Waraba is one of four major expansion areas identified for growth in earlier state planning for the Metro sub-region of SEQ. To realise the ultimate development vision for Waraba, the scope and cost of the infrastructure for the area, needs to be understood and confirmed.

To date, development applications have necessitated individual and incremental infrastructure assessments, which have been complex and time consuming for developers, Council and Unitywater.

The Queensland government has also recently progressed its planning for the future Moreton Motorway through the Waraba area and new land use and transport planning is required to respond to and integrate with this major future sub-regional transport connection.

Government has declared the Waraba PDA to use the powers and functions of the Minster for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) under the Economic Development Act 2012 to remove uncertainty about land use outcomes, infrastructure requirements and infrastructure charges for the whole of Waraba, and to facilitate the delivery of this significant future housing supply in the Moreton Bay region.

The PDA will involve preparing an integrated land use and infrastructure plan for the whole of Waraba. This planning will also establish a transparent, equitable and financially sustainable infrastructure charging, funding and delivery framework.

Declaring the area a PDA enables Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) to take the lead as the planning authority to coordinate planning for state agency, Council’s and Unitywater’s interests in the Waraba.

EDQ will prepare a PDA development scheme for the area that provides for the land to be developed in accordance with the planning intent in ShapingSEQ.

The Waraba PDA development scheme will be the regulatory document which assists with planning, carrying out, promoting, coordinating and controlling land development in the PDA.

Declaration of a PDA in Waraba allows EDQ to ensure that a transparent, equitable and financially sustainable infrastructure charges and a funding framework will be established.

Refer to FAQs below on infrastructure planning and charging,

If you own a property or business in Waraba, the PDA now changes the legislation under which your property can be used and developed

Where a PDA is declared, the planning framework which regulates land development, changes and replaces the council’s Planning Scheme

New development in the Waraba PDA area is now regulated through the PDA planning and assessment framework under the Economic Development Act 2012, no longer the Moreton Bay Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016.

Moreton Bay City Council remains the local government for the area and continues to be responsible for all the typical local government services and functions including levying and collecting rates, the maintenance of local roads and parks, bin collection, local councilor representation, etc.

Under the Economic Development Act 2012, the PDA planning process involves:

• declaring the Waraba PDA
• preparing the Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) and
• preparing a PDA development scheme and Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP), which includes public consultation.

EDQ has started preparing the PDA development scheme and DCOP.

An ILUP is a temporary plan which regulates development in a PDA until the detailed planning for the area has been completed. It ceases to apply when the Waraba PDA development scheme and Development Charges and Offset Plan come into effect. It is anticipated that the Waraba PDA ILUP will be in effect for 2 years.

A development scheme is the regulatory document that controls land use, infrastructure planning and development in a PDA area after expiration of the ILUP. It provides certainty to developers, local government, state agencies and the wider community about the type and form of development that can occur in the PDA.

It sets out the processes and procedures for the assessment of development applications and overrides local government planning instruments related to the use of land within a PDA.

Funding and building infrastructure is key to facilitating development within PDAs. A DCOP is a policy document which incorporates network planning, sequencing and costing; and which identifies a framework of charges, offsets, credits and refunds to sustainably administer trunk infrastructure delivery in the PDA including:

• water supply
• sewerage
• transport
• parks and open space
• community facilities
• implementation works (community building initiatives implemented by developers).

PDA development applications can now be lodged and assessed against the Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) and Infrastructure Funding Framework (IFF).

Moreton Bay City Council is responsible for assessing, deciding and ensuring compliance with PDA development applications for the Waraba PDA, as the delegate of the Minister for Economic Development Queensland.

More information about how to lodge a PDA development application for the Waraba PDA is available on Council’s webpage at www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au.

Refer to further information below if there is an existing development application or approval in place.

The Waraba PDA ILUP establishes 4 precincts with different land use intents.

• Precinct 1: Urban Living Precinct – supports predominantly residential uses in addition to neighbourhood and local centres and community facilities
• Precinct 2: Green Network Precinct – protects, manages and consolidates land with significant recreation or environmental values
• Precinct 3: Infrastructure Precinct – preserves land for existing and future infrastructure functions, and
• Precinct 4: Investigation Precinct – urban development is not intended to be undertaken until the detailed planning for the area has been completed and the Waraba PDA development scheme comes into effect. Existing lawful uses and development of a temporary or interim nature and reconfigurations that do not result in further land fragmentation can be assessed.

While the ILUP is in effect, PDA development applications are assessed and approved having regard to the intent of each precinct.

The statutory steps for preparing a development scheme are set through the Economic Development Act 2012.

The development scheme is required to advance Queensland State and regional priorities, including those expressed in the State Planning Policy and the Southeast Queensland Regional Plan (Shaping SEQ 2023).

Prior to being finalised by the Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ), the proposed PDA development scheme must undergo a minimum 30 business day public notification process.

It is anticipated that preparation of the Waraba PDA Development Scheme and Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP) will take 24 months.

