MBRC Planning Scheme - Waraba new regional city

Waraba (formerly Caboolture West) is Council’s single biggest growth area. Over the next 40 years it is envisaged the area will become a regional city upwards of 70,000 residents, complete with walkable neighbourhoods containing a range of housing types, employment opportunities, environmental values, community and open space facilities, and activity centres.

The significance of Waraba is reflected in:

  • the Queensland Government’s declaration of Caboolture West as a Master Planned Area in February 2012
  • Council’s inclusion of the Caboolture West Local Plan within Council’s Planning Scheme in 2016
  • the Queensland Government’s identification of Caboolture West as a Major Expansion Area and High Priority Growth Area in Shaping SEQ South East Queensland Regional Plan 2017
  • the announcement by the State Government in March 2021 that Neighbourhood Development Plan No. 1 of the Caboolture West local plan as a pilot site for a future growth program in South East Queensland
  • the Queensland Government's identification of Caboolture West as a Priority Growth Area, in December 2021
  • the Queensland Government's declaration of a Priority Development Area for Waraba in August 2024.

Lilywood

In 2021, Council undertook a planning scheme amendment that provided a framework to support a new urban community of approximately 2,500-3,000 new dwellings in the first stage of Waraba known as Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) No.1, now known as the suburb of Lilywood. The Caboolture West Local Plan, contained in the planning scheme, continues to apply to new development at Lilywood. 

Waraba Priority Development Area

In August 2024, the Queensland Government declared a Priority Development Area (PDA) for Waraba. This PDA relates to the entire city area, excluding the suburb of Lilywood (NDP1). A PDA has been declared to allow the Queensland Government, through Economic Development Queensland, to progress land use and infrastructure planning for Waraba. An Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) came into force at the declaration of the PDA and applies to all new development applications lodged within the PDA. 

Further information about the Waraba PDA can be found on the Queensland Government’s website.

Caboolture West Local Plan

The Caboolture West local plan forms part of Council’s planning scheme. Whilst a PDA has been declared at Waraba, the local plan continues to apply in the following instances:

  • to development in Lilywood (NDP1), in its entirety; and
  • to land within the Waraba PDA, to the extent outlined in the PDA Interim Land Use Plan.

Further information about how the Caboolture West Local Plan works is provided in Caboolture West local plan information sheet. Refer to sections 5.9.3 (categories of development and assessment) and 7.2.3 (local plan) of the planning scheme for the full provisions of the local plan. 

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