Part 3 Strategic Framework 3.1 Preliminary
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Part 3 Strategic framework 3.1 Preliminary (1) The strategic framework sets the policy direction for the planning scheme and forms the basis for ensuring appropriate development occurs within the planning scheme area for the life of the planning scheme. (2) Mapping for the strategic framework is included in Schedule 2 (Mapping). (3) For the purpose of describing the policy direction for the planning scheme, the strategic framework is structured in the following way: (a) the strategic intent; (b) the following seven (7) themes that collectively represent the policy intent of the scheme: (i) settlement pattern (ii) natural environment (iii) natural resources (iv) community identity and regional landscape character (v) economic development (vi) access, mobility and transport (vii) infrastructure and services (c) the strategic outcome(s) sought for development in the planning scheme area for each theme (d) the element(s) that refine and further describe the strategic outcome(s) (e) the specific outcomes sought for each, or a number of, elements (f) the land use strategies for achieving these outcomes. Editor’s note—Not all elements have land use strategies. (4) Although each theme has its own section, the strategic framework in its entirety represents the policy intent for the planning scheme. Part 3 Goondiwindi Region Planning Scheme (Version 2) Part 3–1 3.2 Strategic intent 3.2.1 Background and context 3.2.2 The history of Goondiwindi The Goondiwindi Region local government Region area (‘Goondiwindi Region’ or ‘the Region’) is The Goondiwindi Region contains a rich and located in the south-west Darling Downs. The varied cultural landscape that is of particular administrative centre of Goondiwindi Region, significance to the local Indigenous the town of Goondiwindi, is located communities who cared for their country and approximately 223 kilometres south-west of practiced sustainable natural resource Toowoomba and 348 kilometres south-west of management for many thousands of years. Brisbane. The economic context and settlement pattern Covering an area of 19,294 square kilometres of Goondiwindi Region today can be traced of fertile agricultural country, Goondiwindi back to pastoralism, agriculture and Region is bounded by:- transportation1. (a) the Western Downs and Toowoomba European settlement of the region began in Regions to the north; the 1840s as pastoralists selected land for (b) the Southern Downs Region to the east; sheep grazing. Since then, the region’s economic and social well-being has been (c) the Dumaresq and Macintyre Rivers, inextricably linked to the fortunes of rural which form the Queensland/New South industry, which has evolved in its focus over Wales border to the south; and the years to include other pastoral pursuits (d) the Balonne Shire to the west. such as wool and beef cattle production. The The towns of Goondiwindi, Inglewood and Dumaresq, Macintyre and Weir Rivers, the Texas are the major settlements in the Region. Macintyre Brook and their tributaries have Other smaller townships are Yelarbon, provided the lifeblood to sustain diverse Bungunya, Talwood and Toobeah. agricultural pursuits on the highly productive Weengallon and Daymar are small settlements soils of the region, including tobacco, cotton to the west of Goondiwindi Region. and wheat, timber getting and forestry at various times. The Inglewood and Waggamba Divisional Boards were established to provide local government in the Region in 1879. The Goondiwindi Town municipality was created in 1888 by excision from the Waggamba Divisional Board area. The Inglewood and Waggamba Divisional Board areas became Shires in 1902. 1 Blake, T. 2011, Goondiwindi Regional Council Heritage Survey, Ashgrove, Qld. Part 3 Goondiwindi Region Planning Scheme (Version 2) Part 3–2 Horse and bullock teams provided the primary In 2008, Goondiwindi Town, Inglewood and mode of transport in the fledgling region. The Waggamba Shires amalgamated to form towns of Goondiwindi, Inglewood, Texas and Goondiwindi Region, presenting the Yelarbon were established as teamster’s opportunity to prepare the first consolidated and/or coach stops. The construction of the town planning strategy for the region. South West (or ‘Border Fence’) railway line from Warwick, through Inglewood and 3.2.3 Goondiwindi Region in 2014 Goondiwindi during 1907-1908, to Thallon and In June 2013, the estimated resident Dirranbandi further west, spurred development population of the amalgamated Goondiwindi across the Region as it facilitated the efficient Region was 11,0322. The population is transport of wool and agricultural products to relatively concentrated in a spatial sense, with Brisbane for export markets; this supported the close to three-quarters of all residents living in development of Goondiwindi and Inglewood as the towns of Goondiwindi, Inglewood and significant centres and the establishment of Texas; the balance lives in the small townships small grainbelt townships at railheads at of Yelarbon, Bungunya, Talwood and Toobeah Bungunya, Talwood and Toobeah, in the west and rural areas. The population of Goondiwindi of the Goondiwindi Region. A branch railway Region is stable, having grown on average line from Inglewood to Texas operated about 1 per cent per annum over the period between 1930 and 1994. 