Ipswich Planning Scheme

Under Queensland planning legislation, each local government prepares and maintains its own planning scheme as the main ‘rule-book’ for determining what new developments should occur in their local government area and how.

The planning scheme achieves this by planning for and regulating what development should occur where and when, how development should occur and what assessment process is required – including if an assessment process is required at all.

If you would like to know more about land use planning and how it affects you, follow the link to Council’s Planning and Development webpage.

Ipswich City Plan 2025

On 29 May 2025, Ipswich City Council resolved to adopt the Ipswich City Plan 2025. The Ipswich City Plan 2025 is the new planning scheme previously referred to as the draft Ipswich Plan 2024 during its preparation. It will take effect from, 1 July 2025, at which time it will replace the 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme.

You can access an early preview of new Ipswich City Plan 2025 before it takes effect here.

Development applications cannot be made under the Ipswich city plan until it takes effect on 1 July 2025.

2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme

Go to: Planning Scheme Documents, Local Government Infrastructure Plan, Planning Scheme Attachments

The 2006 Consolidated Ipswich Planning Scheme is the local planning instrument in effect until 30 June 2025, at which time it will be replaced by the Ipswich City Plan 2025.

It covers the entire local government area. In most instances it includes roads and watercourses. The Planning Scheme was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the repealed Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA) and the Department of Local Government and Planning guidelines and scheme template.

Council adopted the Consolidated Planning Scheme (including all amendments to the 2004 Ipswich Planning Scheme) on 14 December 2005 and took effect (i.e. commencement date) on 23 January 2006.

The Planning Scheme divides the Ipswich Local Government Area into 8 localities -

  • Urban Areas

  • City Centre

  • Regionally Significant Business Enterprise and Industry Areas

  • Amberley

  • Rosewood

  • Township Areas

  • Rural Areas, and

  • Springfield.

Each locality is further divided into Zones and in some cases, Sub Areas and Precincts. The planning scheme also provides a secondary organisational layer called Overlays, which are based on special attributes of land that need to be protected, or that may constrain development. There are two types of overlays - character places overlays and development constraints overlays.

The Planning Scheme uses the concepts of Overall Outcomes, Specific Outcomes, Probable Solutions and Acceptable Solutions for a zone, overlay or code.

Overall Outcomes are essentially the overall purpose or intent statements. Specific Outcomes are the more detailed performance objectives.

Probable Solutions represent one way of achieving a specific outcome and may be either increased or decreased by the Local Government depending on the individual circumstances of the proposal.

Acceptable Solutions apply only to self-assessable development and represent a precise measure for compliance.

In addition to the zoning of a property, it is also imperative to refer to the overlay maps and associated overlay codes (see Part 11) in the planning scheme as these may change the relevant assessment category of development compared to the underlying zone, or provide additional information.

Also, in addition to the overlays affecting a property, it is also imperative to refer to the zoning maps and associated zone codes in the planning scheme as these may change the relevant assessment category of development or provide additional information.

In addition to the above, the following supporting information is also provided:

  • Implementation Guidelines
  • User Guides and Assessment Checklist
  • Fact Sheets

Purchase or View the Planning Scheme

The Ipswich Planning Scheme is available to view on the Ground Floor, 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich as well as at all Council libraries and the mobile library service.

The Ipswich Planning Scheme is also available for purchase. The fees payable with respect to Ipswich Planning Scheme are detailed in Council's schedule of Fees and Charges.

The 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme (superseded) mapping is available to be viewed in electronic format here.

Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP)

On 29 May 2025, Ipswich City Council resolved to adopt the Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP), replacing the previous 2018 Local Government Infrastructure Plan.  The new LGIP takes effect concurrently with the Ipswich City Plan 2025 on 1 July 2025, at which time it will replace the current LGIP.

Public consultation on the new LGIP concluded on Tuesday, 25 July 2023 with all submissions reviewed in detail. Council endorsed the LGIP 2024 for Minister’s review on 7 December 2023, and the LGIP 2024 was referred to the State for Minister’s consideration on 11 December 2023. Post public consultation documents include:

The current LGIP commenced on and from 23 April 2018 and:

  • integrates infrastructure planning with land use planning as identified in the Ipswich Planning Scheme 2006;
  • provides transparency regarding Council’s intentions for the provision of trunk infrastructure;
  • enables Council to estimate the cost of infrastructure provision to assist its long term financial planning;
  • ensures trunk infrastructure is planned and provided in an efficient and orderly manner; and
  • provides a basis for the imposition of conditions about infrastructure on development approvals.

LGIP Supporting Information

For more information, refer to Part 13 of the Ipswich Planning Scheme.

Planning Scheme Attachments

Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2024

On 20 June 2024, Ipswich City Council resolved to adopt the Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2024, which comes into force and effect on and from 1 July 2024.

The purpose of the Ipswich Adopted Charges Resolution (No.1) 2024 is to state:

  • the adopted charges for providing the local government trunk infrastructure networks;
  • the levied charges to be levied by the local government for development for the demand placed on the local government trunk infrastructure networks; and
  • matters relevant to the working out of an offset and refund for a trunk infrastructure contribution for the local government trunk infrastructure networks for development.

View Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2024 document (PDF, 2.3 MB)

The Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2024 replaced the Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2023. The previous versions of the Resolution are available below.

Further Information

To obtain further information in relation to the 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme, please contact the Planning and Regulatory Services Department on telephone (07) 3810 6888.