Council seeks community feedback on locations for future homes, jobs

With the Lockyer Valley projected to swell by 24,000 people in the next 20 years, Council is calling on the community to have its say on where new homes and jobs should be located.

Yesterday, Council kicked off a five-week consultation program to inform the next stages of its Growth Management Strategy, which will set the future growth directions for the Lockyer Valley.

Planning and Development Portfolio Councillor David Neuendorf said by completing a survey, residents will help guide planning for housing, services, infrastructure and jobs.

“The Growth Management Strategy is a long-term plan that will guide how and where growth is managed across the region over the next 20-plus years,” he said.

“According to the Queensland Government’s demographic projections, the Lockyer Valley’s population is predicted to grow by 24,000 people to 67,000 by 2046.

“To accommodate this change, we will need about 8,800 new homes and 10,050 additional jobs.

“We’re asking the community to tell us where they want this growth to occur, or conversely where it should be limited, what type of housing they want, what character and identity should be preserved and if there are opportunities to strengthen local employment in their town.”

Cr Neuendorf said for the purpose of the consultation, Council planners have divided the region into catchments and forecast how each catchment could grow by 2046.

“We have prepared information sheets for each catchment that compare the current population, dwellings and job numbers with what’s expected in 2046,” he said.

“Our preferred approach focuses more growth in existing towns where services already exist or can be provided more efficiently. This helps us create a more compact, connected region while protecting rural, environmental, scenic and agricultural areas.

“We have also developed a Growth Management Strategy Issues Paper that delves deeper into the opportunities and key challenges in managing growth in the Lockyer Valley.”

Cr Neuendorf acknowledged managing growth was a delicate balancing exercise.

“Growth brings opportunity - it can support local jobs, improve access to services and help towns and communities thrive, but it also brings important choices and trade-offs,” he said.

“Managing growth well means planning, understanding local values, and making informed decisions that protect what makes the Lockyer Valley unique, and that’s what we’re doing.”

To complete the survey, view the information sheets or Issues Paper, visit lockyervalley.engagementhub.com.au/lv-growth-management-strategy

Paper copies of the survey are available at Council's Customer Service Centres and Libraries in Gatton and Laidley.

The survey closes midnight Sunday, 2 August.