Planning Schemes

What is a Planning Scheme

In support of Council’s strategic vision of creating a vibrant and sustainable region, the Western Downs Planning Scheme will shape our future and land use development decisions. It also sets a fresh and innovative approach to managing and supporting long-term population and economic growth in the region. 

The Planning Scheme applies to all properties in the Western Downs region. It sets out the preferred land uses for each property and identifies what areas should be protected from conflicting land uses. To meet the needs of our region, we will need to ensure that the Western Downs Planning Scheme can facilitate:

• Different types of housing to improve affordability including housing for smaller families and for an aging population;
• Promote and facilitate economic development opportunities that utilise existing infrastructure capacity;
• Sustain and protect agricultural production and support manufacturing and industrial activity;
• Protect our natural environment and unique landscapes;
• Provide enough land for urban expansion in our major regional centres including land for housing, shops and industry; and
• Create great urban neighbourhoods which allow us to create liveable communities where our community want to live, work, play and interact.

Current Planning Scheme

The Western Downs Regional Council is committed to ensuring its Planning Scheme remains contemporary, consistent with legislative changes, and responsive to changing community needs and expectations.

Major Amendment No. 2 to the Planning Scheme is a broad ranging suite of general business and planning improvements to reduce unnecessary red tape and to enable the right kinds of development that meets the needs within our region. In addition to minor mapping and administrative changes, the amendment includes specific changes relating to Battery Storage Facilities, Non-residential uses within the Low Density Residential Zone and Secondary Dwellings and also Craft Breweries.

On 12 June 2025, the Planning Minister issued a notice which provided Council with approval for the Adoption of Major Amendment 2 of the Western Downs Planning Scheme 2017 subject to the compliance with Ministerial conditions attached to the notice including: 

1. Reinstate the Waste Buffer Area illustrated by Infrastructure Overlay mapping of Planning Scheme over Lot 158 on AG4303 located at Dalby-Jandowae Road, Dalby (i.e. the historic Dalby dump).
2. Reflecting that a Material Change of Use for Battery Storage Facility are now Impact Assessable in all zones of the Planning Scheme rather than code or Impact assessable development depending on the scale of the Battery Storage Facility and the relevant zones of the Planning Scheme as proposed originally under the amendment.  

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 17 July 2025, Council formally adopted the Amendment 2 of the Western Downs Planning Scheme 2017 and set the commencement date of Amendment 2 of the Western Planning Scheme for the 28 July 2025. 

Council will undertake more significant amendments to the Planning Scheme in future to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities for development in our region. However, Council will be required to undertake additional studies to inform these amendments which will be targeted for future amendments to the Planning Scheme.

Western Downs Planning Scheme 2017 incorporating Amendment 2 (Current Planning Scheme)

The relevant parts of the current Planning Scheme can be accessed below:

 

The Planning Scheme Mapping of the Current Planning Scheme including Zoning, Overlay and Strategic Mapping and Local Government Infrastructure Plan Mapping can be accessed below

Superseded Planning Scheme

Each time an amendment or new planning scheme commences, it creates a superseded version of the planning scheme for a period of one year from the adoption of the new amendment. Under the provisions of the Planning Act 2016, a person may request that a proposed development be assessed and decided under a superseded planning scheme.

As Amendment 2 of the Planning Scheme has commenced on 28 July 2025, the Western Downs Planning Scheme 2017 incorporating Amendment 1 is now a Superseded Planning Scheme.  

Requests for assessment under a superseded planning scheme must be made to Council in writing within one year of the effective date of the new amendment to the Planning Scheme.

For further information regarding the process requirements and the applicable fees associated with applying for the assessment of an application under the Superseded Planning Scheme please contact Council's Planning Department for further information.

Western Downs Planning Scheme 2017 incorporating Amendment 1 (Superseded Planning Scheme)

The relevant parts of the Superseded Planning Scheme can be accessed below

 

The Superseded Planning Scheme mapping for the Superseded Planning Scheme included Zoning, Overlay and Strategic Framework and Local Government Infrastructure Plan Mapping can be accessed below:    

Historic Planning Schemes

A planning scheme or amendment that has been superseded for more than one year becomes a historic planning scheme. Requests for assessment under a historic planning scheme cannot be made by an applicant.

Historic planning schemes for the Western Downs are listed below and are provided for reference only.

Historic Planning Scheme	Superseded on
Western Downs Planning Scheme 2017, Version 2(PDF, 9MB) (Version in accordance with the Minister's Rules for the purpose of the Alignment Amendment to the Planning Act 2016)	2 September 2019
Western Downs Planning Scheme 2017, Version 1	17 July 2017
Chinchilla Shire Planning Scheme	20 March 2017
Dalby Town Planning Scheme 2007	20 March 2017
Murilla Shire Planning Scheme	20 March 2017
Tara Shire Planning Scheme(PDF, 12MB)	20 March 2017
Taroom Shire Planning Scheme	20 March 2017
Wambo Shire Planning Scheme	20 March 2017