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.

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.

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.

The City of Moreton Bay 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 councillor representation, etc.

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

• declaring the Waraba PDA
• the Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) coming into effect, and
• undertaking a public notification of a proposed PDA development scheme, and
• The MEDQ approving the finalised Development Scheme.

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 comes 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.

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.

EDQ has undertaken 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 is identified in the proposed Development Scheme now on public notification. It is anticipated that infrastructure providers will engage directly with landowners regarding land requirements.

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 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.

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

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 plan includes upgrades to key road connections, public transport links, and active transport networks to support how people move. EDQ is also coordinating planning for Waraba PDA alongside broader Queensland Government plans for the North Brisbane – Bruce Highway Western Alternative project (Moreton Motorway).

This stage of consultation invites feedback on the proposed Waraba PDA Development Scheme.

The Development Scheme is the statutory planning document that will guide land use, development and infrastructure delivery within the Waraba PDA.

Earlier engagement activities helped inform planning investigations and the overarching vision for Waraba.

This consultation stage relates exclusively to the proposed Development Scheme that has been prepared by EDQ. It provides an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the proposed Development Scheme before it is finalised.

The following document is available during the consultation period:

• Proposed Waraba PDA Development Scheme

The document includes the land use plan, infrastructure plan, implementation strategy, development assessment framework, maps, and development charges that would apply to development in the PDA.

Submissions may be made about any aspect of the proposed Development Scheme

Submissions should relate directly to the content of the proposed Development Scheme.

In accordance with the Economic Development Act 2012, the public consultation period will run for 30 business days, from 18 May 2026 to 2 July 2026.

Submissions can be made via the online submission portal available on the Have Your Say Waraba PDA page, in writing, or via email.

Instructions for lodging a submission are provided on the website.

Anyone can make a submission, including residents, landowners, businesses, community organisations, industry representatives and other interested stakeholders.

All submissions received during the consultation period will be reviewed and considered by the Minister for Economic Development Queensland.

Individual responses are not provided. A report summarising key matters raised through submissions and how they have been considered may be prepared as part of the planning process.

After the consultation period:

• Submissions will be reviewed and considered
• The proposed Development Scheme may be amended, and
• The Minister for Economic Development Queensland will decide whether to approve the Development Scheme, with or without changes

When approved, the Development Scheme will replace the Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP).

Further information is available on the Have Your Say Waraba PDA webpage. Enquiries can also be directed to Economic Development Queensland using the contact details provided on the website.