Flinders Shire Planning Scheme Amendment Project
Help shape the future of Flinders Shire
Flinders Shire Council is preparing proposed amendments to the Flinders Shire Planning Scheme to ensure it continues to meet the needs of our community, supports future growth and creates opportunities for housing, business development and investment across the Shire.
Council has completed a review of the current Planning Scheme and resolved to proceed with preparing a targeted amendment.
The proposed amendment will aim to update the Planning Scheme to reflect current State, regional and local planning priorities, simplify development requirements where appropriate and support sustainable development across Flinders Shire.
Council is seeking community input to help inform the proposed changes.
What is a Planning Scheme?
A planning scheme is a legal document that guides how land can be used and developed within a local government area.
The Planning Scheme helps Council balance opportunities for development with the need to protect the community, infrastructure, environment and other important values.
View the existing Planning Scheme zoning for Hughenden, Prairie and Torrens Creek(PDF, 876KB) .
Why is the Planning Scheme being amended?
Council wants to ensure the Planning Scheme remains contemporary, practical and responsive to the needs of Flinders Shire.
The review identified opportunities to better support housing and economic development, respond to major infrastructure and energy investment, and simplify planning requirements where appropriate.
The proposed amendment will focus on:
- Facilitating housing supply and greater housing diversity.
- Supporting business, industry and economic development opportunities.
- Reviewing land use zoning and future development opportunities.
- Simplifying development assessment processes and requirements where appropriate.
- Updating flood hazard information and associated planning provisions.
- Reviewing infrastructure and servicing requirements.
- Improving clarity and certainty for residents, landowners and developers.
What changes are being considered?
The proposed amendment may include:
- Strategic Framework: Updating the Shire's long-term planning vision to reflect current housing, economic development and infrastructure priorities.
- Zoning: Reviewing zoning and land use provisions to support appropriate residential, commercial, industrial and rural development.
- Flood hazard: Reviewing flood overlay mapping and development requirements using the latest flood studies and further technical investigations.
- Development assessment: Reviewing Tables of Assessment and development codes to simplify requirements and reduce unnecessary regulation.
- Planning Scheme Policies: Reviewing engineering standards, infrastructure requirements and rural subdivision provisions.
- Other overlays: Reviewing mapping and provisions relating to environmental values, heritage and infrastructure.
Project steps and timeframes
How is the project funded?
The project is supported by the Queensland Government's Scheme Supply Fund (SSF) Pathway 1 Program.
The funding assists councils to review and improve planning schemes to facilitate housing supply, reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers and support community growth.
Have Your Say
We want to hear your ideas for the future of Flinders Shire
Council invites residents, landowners, businesses, developers and community groups to provide feedback on what should be considered as part of the proposed Planning Scheme amendment.
We welcome your ideas and comments about:
- Housing and residential development.
- Business and industrial land.
- Rural and rural residential land use.
- Infrastructure and services.
- Open space and community facilities.
- Flooding and environmental considerations.
- Development approval processes.
- Other planning matters important to the future of Flinders Shire.
How to provide feedback
You can provide written feedback by email to:
dcsw@flinders.qld.gov.au
You can also email Council to arrange a face-to-face meeting to discuss your ideas.
Feedback closes: 1 December 2026
Your feedback will help inform preparation of the proposed amendments.
This is an early opportunity to contribute. There will also be a formal public consultation period once the proposed amendments have been prepared and progressed through the relevant statutory processes.
Further information
Further information and project updates will be made available on this webpage as the Planning Scheme amendment progresses.
Project documents