Development Control Plans

What are Development Control Plans?

Development Control Plans (DCPs) have been in operation for over thirty years. They are historic mechanisms that govern the planning intent for larger scale development, through the assessment and approval of a series of increasingly specific plans. They have remained in effect through a series of transitional provisions in successive Queensland planning legislation.

There are 3 DCPs in effect across Queensland

• Springfield Structure Plan in the Ipswich City Council area
• Mango Hill Infrastructure Development Control Plan in the Moreton Bay City Council area
• Kawana Waters Development Control Plan 1 in the Sunshine Coast Regional Council area.

Why are the changes to the operation of DCPs necessary?

Development assessment in DCP areas works differently to the rest of the State. As provisions have transitioned through different planning legislation, there has been confusion about the process that applies.

In 2022, the Planning and Environment Court considered JH Northlakes Pty Ltd v Moreton Bay Regional Council [2022] QPEC 18 (Northlakes judgement). The Northlakes judgement found that development assessment in development control plans must be made, assessed and decided using the Integrated Development Assessment System created under the repealed Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA). The Northlakes judgement raised significant questions regarding previous approvals granted within the area, potentially affecting many housing developments.

The Northlakes judgement also means that development applications in a DCP area are required to be made, assessed and decided using an outdated assessment and decision process that is unfamiliar, complicated and not as intended under the Planning Act 2016.

Key features

• Validates development approvals in DCP areas.
• Applies the assessment process under the Planning Act to development applications in DCP areas.
• DCPs continue to categorise development, dictate assessment levels and the set relevant assessment benchmarks.

Changes in effect

Planning Act 2016

The provisions related to DCPs in the HAAPOLA Act commence on Sunday 27 April 2025. These provisions:

• validate development approvals in DCP areas under former legislation
• apply the development assessment process under the Planning Act
• retain the role of a development control plan in categorising development and assessment and setting assessment benchmarks
• enable the Planning Regulation 2017 (Planning Regulation)to set out the matters for applying and interpreting development control plans, and their relationship with the regulation and local government planning schemes.

Further information

For further information and/or a full list of forms, guidelines and implementation notes under the repealed IPA , please contact the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning via BestPlanning@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au.