Planning Scheme - Frequently asked questions
Council has provided answers to frequently asked questions about the MBRC Planning Scheme. Residents can find out how the planning scheme affects their property using my property look up.
Questions
Planning scheme
New planning scheme
North Lakes
The Mill at Moreton Bay
Common development
Flood and coastal hazards
Miscellaneous
What is a planning scheme?
The State Government requires local government to prepare a planning scheme to help manage growth and development.
City of Moreton Bay adopted the MBRC Planning Scheme on 24 November 2015. It started on 1 February 2016.
The planning scheme shapes how the city grows by ensuring the right development occurs in the right places. It sets out the preferred land use of every property in the city and identifies what natural areas should be protected and where commercial development and public spaces should be located. It also sets standards and criteria for building development.
The MBRC Planning Scheme has been prepared under the State Government's Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and Queensland Planning Provisions. It responds to community views and suggestions and considers information provided by the State Government.
The planning scheme aims to address several challenges facing the city. These include:
- responding to growth and increasing population
- boosting community resilience to natural disasters, including flood and coastal hazards
- encouraging economic development opportunities
- sustainable living including improved transport
- housing choices to improve affordability.
For more information about State Government requirements for planning schemes, visit the Queensland Government's website.
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How does the planning scheme affect me?
The MBRC Planning Scheme only applies to new development. For most people, it will have little to no impact unless they wish to develop. This could include building, extending, changing a use, subdividing, filling or excavating a property. The planning scheme does not affect existing development or development that has been lawfully established or already has approval but has not started.
The planning scheme includes new zone names, colours and definitions. These have been determined by the State Government. Some changes may have resulted in new development standards in parts of the city.
To ensure you can easily understand how the scheme affects you, use my property look up. This is an online tool where you can enter the property address you are interested in and see details about its zone and precinct. You can also view overlay maps for the property and access helpful information sheets.
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Does the planning scheme affect existing uses?
Any existing lawful uses may continue to operate indefinitely per their relevant approval (if applicable). If any change to intensity or scale is proposed, a new application may be needed under the current planning scheme requirements.
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Does it affect existing development approvals or plans of development?
The MBRC Planning Scheme does not affect existing development approvals and approved plans of development. Changes to these may need to be assessed against the MBRC Planning Scheme, depending on the nature and scale of the change. Council will consider these requests at its discretion.
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I live in North Lakes, is it included in the planning scheme?
Some land in North Lakes is part of the North Lakes Estate, which does not have a zone or precinct in the planning scheme. Development within this estate is regulated by the Mango Hill Infrastructure Development Control Plan.
For more details, refer to Section 10.1 of the MBRC Planning Scheme and Mango Hill Infrastructure Development Control Plan.
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I live within The Mill at Moreton Bay Priority Development Area (PDA), is it included in the planning scheme?
Land within The Mill at Moreton Bay PDA does not have a zone or precinct in the MBRC Planning Scheme. Development on land within the boundary of the PDA is regulated by The Mill at Moreton Bay PDA Development Scheme under the Economic Development Act 2012. This development scheme started on 18 August 2017. It replaced The Mill at Moreton Bay PDA Interim Land Use Plan.
For more details, refer to Section 10.2 of the MBRC Planning Scheme and The Mill at Moreton Bay PDA.
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Can I have a granny flat on my property?
A granny flat is defined as either a secondary dwelling (forming part of a dwelling house) or a dual occupancy in the MBRC Planning Scheme.
Find out more about secondary dwellings and dual occupancy.
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Can I build a duplex on my property?
A duplex is defined as a dual occupancy in the MBRC Planning Scheme.
Find out more about dual occupancy.
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Can I clear native vegetation?
Clearing native vegetation may require approval from Council in some circumstances.
For more information, contact Council.
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How is Council dealing with flood and coastal hazards in the planning scheme?
Council has separated mapping into four overlays which are easy to understand:
- coastal hazard (storm tide inundation)
- coastal hazard (erosion prone area)
- flood hazard
- overland flow paths.
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What is the Coastal Planning Balance Area?
The Coastal Planning Balance Area identifies areas that may be exposed to coastal conditions such as storm-tide inundation and coastal erosion.
New developments in this area must meet specific requirements, such as setting finished floor levels, to help reduce the impacts of these conditions.
While the likelihood of storm tide inundation is low. Property owners should understand the risks before buying, selling or developing a property.
Storm-tides can occur in low-lying coastal locations. They are caused by extreme weather events, such as cyclones.
This overlay is based on a risk assessment which is outlined in the Flood and Coastal Hazard Evaluation Report.
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What is the Flood Planning Balance Area?
The flood planning balance area identifies areas where there is a potential exposure to flooding from rainfall falling into the catchment and causing flooding of the local creek, river and drainage systems. By identifying the flood planning balance area, Council ensures any potential risk is reduced through appropriate building and development controls.
In these areas, minimum development requirements are proposed, such as setting finished floor levels for new development.
The likelihood of flood inundation in these areas is low and may have little to no impact. It is also likely that some of these areas may never have experienced flooding. Property owners should understand these risks before buying, selling or developing a property.
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My home is at the top of a hill, why am I affected?
Council uses overland flow path mapping to identify areas impacted by overland flow. Overland flow is generally caused by run-off from short and intense rainfall.
Planning schemes must identify an area where overland flow controls apply. These controls protect new development from potential damage from inundation. It also helps manage the risk of overland flow paths being impeded or redirected onto surrounding properties.
If there is significant rain at the top of a hill, the runoff will run downhill over the ground surface and will concentrate in low-lying gullies, channels, roads and surface depressions.
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Why is my neighbour's property mapped differently?
Council prepares flood estimates using a combination of historical data and computer-based models that show where water will flow when it escapes from a watercourse or low point. Even a small variation in topography (height of the land) compared to a neighbour may result in a property being affected by flooding.
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What is a Defined Flood Event and how is it used?
A defined flood event is a rain or storm tide event that has a 1% chance of occurring in any year (1% Annual Exceedance Probability). It includes allowances for increased rainfall, cyclone wind intensity and increased sea level up to the year 2100. It also allows for blockages of drainage infrastructure and future catchment change.
Events can occur that are larger than a defined flood event. These events are less likely.
It is used in development and building controls to determine habitable floor levels of buildings and regulate filling on sites.
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Is climate change considered?
The State Planning Policy requires Council to account for climate change in the planning scheme.
The flooding and coastal planning balance areas consider climate change up to the year 2100. These are areas where a potential for flood or coastal risk exists, and appropriate planning controls apply.
All land outside the high and medium-risk areas can be considered to have a low to negligible risk of flood or coastal hazard.
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My property has stormwater drainage, why is it mapped?
Stormwater drains and pipes are designed to handle more frequent, smaller flood events. In larger rainfall and storm tide events, stormwater infrastructure will function as designed but excess water may cause flooding.
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Why can't I fill my property?
Filling your property can impact drainage and increase the risk of flooding for neighbouring properties. Some filling is permitted in coastal areas where the floodplain is largest. Any filling that may be allowed must follow a prepared design and should consider any impacts on neighbours.
Further details can be found in the flood hazard and coastal hazard - Storm tide inundation information sheets.
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Will the Flood Hazard and Coastal Hazard - Storm tide inundation overlay maps affect my insurance?
Council’s Planning Scheme related flood information products such as the Flood Hazard and Coastal Hazard - Storm tide inundation overlay maps cannot be readily updated to reflect current conditions or ongoing changes to the landscape from new development. Their key purpose is to identify when the Flood Hazard and Coastal Hazard overlay codes apply for new development.
This information is not suitable to inform flood insurance premium quotes. Insurers can use Council’s flood check property reports for the most up to date, property-specific flood information.
Learn more about flood information for residents of Moreton Bay.
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How will Council mapping affect my rates?
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