Once a proposed PDA development scheme and Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP) has been prepared, the documents will be publicly notified and the community will be invited to provide feedback.

Community consultation is a statutory requirement under the Economic Development Act 2012.

A dedicated web page has been set up where you can register your interest to get project updates and track its progress - yoursay.edq.qld.gov.au/waraba-pda.

As part of the PDA plan making process the public will be able to comment on the proposed Development Scheme and draft Development Charges and Offset Plan. This is anticipated to occur in late 2025 – early 2026.

The public consultation period must run for a minimum of 30 business days and will allow the community to have their say by making a submission about the proposed PDA development scheme and draft Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP).

Community feedback provided during the consultation period must be considered by the Minister for Economic Queensland as part of the finalisation of the PDA development scheme and DCOP.

EDQ will undertake infrastructure network planning to identify the type and location of infrastructure required to support Waraba’s development. It is anticipated that land will be required to provide new transport, parks, schools, community facilities and stormwater drainage infrastructure.

Land required for infrastructure will be identified in the proposed Development Scheme and draft Development Charges and Offset Plan that will be made subject to public consultation in late 2025 – early 2026.

Development applications properly made before the Waraba PDA declaration continue to be assessed and decided by the Moreton Bay City Council under the Planning Act 2016 (Planning Act). Refer to section 44 of the Economic Development Act 2012 (ED Act).

Existing development approvals are not impacted by the declaration of a PDA. Refer to section 45 of the ED Act.

Section 45 of the ED Act enables a cancellation or a minor change application to be lodged for a Planning Act development approval, despite the Waraba PDA’s declaration. These types of applications can be lodged and assessed under the Planning Act.

Following PDA declaration, development proposals (other than a cancellation or minor change to a Planning Act development approval) must be lodged and assessed as a PDA development application under the ED Act.

The PDA guides development to deliver a diversity of housing typologies that cater to the changing needs of the community, including housing that is affordable for low to moderate income households and that is accessible, well connect to services, employment and infrastructure.

Development is to contribute to the delivery of 25% of all dwellings as affordable and social housing across the PDA.

In preparing a development scheme for the remainder of the PDA, EDQ will undertake a housing needs assessment that will inform requirements for social and affordable housing for the PDA.

The Waraba PDA will protect significant biodiversity values by avoiding and managing adverse impacts on ecologically important areas and waterways. The PDA will support the regions ecological value through the preservation and rehabilitation of critical habitat corridors and the appropriate location of major infrastructure and distribution of land uses.

The Waraba PDA Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) maps an extensive green network precinct, that, when ultimately vegetated, will provide habitat and movement corridors for a variety of fauna including koalas. These green corridors cover approximately 360 hectares and are aligned with the natural watercourses that traverse the PDA.

The green network precinct seeks to consolidate and rehabilitate fragmented land to create a strong and connected network of quality environmental landscape areas having significant recreation, conservation, overland water flow, biodiversity and habitat values. It will evolve as a multi-functioning network system comprising natural areas, recreational areas, infrastructure and services and utilities.

Further ecological investigations will be undertaken generally to inform the preparation of Waraba PDA Development Scheme for the PDA. In undertaking these investigations, EDQ will work with Local, State and Commonwealth agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to protecting environmental values of the site.

As part of preparing the Waraba PDA Development Scheme and Development Charges Offset (DCOP) Plan, EDQ will undertake detailed land use and infrastructure network planning investigations.

These investigations will focus on the infrastructure needs of the PDA addressing transport (including roads, public transport and active transport), water, sewer, open space, community facilities, green infrastructure and stormwater networks.

In addition, the need for public transport service solutions will be considered commensurate with the growth of the future community.

Infrastructure network plans and costings for the PDA will be identified in the PDA Development Scheme and the DCOP.

The DCOP will plan the larger or shared infrastructure (trunk infrastructure) upgrades required to service the projected growth and development planned by the PDA Development Scheme.

The DCOP will include details on the trunk infrastructure upgrades, when they are required and how much the infrastructure is expected to cost.

Additionally, the DCOP will identify the infrastructure charges which are to be levied on development and used to pay for trunk infrastructure. Infrastructure charge amounts and other policy directions related to charges, such as how to calculate charges, when credits apply and when offsets apply will be included in the DCOP.

Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) is working closely with the Department of Education to ensure that adequate new State primary and secondary schools are delivered throughout the new city of Waraba. EDQ will engage with non-public school providers as part of consultation on the PDA Development Scheme and Development Charges and Offset Plan (DCOP) and it is anticipated that non-public education providers will engage directly with land developers and existing landowners regarding future school opportunities.

Land for State primary and secondary schools is identified in the PDA Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP).

Options for the delivery of currently identified school sites and the provision of additional State primary and secondary schools will be explored in the investigation precinct through further detailed planning work as part of the Waraba PDA Development Scheme preparation.

