Proposed Amendments to the Balonne Planning Scheme 2019

Cover Image Town Planning

On 16 February 2023, Council resolved to prepare a Major Amendment to the Balonne Shire Planning Scheme in accordance with Section 20 of the Planning Act 2016 and the Minister’s Guidelines and Rules. 

On 29 August 2023, the Honourable Steven Miles, Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympic and Paralympic Games Infrastructure, wrote approving the draft plan for consultation stating: “I am pleased to advise that, in accordance with the MGR, I am satisfied the version of the proposed amendment provided on 20 June 2023, appropriately integrates the relevant state interests and you may now proceed to public consultation.”

The proposed amendment incorporates a range of changes to the planning application requirements and standards that apply for different development types in each of the planning scheme zones.   

The changes aim to:  

  • Expand the Centre Zone of St George to recognize existing commercial activities and facilitate the intensification of commercial development in the town centre; 
  • Support the transition of different business tenancies between premises and the expansion of existing land uses that are compatible with the Centre Zone and Industry Zone; 
  • Ensure new development achieves a high level of amenity and contributes to the improvement of the town streetscapes by applying new development standards; 
  • Simplify the development assessment process for Childcare Centres in the Centre Zone and General Residential Zone, and for Health Care Services in the Centre Zone; 
  • Recognise existing aviation activities and provide greater opportunities for compatible industries to co-locate with the Dirranbandi and St George Airports; 
  • Assess the suitability of new dwellings and domestic sheds that are proposed in flood hazard areas, according to the level of flood hazard; 
  • Simplify the development assessment process for small scale quarry operations on Rural land and in circumstances where the extracted material is to remain on the same property; 
  • Enable excavation and filling to occur on Rural land without the need for a development permit; 
  • Reduce the minimum lot size for the subdivision of Rural land (i.e. from 5,000ha to 1,000ha) and support smaller-lot rural subdivisions in proximity to the region’s towns; 
  • Simplify the development assessment process for Intensive Animal Industries that are appropriately located within the Rural Zone; and 
  • Provide clarification about how the planning scheme applies to various development scenarios, ultimately making it more user-friendly and easy to navigate. 

  • A detailed register of the proposed amendments and a copy of the amended Planning Scheme is available to view online via the following links: 

    Amendment Register

    Proposed Planning Scheme

    Print copies are available for inspection at Council’s offices and town libraries at the following locations: 

    •  Balonne Shire Council Administration Centre – 118 Victoria Street, St George QLD 4487 
    •  Bollon Library – Main Street, Bollon 
    •  Dirranbandi RTC – 35-51 Railway Street, Dirranbandi 
    •  Hebel Library – 39-41 William Street, Hebel 
    •  Thallon Library – 43 William Street, Thallon 
    •  Mungindi RTC – 153 St George Street, Mungindi 

    To purchase a print copy, please visit, or contact the Council office. 

  • Council has held a number of community information sessions to provide information about the planning scheme and to seek feedback from interested community members on the proposed amendments.

    These sessions were held in Bollon, St George, Mungindi, Thallon, Hebel and Dirranbandi.

    Thank you to everyone who participated in these sessions, as your feedback is greatly appreciated.

    If you missed the opportunity to attend one of these events, you can still have your say by filling out a submission form and if you require more information or to have anything clarified, please contact Council on 4620 8888.

  • Would you like to better understand the Proposed Amendments to the Balonne Planning Scheme? The below link will take you to a number of Frequently Asked Questions in relation to this proposal.

    Frequently Asked Questions