North Queensland Regional Plan 2020
Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
The North Queensland Regional Plan is a 25-year regional planning document that provides a strategic vision and framework for the Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island and Townsville local government areas.
This Regional Plan is an exemplar of next generation regional planning and provides an important model for the integration of land-use and economic planning. This emphasis on planning for economic development was seen as contextually important for the North Queensland region, with the work taking strategic planning and engagement beyond the current range of projects and initiatives to consider the next wave of global trends and how they will shape future opportunities.
The Judges considered one significant strength of the plan is the common understanding it creates among the region’s communities, stakeholders, and all levels of government about the future of the region and the shared role of making the regional vision and goals a reality.
At their best, Regional Plans should articulate a clear vision for the future, shape future planning and development of the region, and provide clear markers to evaluate progress in implementation. The North Queensland Regional Plan delivers on this and provides an effective model for the future of regional planning in regional Queensland. This is a fine example of strategic planning in Queensland.