Schools in the Waraba PDA will be well connected to residential neighbourhood by pedestrian and cycle pathways. Schools in the PDA will be co-located with community hubs and sports facilities.

The ILUP prevails over the Moreton Bay Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 to the extent that there is any inconsistency.

The ILUP regulates development in the PDA through the following components:

• Waraba PDA vision
• PDA development requirements
  • Structural elements
  • PDA-wide criteria
  • Precinct provisions
• Categories of development; and
• Schedules

In some Precincts, the development criteria make reference to the Moreton Bay Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 to provide consistency between the Planning Scheme, CWISP and ILUP. The following parts of the Planning Scheme apply as part of the PDA Precinct Provisions on land included in:

• Green Network Precinct (Map 4) aligns with the provisions of the Moreton Bay Planning Scheme 2016, section 7.2.3 Caboolture West Local Plan code, 7.2.3.4 Green network precinct code.
• Urban Living Precinct (Map 4) aligns with the provisions of the Moreton Bay Planning Scheme 2016, section 7.2.3 Caboolture West Local Plan code, 7.2.3.1 Urban living precinct, 7.2.3.1.1 Next generation sub-precinct code.

In addition to this, overlays in the Planning Scheme may be relevant to land in the PDA. Applicants should refer to the Planning Scheme, in effect at the time an application is made, for the most up to date information and to determine if their site is affected.

Schedules in the ILUP may apply further provisions from the Planning Scheme to certain categories of development. Schedules which should be referred to determine relevant sections of the planning scheme include:

• Schedule 1 of the ILUP applies provisions from the Moreton Bay Planning Scheme 2016 Table 1.7.7.1 for PDA accepted development.
• Schedule 2 of the ILUP applies parts of the Moreton Bay Planning Scheme 2016 that are PDA development requirements for PDA accepted development.
• Schedule 3 of the ILUP applies parts of the Moreton Bay Planning Scheme 2016 that are PDA development requirements for PDA permissible development.

The Waraba PDA Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) supersedes the Caboolture West Interim Structure Plan (CWISP) as the regulatory planning and development framework for the majority of the area. Policy that was introduced through the CWISP has been integrated into the ILUP and will continue to apply to development in Waraba.

Applications that were properly made or decided at the time the CWISP was in effect will remain subject to the CWISP and the Planning Act 2016 (Planning Act) framework. Sections 44 and 45 of the Economic Development Act 2012 provide clarity for applications made during or being assessed at the time of transition between planning frameworks.

Development applications made after the Waraba PDA declaration are not subject to the CWISP.

Schedule 10, Part 2A of the Planning Regulation 2017 will remain to allow for applications lodged prior to the Waraba PDA declaration to continue to be assessed.

A proponent can lodge an application with Unitywater, seeking a water network approval and water connection approval under the South-East Queensland Water (Distribution and Retail Restructuring) Act 2009, if they have a development approval under the Planning Act:

• which has not lapsed,
• which is a development permit for Reconfiguring a Lot and / or Material Change of Use, and
• issued pursuant to a development application lodged with Moreton Bay City Council prior to declaration of Waraba PDA.

Where a proponent does not have a development application or approval under the Planning Act prior to the declaration of Waraba PDA, a PDA development application is required to be lodged and assessed under the PDA framework with Moreton Bay City Council.

A proponent can seek a voluntary infrastructure agreement with Moreton Bay City Council or Unitywater, regarding matters such as infrastructure charges and trunk infrastructure requirements, including offsets and refunds if they have a development application properly made or development approval under the Planning Act prior to declaration of Waraba PDA:

• which has not lapsed,
• which is for a development permit for Reconfiguring a Lot and / or Material Change of Use.

In this circumstance, the signatories to infrastructure agreements would be:

1. Moreton Bay City Council and the proponent for local government trunk infrastructure and charges matters (Planning Act IA)
2. Unitywater and the proponent for water supply and sewerage trunk infrastructure and charges matters (WIA).

The Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) delegate is not required to be a signatory to Planning Act Infrastructure Agreement (IA) or Water Infrastructure Agreement (WIA).

Development applications made after PDA declaration are assessed under the PDA framework.

Where a Proponent seeks an Infrastructure Agreement (IA) or Water Infrastructure Agreement (WIA) pursuant to a PDA development application, the agreement must be executed as a PDA Infrastructure Agreement (MEDQ IA) and signed by a delegate of the MEDQ. Where assets for water infrastructure are involved, Unitywater may also be a co-signatory.

MEDQ becoming signatory to existing IAs

An existing Planning Act IA and / or WIA will not prevail over the requirements of a PDA development approval including conditions relating to the payment of IFF or DCOP infrastructure contributions (development charges, trunk land or works). In circumstances where a proponent seeks this outcome, the MEDQ would need to become a party to the Planning Act IA or WIA. When considering PDA development applications where Planning Act IAs and WIAs have been executed with Moreton Bay City Council and Unitywater, the MEDQ delegate will consider these existing agreements before confirming how the IFF or DCOP charges will be applied.