About the Project:
In March 2025, Mackay Regional Council, in partnership with UP North, delivered a two-day training program titled Planning with Purpose: A Councillor’s Guide to Planning to build elected members’ capability in navigating the Queensland planning system.
Focusing on Strategic Planning and Development Assessment, the program was designed to strengthen councillors’ understanding of their dual roles as vision-setters and decision makers under the Planning Act 2016 and Local Government Act 2009.
The Development Assessment (DA 101) session focused on the governance responsibilities of councillors when assessing development applications. It clarified the difference between operational and strategic functions, outlined key assessment pathways, and provided practical insights through mock assessments, local examples, and scenario-based discussions.
The training equipped councillors to make confident, legally sound, and community-aligned decisions that balance growth, environmental protection, and economic development, strengthening their role in shaping the future of the Mackay region.
Deliverables:
