FAQs

To understand the future infrastructure needs of our community, we forecast future housing and employment growth and compare it with actual development. This helps to make sure infrastructure is planned and delivered in the right place at the right time. A Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) identifies the trunk infrastructure necessary to service urban development at the desired standard of service (DSS). The interim LGIP is proposed to amend the Schedule of Works and Desired Standards of Service. The interim LGIP will apply to the whole of the Southern Downs Regional Council local government area. There is no change to the Priority Infrastructure Area (PIA). 

The Council has undertaken a formal review of the LGIP and prepared an interim LGIP. The proposed interim LGIP updates the Schedule of Works for each trunk infrastructure network and has revised Desired Standards of Service.

Importantly the LGIP considers the financial impact and therefore what trunk infrastructure can be reasonably and sustainably delivered across the next ten-year period.

Trunk infrastructure is higher order infrastructure that supports large areas or catchments. It includes things like water or sewerage treatment facilities, parks and main roads.

Our trunk infrastructure is classified into these networks:

• water supply;
• wastewater;
• stormwater drainage;
• transport;
• parks and land for community facilities.

Non-trunk infrastructure is internal to a development and may connect a development to an external infrastructure network.

A Priority Infrastructure Area (PIA) is a defined area within a local government area where trunk infrastructure is planned, funded and delivered as a priority to support existing development and forecast urban growth. In simple terms, it shows where Council commits to providing major infrastructure first.

A Priority Infrastructure Area:

• Identifies land expected to be serviced with trunk infrastructure
• Supports existing and planned urban development
• Aligns land use planning with infrastructure capacity and funding
• Provides certainty to Council, developers and the community

Desired standards of service (DSS) are established benchmarks that define the expected quality and performance of infrastructure networks, like water, transport, or parks. For example, a desired standard of service will determine the minimum elements you would expect in a Local park such as playground, shelter, water, bin and barbeque.

These standards are used in local government planning to ensure infrastructure development meets community needs efficiently and sustainably.

A Planning Scheme Policy helps to guide how the development criteria set out within a planning scheme can be achieved - for example a new road within a subdivision.  For the new draft scheme, Council received comments on the expected level of infrastructure required for new development, which includes things like the standard of road, kerb treatment and footpaths.  This feedback helped form this draft Planning Scheme Policy to better reflect community expectations, advertise standards, and ensure safety standards are still met.

A planning scheme policy is a planning instrument that provides supporting advice, guidelines and standards for the applicant to follow in order to achieve the outcomes stated in the Southern Downs Planning Scheme. A policy may apply to all or part of the local government area. The Engineering Design Manual planning scheme policy is one of several planning scheme policies.

A planning scheme policy may:

• state information that a local government may request for a development application
• state actions that a local government may take to support the process for making or amending its planning scheme
• contain standards identified in a code
• include guidelines or advice about satisfying assessment criteria in the planning scheme.

The Engineering Design Manual provides standard solutions for the design, construction and capitalisation of each aspect of development: 

• Constrained land
• Stormwater
• Water
• Wastewater 
• Roads
• Public lighting
• Footpaths

The Engineering Design Manual also provides guidance on non-standard solutions, inspection requirements, samples, and declarations.   

The planning scheme policy specifically focusses on providing design and construction guidance for development in the region.

The purpose of the Engineering Design Manual is to bring together all the information, standards, guidelines, and local knowledge to ensure the new infrastructure required by the planning scheme is delivered in an appropriate form. The manual aims to do this by providing straightforward design and construction guidance that is relevant and targeted to the most common types of development in the region. Where this guidance does not apply, the manual gives an avenue to alternative solutions. 

The Engineering Design Manual planning scheme policy is to be read in conjunction with the assessment provisions specified in the Southern Downs Planning Scheme. This planning scheme policy applies to the whole of the Southern Downs planning scheme area and specifically relates to the assessment of any development application for a material change of use, reconfiguring a lot and operational works within any zone of the Southern Downs Planning Scheme.

The Engineering Design Manual planning scheme policy is designed to be a single document that contains all council standards for design and construction and the delivery and management of development related infrastructure. The policy ‘heads of power’ remain within the Southern Downs Planning Scheme and it is noted that many aspects of the policy document are interrelated and it is considered appropriate for a single document to manage these relationships. The successful delivery of this policy is expected to provide greater operational efficiency to development assessment.

The single document approach enables internal and external users to access a single document containing all relevant material. A single document will be more easily maintained by Council.

Throughout the consultation period there will be multiple opportunities for community members to find out more information and have their say. 

Visit the Planning Scheme webpage at haveyoursay.sdrc.qld.gov.au/planningschemeandlgip to explore the draft documents and view mapping tools. 

You can also:

• Call Council on 1300 697 372 during business hours
• Email planningscheme@sdrc.qld.gov.au
• Ask for a one-on-one session with one of our planners.

There are several ways you can provide your feedback. Feedback can include support for changes, support in part or opposition to a proposed change. This feedback can be provided:-

(1) Online: Visit haveyoursay.sdrc.qld.gov.au/planningschemeandlgip to access the online submission form.

(2) Hardcopy:

1. Download and print a submission form from our webpage or collect a printed submission form from one of Council’s Administration Buildings.

2. Fill out the form, or complete your own submission by either:

• Email to planningscheme@sdrc.qld.gov.au.
• Return to a Council Administration building.
• Mail to Southern Downs Planning Scheme – PO Box 26, Warwick QLD 4370.

All submissions must:

• be received between Monday 13 April and midnight, Monday 11 May 2026
• Clearly state your feedback, concerns, or suggestions
• Include your name and contact details.

Council is required to review, consider and respond to every properly made submission received. Council may decide to make a change to the draft documents if the change is considered valid and would not constitute a significant change that may require further consultation. Like many drafts, errors and inconsistencies can be found and this is why Council itself will also be completing its own submission to ensure any of these types of changes can be rectified prior to completing a final documents.

Firstly, Council will consider any submissions received. Any relevant amendments would then be made to a final draft. The final draft Southern Downs Planning Scheme is then issued to the Minister for final approval. Once the Minister has approved, the Council would then resolve to adopt the new scheme and nominate a commencement date for when the new scheme (version 6) would take effect. Council anticipates being able to respond individually to all submissions early in 2026.