How a Community Plan Relates to Other Plans

There are a range of plans that describe different aspects of the future of communities and Council areas (Figure 1). These include state strategic statements and plans such as Towards Q2 and State Infrastructure Plans. Regional plans, developed by the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, have a major bearing on local government plans. Councils also have a range of plans that need to articulate with the Community Plan such as the Corporate Plan, the Asset Management Plan, the Road and Infrastructure Plan other plans.

Figure 1. How a community plan relates to other plans (adapted from Department of Infrastructure and Planning, 2009)

The Community Plan connects with, and guides, these other plans (figure 1). It does this in three ways. First, the content of regional plans and broader state plans can be considered, along with input from the community, in the development of the strategies. For example, the preservation of a rural landscape zone or the development of services for a growing population as in the SEQ Regional Plan may be reflected in a community plan.

Second, a community plan is the overarching document guiding other Council plans. It is not a ìcatch allî for all the issues in communities or all that Councils are responsible for. Specific topics such as infrastructure, roads and land use planning are managed through other specific plans. However, a community plan may provide agreed priorities and strategies that should guide these other plans. For example, the Roads and Infrastructure plan does not need to be restated in a community plan. However, community input through the community planning process should inform existing plans and allow Councils to modify plans where necessary.

Third, if a Council or other stakeholder is to implement a strategy/action within a community plan they then incorporate it into their Corporate Plan and operational plans and budgets. Council has a degree of flexibility and discretion in how it implements and funds actions in the community plan that relate to local government. However, it needs to build strategies into its internal implementation procedures.