Of the three components considered fundamental to achieving the IPA’s goal of ecological sustainability, the first is “coordinating and integrating planning at the local, regional and State levels”.

Under the IPA as originally enacted, it is fair to say that the framework for regional planning was somewhat perfunctory.  The provisions directed at regional planning provided for the formation of regional planning advisory committees with the capacity to make recommendations through the preparation of regional planning advisory committee reports.  However, although local government planning schemes were ostensibly to incorporate a regional dimension by reference to recommendations of regional planning advisory committees, since regional planning advisory committee reports had no statutory force, practically speaking the recommendations lacked “teeth”.

To this end, the Integrated Planning and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2004 (IPOLAA 2004), which was proclaimed on 17 September 2004, introduced a suite of powers designed to give greater effect to the Queensland Government’s commitment to regional planning in the key growth area of South East Queensland.  IPOLAA 2004 inserted a new Chapter 2, Part 5A into the IPA dealing with regional planning in the South East Queensland region.

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