About Priority Development Areas

Priority Development Areas (PDAs) are parcels of land within Queensland, identified for specific accelerated development with a focus on delivering housing and facilitating economic growth.

PDAs offer strong partnerships across government and industry, market responsiveness and development certainty.  From investigation to revocation, each stage of a PDA’s lifecycle plays a key role in shaping its vision and outcomes.

The Minister for Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) may declare a PDA under the Economic Development Act 2012.  EDQ manages development projects in some PDAs, including, commercial, industrial and residential developments in partnership with local government and industry.

For more information download the PDA factsheet.

Declaration of PDAs

When deciding to declare a PDA, factors such as economic growth, the need for faster development, special purposes, unlocking unused government land, and community benefits are considered. Once declared, EDQ collaborates with local governments and stakeholders to plan and guide development. This includes creating Interim Land Use Plans (ILUPs) and Development Schemes to regulate land use.

PDA development instruments

Under the Economic Development Act 2012 there are two types of development instruments: an Interim Land Use Plan (ILUP) and a Development Scheme. An ILUP is in place generally up to 12 months after the declaration of a PDA, until the overarching plan for the area (the Development Scheme) is approved by the MEDQ. A Development Scheme is the regulatory document that assists with planning, promoting, coordinating and regulating land development within a PDA. For more details, visit the page how to make a submission page.

Provisional Priority Development Areas (PPDA)

A PPDA is a type of PDA which has effect for a period of three years. A draft Provisional Land Use Plan (PLUP) takes effect immediately upon declaration to regulate development in the PPDA. The draft PLUP is publicly notified for a period of at least 15 business days following the declaration. Within 60 business days, the final PLUP is prepared and once approved by the MEDQ, remains in effect until the PPDA expires.

A Local Consultative Committee (the Committee) is required to be established for a PPDA as soon as practicable after the area is declared. The committee acts to represent community needs and expectations for development in the PPDA and advise the MEDQ in accordance with a terms of reference.

PDA-associated development

Certain proposed developments may be identified as PDA-associated development where they are located fully or partially outside the PDA boundary and are necessary for the functionality of the PDA. For more information, visit the PDA-associated development page.

Vegetation management

Clearing vegetation within a PDA may be regulated by the Development Scheme. Where identified in the Development Scheme, a PDA development application is required to be lodged, assessed and approved prior to clearing the vegetation.  For further details, visit the vegetation management page.

EDQ guidelines and practice notes

EDQ guidelines and practice notes assist in the development assessment process by outlining design standards for development PDAs, while facilitating innovation and flexibility in design and delivery. The guidelines and practice notes cover topics such as housing, planning and development and should be read alongside the development instruments. Search Guidelines and Practice Notes on the Resources page.