Greater bushfire protection is needed for new buildings in Morayfield South than what is currently available, Moreton Bay City Council says.
And it has asked Queensland Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie to approve changes to their planning scheme.
(A temporary structure plan was renewed in September 2025 for two more years to give time for the scheme’s changes to be implemented, council minutes show.)
The request follows public consultations that council held from October 13 to November 7 last year.
“Currently our planning scheme excludes land in general residential, township, centre and industry zones from ‘designated bushfire prone areas’,” Moreton Bay Mayor Flannery explains.
He says that means residential, health care, education and care homes can be built without having to meet National Construction Code safety standards, at present.
BUSHFIRE STANDARDS
“It is important that we update this. The amendment removes these exclusions to ensure resilience and public safety is improved when constructing these types of new buildings across the city,” he says.
Flannery says Morayfield South is the city’s second largest growth area and will become home to around 26,000 people, or 9800 new homes, in future (the 2021 Census lists 24,898 people living across all of Morayfield).
The planning scheme changes will also allow them to identify “important” infrastructure and other community buildings to cater to future growth: four potential state school sites have already been identified.
“This includes environmental corridors, new and upgraded roads, proposed locations for four schools (as conditioned by the minister), local centres, neighbourhood hubs and community facilities, and open space, park and recreation areas.”
Councillor Tony Latter thanked residents who took part in community consultation and made submissions.
“Everyone who made a submission will be notified and given clear information on how to access the Consultation Report so they can see how Council has considered and responded to their feedback,” he says.
“Community input needs to always play a vital role in shaping how areas grow.”
If the minister approves the request, council will then vote on adopting it at a future meeting.
Anyone wanting more information can email council@moretonbay.qld.gov.au or call them at (07) 3205 0555.
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