At Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), meaningful and frequent stakeholder engagement is critical to delivering successful Priority Development Area (PDA) outcomes.
What is stakeholder and community engagement?
Stakeholder and community engagement is more than just a process – it’s about opening communication and forming genuine connections with the community and industry that are affected by a development. It requires establishing a two-way dialogue to inform, seek feedback, and ensure that stakeholders remain consulted throughout the lifecycle of a PDA. At EDQ, this means actively outreaching to industry and locals through various means such as local government forums, industry reference groups and tailored community sessions designed to reflect local priorities.
Why it matters
Delivering PDAs is a complex, long‑term process that benefits from early and ongoing collaboration. Engaging with stakeholders and communities from the outset helps EDQ understand local needs, manage risk and uncover opportunities, ensuring planning and delivery respond to real‑world conditions.
Strong engagement forms trust and fosters collaboration, supporting a Queensland that is planned and built with local community and industry needs at the forefront of decision making. By involving stakeholders in delivering new PDAs, planning transcends beyond government boundaries – shifting from isolated and confined, to collaborative and community-focused – delivering places, jobs and homes that Queenslanders truly value.
EDQ’s approach
As part of its regulatory obligations, EDQ provides a minimum of 30 business days of public notification on proposed development schemes, ensuring the community has sufficient opportunity to review and provide input before finalisation. To achieve the broadest possible reach, EDQ maximises both digital and in‑person platforms throughout this period to share information about PDAs.
At EDQ, stakeholder and community engagement is not a box‑tick – it’s a commitment to meaningful collaboration. Our approach is grounded in diversity, inclusivity and transparency, ensuring every community member has a fair and accessible opportunity to be heard. We use a wide range of engagement touchpoints to capture different perspectives and ensure they contribute to the planning and delivery of PDAs.
Recognising that communities are diverse and no single method suits everyone, EDQ tailors its engagement strategies to meet different demographic needs. Whether through digital channels for convenience, in‑person events for deeper conversations, or hybrid solutions that combine both, our goal is to make participation easy and accessible for all. This ensures that feedback is not only collected but actively informs and shapes project outcomes.
From email newsletters and traditional letterbox drops to pop‑up and drop‑in sessions, EDQ is listening – and committed to keeping you informed every step of the way.
Online channels
EDQ uses digital platforms to make engagement easy and accessible to engage those with busy schedules. The Have Your Say page is the central hub for PDA updates, FAQs and feedback tools.
You can visit the Have Your Say page to explore current PDAs, provide input and stay connected. It’s a direct link to EDQ’s engagement communications.
Letterbox drops
Letterbox drops are an effective way of informing local communities. With fact sheets reaching thousands of homes, they remain one of the most impactful methods for achieving widespread awareness among surrounding residents.
Industry Reference Groups
Industry Reference Groups bring together experts who bridge the gap between technical knowledge and community expectations, translating these insights into practical solutions. These groups help inform infrastructure priorities and industry needs that shape planning decisions.
Local government forums
Hosting regular forums with councils foster collaboration and alignment on shared goals.
Drop-in sessions
‘Meet the Planner’ drop‑in sessions provide opportunities for face‑to‑face conversations, allowing for more authentic and meaningful discussions with the people working at the heart of the projects. These sessions create a relaxed and accessible environment where community members can ask questions, gain clarity on planning processes, and share their insights directly with the project team.
These range of initiatives ensure all voices are heard – no matter how difficult to reach.
Engagement in action
Over the recent months, EDQ has been involved in several engagement initiatives across PDAs. These include letterbox drops to thousands of homes, drop-in sessions, organised industry panels and local government forums.
Port Hinchinbrook Provisional Priority Development Area (PPDA)
Recent engagement initiatives at Port Hinchinbrook included two community engagement sessions hosted in Cardwell to discuss the exciting future of the Port Hinchinbrook PPDA. With input from local business owners and residents, EDQ was able to hear local perspectives in helping shape a successful redevelopment of the PPDA following long delays from Cyclone Yasi in 2011.
Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area
In August 2025, EDQ partnered with the community to seek feedback on the proposed amendments to the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area (PDA) Development Scheme. Some of the engagement initiatives included three ‘Meet the Planner’ sessions seeing a turnout of 78 individuals, postcard mailbox drops to approximately 8000 homes and businesses and a series of targeted social media activities to broaden community reach.
Waraba Priority Development Area
At Waraba, three early engagement sessions were hosted in late 2025 to meet with the community in the surrounding suburbs of Caboolture and Morayfield. Initiating early engagement prior to public notification offers early insight into community needs and concerns and allows for improved, more well-informed decision making. It also allows for concerns to be identified earlier, and addressed before further escalation, fostering an environment that is trustworthy.
The value of early and ongoing engagement
Through consistent engagement, EDQ is able to deliver PDAs that:
- Boost housing supply – supporting the Queensland Government’s goal of 1 million homes by 2044
- Create liveable spaces – driving social impact for communities to prosper
- Drive economic growth – through investment in industry and job creation
Looking ahead
Stakeholder and community engagement remains critical to planning and delivering successful PDAs. By continuing to work alongside industry and community, EDQ is committed to delivering places that support better future outcomes and long‑term community benefit across Queensland. EDQ will continue to work in partnership with stakeholders in the development of planning frameworks, and project delivery that unlock homes, activate land and deliver infrastructure aligned with community needs.
Get involved
The best way to influence future development in your area is to participate during the plan-making stage, such as when a Development Scheme is being prepared or amended. Help shape the spaces where you live, work, and connect by participating in our consultation projects. Visit our Have Your Say page to learn more.