The planning rulebook
Development Scheme
The Southern Thornlands Development Scheme is the planning framework that sets out how the PDA is intended to grow — including future land use, infrastructure, environmental planning and the rules used to assess development.
It explains the planned direction for the area. It is not a list of projects already approved or under construction.
What does it do?
A framework for how the Southern Thornlands PDA develops
The Development Scheme brings the major parts of future growth into one planning framework. It describes the intended land-use pattern, infrastructure networks, environmental considerations and development requirements that future proposals need to respond to.
Shows the planned structure
Maps identify future residential areas, centres, employment land, green space and indicative infrastructure across the PDA.
Sets development requirements
The Scheme provides the planning framework used when future development proposals are prepared and assessed.
Plans supporting infrastructure
Roads, sewer, parks, schools and other infrastructure are planned alongside new homes, centres and employment areas.
What is planned?
What the Development Scheme proposes for the Southern Thornlands PDA
The Scheme brings together future housing, centres, employment areas and the infrastructure needed to support them. These headline figures give a quick picture of the current plan; each subject has its own detailed page with maps, context and source information.
Residential
Future neighbourhoods
The Urban Living area is intended to accommodate most future housing, with density and housing type expected to vary across different locations.
See more about ResidentialShopping Centres
A District Centre and three Local Centres
The plan provides one larger District Centre and three indicative Local Centre locations to serve growing neighbourhoods.
See more about Shopping CentresIndustry & Enterprise
Two planned employment areas
Future industry and enterprise land is concentrated in two parts of the PDA and is intended to support employment and business activity.
See more about Industry & EnterpriseRoads & Transport
A future connectivity network
The Scheme shows the broad road connections expected as the area develops, together with road-design intentions and active-transport planning.
See more about Roads & TransportSewer & Water Treatment
Progressive sewer rollout
New trunk sewer mains, pump stations and connections to the wider sewer system are planned to support development over time.
See more about sewer rolloutParks & Open Space
A network of local and district parks
The park program includes neighbourhood recreation parks, a District Recreation Park and a District Sports Park, delivered progressively as the area grows.
See more about Parks & Open SpaceSchools
Three future state schools
The Scheme also supports future intensification of the existing Sheldon College campus as the PDA grows.
See more about SchoolsEnvironment
Habitat, green space and waterways
Environmental planning is intended to maintain ecological connections and guide how future development responds to habitat and waterways.
See more about EnvironmentHow to read the plan
Planned does not always mean fixed
A road, school, park or land-use area can be shown in the Development Scheme before a specific delivery project, development application or construction program exists.
Future road alignments, school markers, environmental areas and other planning features may be refined through detailed design, site planning and development assessment.
Individual development applications and infrastructure projects provide the detail about what is actually proposed, approved and eventually built.
Continue exploring
Go deeper into the PDA plan
Official information
Development Scheme sources
Developing Southern Thornlands explains and organises the planning information, but the official government documents remain the authoritative source.