Ipswich City Council was successful in securing $500,000 in funding under the Federal Government’s Housing Support Program (Stream 1) to provide resources to:

• improve the efficiency and effectiveness of planning process, so that housing construction can commence sooner,
• support increasing housing in well-located areas and encourage development in line with the national blueprint.

This funding provides an opportunity for structure and infrastructure planning (over and above the work associated with the draft new planning scheme) to potentially establish a statutory framework for the Western Growth Corridor Structure Plan area.

This plan aims to unlock, advance and fast-track much-needed housing supply to a growth area as well as provide guidance for future infrastructure provision, development sequencing, preferred pattern of development and the integration of subdivision proposals as development of the area progresses.

Over 30 years ago, prior to council amalgamations in 1995, the area was subject to the draft Moreton Shire Strategic Plan. In its planning, Moreton Shire Council identified the Western Growth Corridor (Rosewood, Thagoona and Walloon) as a future growth area.

In 2003/2004, the Walloon Thagoona Planning Study and Statement of Proposals (WTSOP) was undertaken involving a 14-month planning process including extensive community consultation and planning investigations.

Following completion of the Walloon Thagoona Planning Study and Statement of Proposals and noting the respective comments received from both the public and government agencies, the recommendation to amend the 2004 Ipswich Planning Scheme for the Walloon Thagoona Planning Study Area was undertaken and formally adopted by Ipswich City Council in 2006, based on the outcomes identified in the WTSOP.

There has been a significant amount of planning work undertaken within the Western Growth Corridor to date. The outcomes of the work to date has been adopted within the existing planning scheme provisions and reflected with the respective Concept Master Plans.

Draft Moreton Shire Strategic Plan (click to enlarge)

Compilation of Rosewood Urban Form Setting and Walloon Thagoona Land Use Concept Master Plan (click to enlarge)

The draft new planning scheme has sought to take past works further with the nomination of zoning provisions, and more specifically Local Area Frameworks.

The Ipswich LGA has been divided into 30 planning units called local areas based on geographically identifiable communities of interest (areas with identifiable boundaries and within which there are broad land use and planning commonalities) to which one of 27 Local Frameworks will apply.

The Western Growth Corridor area is currently represented by the Local Area Framework's LAF Area 24 (Walloon & Thagoona), along with LAF Area 26 (Rosewood).

LAF Area 24 – Walloon and Thagoona

LAF 24, which covers the areas of Walloon, Thagoona, Mount Marrow, and part of Haigslea, is characterised by a mix of established townships and rural areas, along with a significant emerging greenfield development area. This area is identified as a substantial growth corridor, which is the most significant planned growth corridor outside of Ripley and Springfield.

The framework aims to accommodate a considerable increase in population and housing, with projections indicating a growth from approximately 3,598 residents to over 59,525 residents over the planning period. The area is expected to support various types of development, including residential, commercial, and community facilities, to meet the needs of the growing population.

LAF Area 26 – Rosewood

LAF 26 pertains to the area of Rosewood and part of Thagoona, which is characterised by a mix of established residential areas and opportunities for future growth.

This local area framework is designed to accommodate a significant increase in population and housing, with projections indicating a growth from approximately 6,388 residents to around 14,496 residents over the planning period.