and precinct planning in City of Moreton Bay is focused on planning for established or existing (urban) neighbourhoods. Planning for the Councils numerous emerging or new neighbourhoods (greenfield growth areas) will follow a different process. For example, the Growth Management Strategy and the Waraba Priority Development Area.
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What is the process for a neighbourhood or precinct planning project?
While each neighbourhood and precinct planning project will be different, the general process for both project types will include:
- background research
- community input to understand the key issues and opportunities in the area
- drafting a future directions report
- community feedback on the draft report
- Council review and consideration of community feedback and approval of the final report
- integration into the Planning Scheme.
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How long does it take to prepare and finalise a Future Directions Report and amend the planning scheme?
Generally, a neighbourhood planning project is anticipated to take longer than a precinct planning project as a precinct planning project covers a smaller area and is more targeted in focus. The preparation of a Future Directions Report can take up to two years for a neighbourhood planning project and between 12-14 months for a precinct planning project. During this period there will be opportunities for the community to be involved and regular updates will be provided. In addition, to amend the planning scheme, the State Government plan making process will need to be followed which can generally take an additional 12 months. This might seem like a long time, but Council feel it is important to work through each step and issue carefully and involve the local community along the way.
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When will a neighbourhood or precinct planning project be done for my area?
The Neighbourhood and Precinct Planning Program commenced in mid-2021. Council must carefully consider key matters such as how well serviced and accessible areas are to accommodate or support future growth, to help prioritise what areas will have a neighbourhood or precinct planning project undertaken.
Planning and development matters can be complicated and neighbourhood and precinct planning is a beneficial process to help improve community understanding and engagement in the planning process. However, it is important to recognise the neighbourhood planning and precinct process as part of a broader suite of potential planning responses to community and development issues. Matters that require a consistent approach across the city, such as where taller buildings go or how secondary dwellings (for example, granny flats) look and operate, will be considered through topic specific projects. More information on these projects can be found on the Reshaping our city's planning webpage.
The Neighbourhood and Precinct Planning Program and its future projects will be subject to regular reviews, to confirm future priority areas and their timing for neighbourhood or precinct planning.
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How will neighbourhood and precinct planning change the area?
The purpose of the Neighbourhood and Precinct Planning Program is to:
- better guide growth and development while considering local identity
- improve the development outcomes on the ground and better align them with City of Moreton Bay we all want for the future
- provide opportunities for communities to be included in the planning process for their neighbourhood.
As this purpose suggests, change will occur when future development occurs. This means it may take many years to see change as a result of a neighbourhood or precinct planning project.
Neighbourhood and precinct planning will influence future development through:
- the final Future Directions Report which will be a supplementary planning document intended to set the vision for the area, and may influence other Council projects.
- statutory planning scheme amendments which will regulate development to support the vision and intended outcomes of the Future Directions Report.
It is important to understand that neighbourhood and precinct planning will not stop growth or change. Instead, it will focus on better guiding future development outcomes and responding to the city’s growth challenges, while recognising and enhancing local identity. It aims to achieve this by identifying and addressing localised planning matters that can be changed and/or improved through development regulation. For example, identifying future road or pedestrian connections or identifying an aspect of the area that makes it special.
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When can I have my say?
When it comes time for a neighbourhood or precinct planning project in your area, there will be many opportunities for you to be involved and have your say.
These might include:
- sharing with us what makes your area special via a community survey or drop pin map
- providing us with photos of your local area
- having a chat with someone from our Neighbourhood and Precinct Planning Team at a pop-up display
- nominating to be part of a Community Reference Group where you will work closely with our neighbourhood planning team
- providing your feedback on the draft future directions report.
Once the final future directions report is published, any changes to the planning scheme to reflect the future directions report will be publicly advertised in accordance with the Queensland Government requirements. This allows you the opportunity to lodge a submission prior to any changes to the planning scheme.
If you would like to be kept up-to-date and have your say on specific neighbourhood and precinct planning projects or other Council projects and services, you can register at Your Say Moreton Bay.
You can also refer to our ‘Current projects’ on the Neighbourhood and Precinct Planning webpage to see areas currently underway.
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How long will a Future Directions Report last?
Typically, neighbourhood and precinct planning projects aim to influence future development occurring over approximately a 10-year period.
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