May 22, 2014
The South Burnett Regional Council hopes to put an end to the long-running problem of historical sub-divisions to ensure “a situation like Memerambi” never occurs again.
At the Council’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, councillors voted unanimously to adopt a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) which will require owners of historic sub-divisions to build all infrastructure before any dwelling can be erected.
The TLPI still requires the approval of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister Jeff Seeney before it can be put into effect but councillors are confident this will occur.
The TLPI will then remain in force until the Council unveils its new, regional Planning Scheme towards the end of the year, which is expected to contain similar provisions.
The problem of historical sub-divisions has bedevilled the Council – and the previous Nanango, Kingaroy, Wondai and Murgon Shire Councils – for many years.
The sub-divisions were created in the early years of the region’s development to help foster the growth of towns and villages.
However, changing patterns of settlement have left most of these as historical anomalies that would now be unsuitable for development.
The South Burnett region has historical sub-divisions at Kumbia, Goodger, Coolabunia, Wooroolin, Crawford, Memerambi, Cloyna, Benarkin, Blackbutt, Tarong, Hodgleigh, Mondure and Proston.
None of the existing Planning Schemes for Nanango, Kingaroy, Wondai or Murgon contained any provisions about how to deal with their development.
Cr Keith Campbell, who moved the motion to adopt the TLPI, said it was “a very important document for the region”.
“Within the South Burnett region there are 15 historical sub-divisions,” Cr Campbell said.
“Most are devoid of any social or physical infrastructure and are inappropriate for home construction. But in the past, developers could build homes on them before any infrastructure was in place.
“However when the TLPI comes into force these will now be treated like a normal sub-division and roadworks and other infrastructure will have to be put into place as soon as an application to develop any one of them is lodged.”
Cr Campbell said the TLPI would only remain in force for one year but he expected that before it expired it would be succeeded by the region’s new Planning Scheme.
“There will never be another Memerambi under this proposal,” Cr Campbell said.
“Memerambi was a case of ‘no choice’ under the Planning Scheme in force at that time. This will put a stop to any future repeat.”
