The Somerset Region is growing, with more people than ever looking to call our region home. In fact, the Queensland Government's ShapingSEQ: South East Queensland Regional Plan 2023 requires Council to plan for a potential population of 42,200 people over the next 20 years. We have heard from the community about the pressures of growing, and now Council is taking the next steps to ensure that our growth is well planned and responsive to the Somerset Region's unique values and lifestyle.
The Growth Management Strategy (GMS) is the next step in Somerset Region Council’s plans to accommodate greater residential growth and facilitate further employment and industrial development, ensuring that we capture what is important to the community, and seek to balance our growth with our values.
This project is still in its early days. Council looks forward to sharing more information as the Growth Management Strategy progresses.
The Somerset Region Growth Management Strategy will provide an agreed approach to land use management and change within our region over the next 20 years. It will outline how Council will plan for population growth by identifying the scale, location and timing of future residential and employment growth.
The Somerset Region is expected to grow over the next 20 years and the Growth Management Strategy will enable Council to facilitate better-planned housing, and support residential and employment growth goals through carefully managed urban expansion.
As part of the project, multiple technical reports will be delivered to inform the Growth Management Strategy, including:
The Growth Management Strategy will identify (through the land suitability analysis) key natural assets and values so these can be protected through zoning, buffers and planning controls. Concentrating future development in appropriate locations will ensure that growth and development does not adversely impact on the amenity, character and unique natural values of the Somerset region.
The Growth Management Strategy is a strategic, non-statutory document that will inform potential amendments to our existing planning scheme and / or a new planning scheme.
The Growth Management Strategy will also identify short-term priorities for housing in an amendment to the Somerset Region Planning Scheme under section 18 of the Planning Act 2016.
Yes! There are several opportunities for community to share their views and help inform the development of the Growth Management Strategy.
Initial engagement with community and stakeholders will focus on understanding community values and aspirations, including any key issues and concerns in undertaking the preparation of the Growth Management Strategy. We anticipate this will occur from mid May 2026.
Once the Growth Management Strategy has been drafted, it will be shared with the community, stakeholders and relevant agencies for feedback and comments. This is likely to be in early 2027.
All feedback will be carefully reviewed and considered in finalising the Strategy.
If you have any questions or need more information, you can contact Council's planning team on (07) 5424 4000 or mail@somerset.qld.gov.au
The Growth Management Strategy is jointly funded by Somerset Regional Council and the Queensland Government under the Scheme Supply Fund.