1996–2013. Goondiwindi (pop. 6,661 in 2013), the largest town and administrative centre of Goondiwindi Region, provides most of the Region’s commercial, retail and industrial services. Centrally located in the region on the banks of the Macintyre River, Goondiwindi also functions as the regional service centre and transport hub for the south-western Darling Downs and the northern parts of the Moree Plains, Gwydir and Inverell local government areas of New South Wales. The towns of Inglewood (pop. 843) and Texas In the automobile age, the town of (pop. 667), located in the east of the Goondiwindi has benefited from its strategic Goondiwindi Region, provide commercial, location as an inland interstate transport hub retail and industrial services that meet the day- on the Queensland/New South Wales border to-day needs of their communities and at the junction of five State highways; that is, complement the higher-order services the Barwon, Cunningham, Gore, Leichhardt provided in Goondiwindi. Inglewood, located and Newell Highways. on the Cunningham Highway and Macintyre Flood events have also influenced, at least in Brook downstream of Lake Coolmunda, is part, the settlement pattern. The town of situated adjacent to several State Forests and Texas, originally set on the flats of the has a strong association with the forestry Dumaresq River, was moved to higher ground industry. Both Inglewood and Texas, which is after a major flood in 1921. The 1956 located close to the Dumaresq River, also Macintyre River flood event caused service prime agricultural districts. considerable damage to the town of Goondiwindi and its surrounds, prompting the construction of a levee bank around the town in 1958. This levee has protected the town from major flood events in 1976, 1996 and 2011 and has influenced planning strategies that have consolidated urban development in areas protected by the levee. 2 The State of Queensland (Queensland Treasury). 2013, Queensland Government population projections 2011 to 2036; Local government areas; 2013 edition, Brisbane City, Qld. Part 3 Goondiwindi Region Planning Scheme (Version 2) Part 3–3 cereal crops are located along the region’s river networks; (b) high value sheep grazing occurs in the The small townships of Yelarbon, Bungunya, Talwood and Toobeah located in central and undulating traprock country to east of western parts of the region have populations the region bordering Southern Downs Region; ranging from 40 to 230 residents and in general function as harvest towns that provide (c) dry land cereal cropping is located in a limited range of local services to their central and northern parts of the region; communities. (d) grazing uses within lease areas over Goondiwindi Region lies at the north-eastern State Forest land in the east of the headwaters of Australia’s Murray-Darling region, as well as in the western parts of Basin and is drained by the Dumaresq, the region3; and Macintyre and Weir Rivers, the Macintyre (e) support services located in towns, Brook and their tributaries, which collectively predominantly Goondiwindi, including form part of the Border Rivers catchment. businesses in wholesale trade, These waterways are recognised assets of transport, warehousing and regional environmental, social and economic manufacturing sectors of the economy.4 significance through their continued support for agricultural enterprise. The gas and mining resources of the Surat Basin extend into the Goondiwindi Regional Council area, which may provide opportunities for residential and employment growth, particularly in and around the town of Goondiwindi in the future.5 The Gunnedah Basin resource province located to the south of the region may also draw upon the services offered by Goondiwindi to support the development of this industry. 3.2.4 Plans for the future The planning schemes for the former Goondiwindi Town, Inglewood and Waggamba Vegetation communities of the Brigalow Belt Shire LGAs provide the background for and New England Tableland bioregions contemporary planning. These three planning traverse Goondiwindi Region and provide schemes identified consolidated urban essential habitat and movement networks for settlements around the centres of flora and fauna.