Future of FNQ: What to comment on

The outcome of the Far North
Queensland Regional Plan will
shape the future of the
north of our State.

Making a submission Why comment? What to say Find out more

The Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP) has invited comment on the Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2025 (FNQ 2025) and the draft State Planning Regulatory Provisions (Regional Plan).

Making a submission

The closing date for submissions is 5pm 8 August 2008.

Submissions can only be submitted by post or fax on the form provided, and must following the guidelines listed on the DIP website (see below).

The DIP requests that submissions refer directly to specific sections of the plan or be structured to match the plan’s headings.

To help you make an acceptable submission, our points below include a bracketed number and plan subsection title eg (1 Natural environment). We recommend you include this reference in your submission.

Why comment?

Far North Queensland has one of the highest levels of biodiversity on the planet.

The FNQ region is home to two World Heritage Areas: the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef. Both these areas are rich in fauna and flora, many of them rare and threatened.

Extensive parts of this region’s biodiversity are not specifically protected. It needs protection. The right planning must be put in place.

The plan will manage the future of vulnerable habitats including the coastal strip, upland ecosystems and rainforest.

What to say

The plan is far reaching. Use these points below to make a submission based on the Plan’s impacts on wildlife and habitat.

Ask for improvements

Landowners in the rural residential areas not included in the rural living area or urban footprint categories have a 2-year window of opportunity for development. (Part D Regional land use pattern)

This might lead to an acceleration of development outside scheduled areas, which is against the aim of the plan.
Wildlife corridors have not been given the improved status that they need. (1 Natural environment).

Better status for wildlife corridors will help create a region-wide network of habitat corridors that is desirable for the survival of ecological communities.
Climate change has been considered in establishing the settlement patterns of this plan. Insufficient attention has been paid to the likely impacts of climate change on flora and fauna (Part E).

Better provision needs to be made to protect wildlife and habitat from climate change impacts.

Support the positives

Make sure you support the positive aspects of the plan that will improve the protection for wildlife and habitat in FNQ.

No urban growth outside the existing urban footprint (1 Natural environment and 4 Urban development)
Development in regional landscape and rural production areas must be outside areas of high ecological significance (1 Natural environment)
The plan recognises the importance of high biodiversity in the region (1 Natural environment)
Development of the coastal strip is limited in order to reduce pressure on fragile coastal land and to mitigate the effects of climate change (1 Natural environment)
Development will be limited on slopes and hillsides (2 Regional landscape and natural resources)
Mission Beach and the land north of the Daintree are accorded high level biodiversity status and development will be contained to protect these values (4 Urban development)
Public transport is to be integrated and given a higher priority (8 Transport)

Find out more

Where to get copies of the plan

Online and follow the links through ‘Planning and growth’ to ‘Regional planning’
CD-ROM available free by email
Hard copies available over the counter from Department of Infrastructure and Planning, Level 2, Orchid Plaza, 79-87 Abbott Street, Cairns Queensland 4870
View-only copies are available at most council chambers, libraries and customer service centres within the local government areas covered by the draft regional plan.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, email or phone +61 (7) 3221 0194.