North West Regional Plan Regional North West Regional Plan planning for a stronger, more liveable and sustainable community August 2010 Department of infrastructure and Planning PO Box 5666 Townsville QLD 4810 tel +61 7 4799 7379 fax +61 7 4760 7535 [email protected] www.dip.qld.gov.au/northwest north West Regional Plan Disclaimer: This document is produced to Release notes 2010-2031 convey general information. While every care has been taken in preparing this The North West Regional Plan 2010-2031 is (NW Regional Plan) document, the State of Queensland accepts released by the Minister for Infrastructure no responsibility for decisions or actions and Planning under the Sustainable Prepared by: taken as a result of any data, information, Planning Act 2009, section 769 and the Prepared by the Honourable Stirling statement or advice, express or implied, repealed Integrated Planning Act 1997, Hinchliffe MP, Minister for Infrastructure and contained within. The contents of this section 2.5A.15. It is a statutory instrument Planning in accordance with the Integrated document were correct to the best of our under the Statutory Instruments Act 1992. Planning Act 1997, section 2.5A 10. knowledge at the time of publishing. The regional plan does not commit or With assistance from: Any reference to legislation contained within pertain to commit any government, Department of Infrastructure and Planning. is not an interpretation of the law. It is to organisation, industry or community be used as a guide only. The information organisation to implement, fund or in consultation with the: contained within does not take into otherwise resource specific activities or North West Regional Coordination consideration any reference to individual programs. Committee. circumstances or situations. Where appropriate independent legal advice should For more information on the regional plan, Published by: be sought. contact: Department of infrastructure and Planning All maps are intended to represent general post PO Box 5666 Townsville Qld 4870 concepts for the purpose of broad-scale visit Level 4 State Government Building regional planning. These maps do not, 187–209 Stanley Street Townsville and are not intended to identify, or give tel +61 7 4799 7379 ISBN: 978–0–9804831–9–2 attributes or rights, including land use fax +61 7 4760 7535 and development rights, to specific land email [email protected] © The State of Queensland (Queensland use parcels. Boundaries and locations web www.dip.qld.gov.au/northwest Department of Infrastructure and Planning) are indicative only, and may be subject 2010. to further refinement. The Department Copies of the regional plan are available: of Infrastructure and Planning does not online www.dip.qld.gov.au/northwest The Queensland Government supports and guarantee, or make any representations for viewing at most council chambers, encourages the dissemination and exchange as to the accuracy or completeness of the libraries and customer service centres within of information. However, copyright protects information shown on these maps, nor does the local government areas covered by the this document. The State of Queensland it accept any responsibility or liability for regional plan has no objection to this material being any loss or damage arising from its use. for free collection on CD-ROM or in reproduced, made available online or hard copy by contacting Department of electronically but only if it is recognised as The Queensland Government is committed Infrastructure and Planning offices in the owner of the copyright and this material to providing accessible services to Townsville, Mount Isa and Brisbane remains unaltered. Copyright inquiries about Queenslanders from all culturally and by phoning +61 7 4799 7379 this publication should be directed to the linguistically diverse backgrounds. If you by emailing [email protected] Crown Copyright Administrator via email, have difficulty understanding this document [email protected] or in writing to and need an interpreter, please call the Department of infrastructure and PO Box 15168, City East, Queensland 4002. Translating and Interpreting Service Planning offices: (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to • Level 4, corner of Walker and Stanley telephone the Queensland Department of Streets, Townsville Infrastructure and Planning on • Level 1, Mount Isa House, 07 3227 8548. Cnr Camooweal and Mary Streets, Mount Isa • Level 2, Orchid Plaza, 79-87 Abbott Street, Cairns • Shop front, 63 George Street, Brisbane. ISB 978-0-9804831-9-2 RPN_0181_02_Pu North West Regional Plan 2010—2031 planning for a stronger, more liveable and sustainable community North West region vision—the North West region has a robust, diverse and sustainable economy and well-planned and coordinated infrastructure and services, built through the economic benefits of mining and agricultural industries. It is a place where people choose to live and visit due to its liveability, well-managed natural resources and the community’s strong sense of cultural identity. 2 North West Regional Plan Contents Map 1—North West Queensland locality map ....................... 4 3.1 Education and learning .............................................35 Part A—Introduction ............................................................... 5 3.2 Social planning and social infrastructure .................36 Background and purpose ........................................................5 3.3 Social services ..........................................................38 Working with other plans and strategies ...............................6 3.4 Regional lifestyle, cultural heritage and arts ...........38 Inter-regional coordination ......................................................6 3.5 Promoting health and wellbeing ..............................40 Preparation ..............................................................................7 3.6 Leadership, networks and coordination ................... 41 Application, implementation and review ................................7 4 Urban development...................................................42 Structure of the regional plan .................................................8 4.1 Urban structure and settlement pattern ...................42 4.2 Urban design, character and form ............................43 Part B—Regional vision.......................................................... 9 4.3 Housing mix, affordability and design .....................44 4.4 Hazard mitigation ......................................................45 Part C—Strategic directions ..................................................10 5 Economic development .............................................47 Creating a more sustainable future....................................... 10 5.1 Business, industry and land development ...............48 Protecting regional landscapes and supporting regional 5.2 Diverse regional economy ........................................48 production values .................................................................. 10 5.3 Innovation, knowledge and technology ...................49 Creating liveable communities ...............................................11 5.4 Employment, skills development and Promoting a dynamic, robust and diversified economy ........11 staff retention ...........................................................49 Providing infrastructure and services .....................................11 5.5 Agriculture ................................................................. 51 Integrating land use, economic activity and transport 5.6 Mining and mineral processing ................................ 51 infrastructure ..........................................................................11 5.7 Tourism ......................................................................53 Adapting to climate change .................................................. 12 5.8 Marketing ..................................................................54 Managing mining growth ....................................................... 12 6 Infrastructure .............................................................55 6.1 Infrastructure planning and coordination .................56 Part D—Regional activity centres network ............................13 6.2 Energy .......................................................................56 6.3 Transport ...................................................................58 Part E—Regional strategies and policies ..............................18 6.4 Water infrastructure .................................................. 61 1 Natural environment ................................................. 19 6.5 Waste management ..................................................62 1.1 Biodiversity conservation ..........................................20 6.6 Information and technology .....................................63 1.2 Pest, plant and animal management .......................22 1.3 Scenic amenity and outdoor recreation ...................23 Part F—Implementation, monitoring and review ................. 64 1.4 Air and noise emissions ...........................................23 1.5 Greenhouse gas emissions .......................................25 Region maps 2 to 6 ............................................................. 67 2 Natural resources ......................................................26 Appendix 1—mineral exploration maps ............................... 72 2.1 Land and natural resource