2014

5020LAW Planning and

Pollution Law

Kari-Ann West s2759193,
Gold Coast Campus

[ESSAY 1 THE SEQRP AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ]

24
th
March 2014 [ESSAY 1 THE SEQRP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ]

5020LAW Planning and Pollution Law |Introduction 1

Introduction
With an expansion of new technology and rapid population growth (RPG), there is an
increased urgency to plan for sustainable development (Department of Infrastructure and
Planning (DIP), 2009). The South East Queensland (SEQ) region has been identified as
particularly vulnerable to RPG (DIP, 2009). Planning instruments such as the South East
Queensland Regional Plan (SEQRP) then serve an important purpose in establishing an
essential direction of a region to achieve sustainable development (DIP, 2009).
The purpose of this essay is to identify what the SEQRP is, where is the SEQRP located in
the framework hierarchy, the statutory component as well as an evaluation of the SEQRP to
identify if it effectively addresses sustainable development.
What is the South East Queensland Regional Plan?
The SEQ RP is a both a statutory and strategic plan prepared by the State, that reflects the
interests of State as well as principles from the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA). The SEQ
RP also helps inform local governments in aspects that should be incorporated into their
local planning instruments (DIP, 2009).
According to the purpose statement of the SEQ RP, the purpose is to manage regional
growth sustainably in order to protect and enhance the quality of life of the region. (DIP,
2009). However does the SEQ RP actually achieve its purpose?
Where is the South East Queensland Regional Plan located in the
Hierarchy?
The SEQ RP plan was initially draft under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA), however
with the implementation of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA), the SEQ RP is now
located under SPA (DSDIP, 2013).
In Queensland, the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (the planning Act) is the overarching
legislative framework for planning and development within Queensland (DSDIP,
2013)(Figure 1). Under the planning Act, the State Planning Policy (SPP) expresses the
States interests in regards to land use planning and development (DSDIP, 2013)(Figure 1).
These two planning policies address Queensland as a whole and provide the statutory
requirements and strategic vision that is reflected in Regional Plans, as well as Local
Planning Instruments (Planning Schemes) (DSDIP, 2013)(Figure 1).
The SEQ RP the located under both the planning Act and the SPP, according to the SPP,
[r]egional plans provide the strategic direction to achieve outcomes that align with the
States interests in land use planning and development (DSDIP, 2013) (Figure 1).

24
th
March 2014 [ESSAY 1 THE SEQRP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ]

5020LAW Planning and Pollution Law |What is Statutory in the South East
Queensland Regional Plan?
2

Figure 1: Framework Hierarchy (DSDIP, 2013).

What is Statutory in the South East Queensland Regional Plan?
Part D of the SEQ RP represents the statutory component of the plan. Part D includes
Desired Regional Outcomes, Principles, Policies and Programs all aims to be statutory
requirements of the region and local governments (DIP, 2009). Parts A, B and C all identify
the background and supporting information and is considered the strategic framework
component of the SEQ RP (DIP, 2009).
Does the South East Queensland Regional Plan Promote
Environmentally Sustainable Development?
According to the SEQ RP 2009, the purpose is to manage growth sustainably; however the
question of whether it achieves this was posed earlier in this essay.
A sustainable development is development that ensures the long-term viability of the
environment, society and the economy (Wheeler & Thompson, 2010). In regards to the SEQ
24
th
March 2014 [ESSAY 1 THE SEQRP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ]

5020LAW Planning and Pollution Law |Conclusion 3

RP, the promotion of sustainable development within the region is lacking. Although the SEQ
RP highlights that this is it purpose, and includes statements that aim to achieve this, the
plans use of terminology such as sustainable is a tokenistic approach and therefore
ineffective. The statutory component of the SEQ RP uses vague and non-specific language
that confuses its users and therefore does not achieve the desired outcome, and the overall
purpose. Figure 2 below demonstrates that the terminology of the Principles, Policies and
Programs of the SEQ RP lack any measurable targets or specific goals.
Figure 2: Exert from the SEQ RP (DIP, 2009).

An example of the current SEQ RP ineffectiveness is the continual growth of SEQ is leading
to development areas that lack amenity and connectivity to their surrounding areas and
heavily rely on private motor vehicles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the SEQ RP is a statutory document created by the State to assist in
achieving the States interests and forming a regional direction for planning and
development. The effectiveness of the SEQ RP is lacking as the use of sustainable
terminology and goals are tokenistic and vague with no specific or measurable targets (DIP,
2009).








24
th
March 2014 [ESSAY 1 THE SEQRP AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ]

5020LAW Planning and Pollution Law |References 4

References

Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP) 2009, South East Queensland Regional
Plan 2009-2031, State of Queensland (online), Available:
<http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/ resources/plan/seq/regional-plan-2009/seq-
regional-plan-2009.pdf> (20 March 2014).

Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP) 2013, State
Planning Policy, State of Queensland (online), Available:
<http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/resources/policy/state-planning/state-planning-
policy.pdf> (20 March 2014).

Wheeler AR & Thompson SM (2010) The future health and environmental sustainability of
South East Queensland: an evaluation of the Regional Plan, Australian Planner,
47(3): 152-61.