The Whitsunday Regional Council Planning Scheme was adopted on 28 June 2017 and commenced on 30 June 2017. The new planning scheme will facilitate development to accommodate future growth of up to 20,000 people and over 9,000 more jobs region wide by 2036 in a manner that is environmentally sustainable, boosts industry development and supports the rich lifestyle enjoyed by the Whitsunday community. It is the first planning scheme for the Whitsunday region since amalgamation between Bowen and Whitsunday Shires in 2009 and is a key step for delivering a successful, stronger and more resilient region into the future.

The Whitsunday Planning Scheme supersedes the 2009 Whitsunday Shire Planning Scheme and 2006 Bowen Shire Planning Scheme.

On 3 July 2017, Whitsunday Regional Council commenced an alignment amendment under the Alignment Amendment Rules and section 293 of the Planning Act 2016 to the Whitsunday Regional Council Planning Scheme 2017 Version 3.5 (the aligned amendment).

The alignment amendment involved administrative changes that have the purpose and general effect of aligning the Whitsunday Planning Scheme 2017 to meet functions and terminology within the Planning Act 2016.

Whitsunday Regional Council Planning Scheme 2017

To view the Planning Scheme and the associated maps, please click on the links below:

Title and Contents Page	PDF 253 KB
Part 1 - About the Planning Scheme	PDF 340 KB
Part 2 - State Planning Provisions	PDF 202 KB
Part 3 - Strategic Framework	PDF 216 KB
Part 4 - Local Government Infrastructure Plan	PDF 9.77 KB
Part 5 - Tables of Assessment	PDF 1.2 MB
Part 6 - Zone Codes	PDF 546 KB
Part 7 - Local Plan Codes	PDF 256 KB
Part 8 - Overlay Codes	PDF 859 KB
Part 9 - Development Codes	PDF 1.7 MB
Part 10 - Other Plans	PDF 10.2 KB
Schedule 1 - Definitions	PDF 165 KB
Schedule 2 - Mapping	PDF 19.7 KB
*See table below for maps associated with the planning scheme*
Schedule 3 - LGIP Mapping and Supporting Material	PDF 10 KB
Schedule 4 - Notations required under PA	PDF 33.2 KB
Schedule 5 - Land Designated for Community Infrastructure	PDF 17.5 KB
Schedule 6 - Planning Scheme Policies	PDF 272 KB
The Whitsunday Development Manual	PDF 375 KB
Appendix 1 - Glossary of Abbreviations & Acronyms	PDF 16.8 KB
Appendix 2 - Table of Amendments	PDF 10.8 KB

Below are the maps associated with the Planning Scheme:
           

Map Number	Map Title	Size
Overview Map
SFM - 01:05	Local Government Planning Scheme Area and Content	PDF  1.6 MB
Strategic Framework Maps
SFM - 01:05	Strategic Framework Map	PDF 7.7 MB
Zone Maps
ZM - 01:29	Zoning Map	PDF 88.7 MB
Local Plan Maps
HILP - 01	Hamilton Island Local Plan: Heights Plan	PDF 693 KB
Overlay Maps
ASS - 01:14A	Acid Sulphate Soil Overlay	PDF 77 MB
AL - 01:29	Agriculture Land Overlay	PDF 44.1 MB
AE - 01:02	Airport Environs Overlay	PDF 1.5 MB
BH - 01:29	Bushfire Hazard Overlay	PDF 45.5 MB
CP1 - 01:14	Coastal Protection Overlay: Storm Tide  Inundation	PDF 22.3 MB
CP2 - 01:14	Coastal Protection Overlay: Erosion Prone Areas and Permanent Inundation	PDF 19.7 MB
ES - 01:29	Environmental Significance Overlay	PDF 124.6 MB
ER - 01:29	Extractive Resources Overlay	PDF 13.8 MB
FH - 01:29	Flood Hazard Overlay	PDF 13.9 MB
HER - 01:29	Heritage Overlay	PDF 44.4 MB
INF1 - 01:29	Infrastructure Overlay: Transport Infrastructure	PDF 35.5 MB
INF2 - 01:29	Infrastructure Overlay: Utility Infrastructure	PDF 33.4 MB
LH - 01:29	Landslide Hazard Overlay	PDF 132.5 MB
WW1 - 01:29	Waterways and Wetlands Overlay	PDF 93 MB
WW2 - 01	Waterways and Wetlands Overlay: Climatic Region	PDF 1.6 MB

Supporting Documents

In order for Council to make informed decisions about the planning scheme, a number of studies have been completed over the past 5 years which are used to inform and underpin the decisions that influence the preparation of the scheme.

Some of these important studies include:

• The 2013 Norling Population and Growth Study
• The 2014 Urban Growth Study
• Whitsunday Coast Airport International Export Hub Master Plan and Feasibility Study

There are also several ancillary documents that support the planning scheme, and these include:

• The Whitsunday Development Manual
• Climate Change Adaption Policy 
• Climate Adaptation Strategy 2016-2020
• The Adopted Infrastructure Charges Notice

See superseded planning schemes and studies for further information.