Who would have thought that a draft submission about the State Planning Policy, prepared by Council officers, could be controversial with four councillors wanting to make sure that this document never saw the light of day?
But in the Redlands we have a dysfunctional local council and strange happenings are the norm.
Fortunately, in this case, a majority of councillors voted to let the community see what Council officers wrote, and to make a submission in line with the officers’ draft submission.
The officers’ draft submission emphasises the importance of environmental protection including enhancement of koala habitat.
The need for ongoing efforts to identify and conserve local heritage is also highlighted in the officers’ draft submission.
Transport planning is also addressed with officers proposing that growth be directed to locations that can be efficiently serviced by existing, planned (and funded) public transport, walking and cycle networks.
About the State Planning Policy
The State Planning Policy is a key part of Queensland’s planning framework. It sets out the State’s interests in land use planning and development and guides the preparation and application of local planning schemes across Queensland.
The Queensland Government is reviewing its Planning Policy with the stated intent of ensuring the document remains fit for purpose and responds to Queensland’s future needs. The Government says it seeks to improve the clarity, usability and efficiency of the planning framework while supporting housing delivery, economic growth and infrastructure investment.
Comments on the proposed new version of the State Planning Policy and related documents are invited from local government, industry, community organisations and interested Queenslanders, until 11:59pm on Monday 26 October 2026.
Redland City Council’s submission
At its October general meeting Redland City Council discussed making a submission about a proposed new State Planning Policy.
Council officers had prepared a draft submission which was kept confidential when the meeting agenda was published. Officers recommended that Council make a submission “generally in accordance with the submission points outlined in Attachment 1”.
But Cr Rowanne McKenzie moved instead that Council lodge a submission described as Attachment 4 which was not been made publicly available and that the draft submission prepared by officers (Attachment 1) be kept confidential. This motion was lost 4/6.
Then Council voted 9/1 to make a submission in line with the officers’ draft submission and that the draft submission be made public.
The minutes of Redland City Council’s meeting on Wednesday 14 October 2026 were not published until Friday 23 October 2026.
Redlands2030 has extracted from these minutes the Officers’ draft submission on the State Planning Policy (Attachment 1) presented below as a pdf document which you can download or print. Unfortunately, the Council has not made this document available in a format where text can be copied.
The points made by the Council officers are sensible and in line with community values. Redlands2030 suggests that anyone wishing to make a submission consider attaching this document to an email and say that they support the Redland City Council officers’ draft submission.
Email submissions can be sent to planningforqueensland@dsdip.qld.gov.au no later than midnight on Monday 26 October 2026.