The State's Planning Act 2016 requires the review of planning schemes every 10 years and Local Government Infrastructure Plans (LGIPs) every 5 years.

The review of the planning scheme commenced in December 2019. In response to the review findings, Council has resolved to update the document to set the region's strategic plan for the next 20 years.

This will help protect what makes the Fraser Coast such an attractive destination for residents, businesses and visitors, and will harness opportunities for innovation.

In addition to the projects and amendments listed in the Building Better Neighbourhoods document, Council will also:

• Review the vision and strategic framework
• Review the region's settlement pattern
• Review zones and overlays
• Update mapping
• Revise planning scheme requirements
• Integrate the State Planning Policy and the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan
• Integrate Council's strategic work

This Building Better Neighbourhoods initiative includes urban and suburban localities, our rural villages, coastal townships and commercial, education and industrial hubs. Importantly, our employment areas and the natural environment also play key roles in supporting our neighbourhoods.

Communities are groups of people that make up a particular area or region. Neighbourhoods is a similar concept, but refers to the physical places in which people live. Our communities depend significantly upon the quality of our neighbourhoods.

When they are designed well, neighbourhoods contribute positively to our economy, our natural environment and the way in which we live and enjoy our surroundings.

The planning scheme is the document that guides what our new neighbourhoods and developments look and feel like. By improving our planning scheme to build better neighbourhoods, we provide the foundation to create better places for people to live, work and play.