Somerset Region Planning Scheme

On 20 May 2026, Council adopted Major Amendment 2, with the Somerset Region Planning Scheme (Version 5.0) to commence on Thursday, 4 June 2026. 

Read about Council's proposed Interim Amendment to the Somerset Region Local Government Infrastructure Plan

What is a Planning Scheme?

A planning scheme is a statutory planning instrument prepared pursuant to the Planning Act 2016 and The Ministers Guidelines and Rules.

The planning scheme presents a framework that regulates and manages land use and development in Somerset Region. The principle underpinning the planning scheme is to ensure that social, ecological and economic environments are sustainable into the future. The planning scheme provides a strategic and integrated basis for responding to the challenges of population growth and land use management into the future.

The Somerset Region Planning Scheme came into force on 1 March 2016.

Planning Scheme Document

The Somerset Region Planning Scheme (Version 5.0) commenced on Thursday, 4 June 2026, incorporating the changes from Major Amendment 2. Applications that are received or were properly made from 4 June 2026 onwards are assessed against Version 5.0.

Somerset Region Planning Scheme (Version 5.0).pdf(PDF, 8MB)

You can find out more about the changes to the planning scheme in Major Amendment 2 here.

The superseded Somerset Region Planning Scheme (Version 4.2) can be accessed here.

Planning Scheme Mapping

Zone and overlay maps for the Somerset Region Planning Scheme can be viewed using our eServices website: 

• Property Enquiry, including searching by address and real property description (lot/plan)
• Interactive Mapping  

Strategic framework and Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) mapping, as well as zones and overlays, can be viewed using the below PDF maps.