Healthy Waters Amendment Package
Healthy_waters_amendment_package_Cons_Report_response_to_submission.pdf(PDF, 4MB) 
Public consultation on the Healthy waters amendment package from May 16, 2025 to June 20, 2025. Submissions have been responded to and the amendment package will now progress to state signoff before adoption can be considered by Council.
The purpose and general effect of the Healthy waters amendment package is to:
- Make a qualified state interest amendment to the Mackay Region Planning Scheme (Qualified state interest amendment 3); and
- Make an amendment to the PSP – Constructed lakes.
- Make an amendment to the Planning scheme policy (PSP) – Healthy waters; and
The consultation period ran from May 16, 2025 to June 20, 2025. A consultation report has been prepared outlining responses to submission items and changes proposed in response to the submission items. The consultation report has been sent to each submitter and is available to view here: Consultation Report - Healthy waters amendment package(PDF, 4MB)
Proposed Draft Materials
PSP – Healthy Waters
PSP – Constructed Lakes
Planning Scheme Materials
Summary of Changes
A summary of changes to each instrument is as follows:
PSP – Healthy Waters
Council have undertaken a holistic review of the PSP – Healthy waters and produced a new version that aims to:
- Clearly define MRC requirements for approvals, construction, on / off maintenance
- Setting agreed naming convention / terminology for Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices and Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) measures
- Clarify relationship between external guidelines and Council’s requirements
- Facilitate an uplift in the quality of designs and the realised on-ground outcomes
Key changes include:
- Alignment with the post-construction stormwater management design objectives specified in the State Planning Policy
- Addition of a new medium-risk compliance category
- Added compliance approaches for each risk category and documentation requirements for each approach
- Clarifying that only Lvl 2 of the voluntary mechanism can be applied
- Added compliance approaches and methodologies for waterway stability
- Clarified information to be provided for a pre-lodgement meeting
- Establish 24 month maintenance period for water sensitive urban design (WSUD) devices and establish constraints around temporary protection measures which may be considered in certain instances
- Established maintenance bonds amounts specific to treatment device types
- Establish design requirements for specific treatment devices
- Refer to certain IPWEA Standard drawings
- Establish constraints around the co-location of stormwater treatment and stormwater detention and the co-location of stormwater treatment and within waterway buffers
- Adopt IECA suite of standard drawings for ESC
- ESC Program and Audits to be designed by CPESC or equivalent qualification or RPEQ
PSP – Constructed Lakes
Changes to the PSP – Constructed Lakes are minimal and can be seen in track changes.
A key change is the establishment of a Sinking Fund.
Mackay Region Planning Scheme Healthy Waters Code & Triggers
Amendments to Part 5 Tables of Assessment and the Healthy waters code have been made that support the changes to the PSP – Healthy waters and PSP – Constructed Lakes.
Key changes are:
- Change to the way the Healthy waters code is triggered to ensure the ESC requirements apply to all development
- Introduces medium-risk category for stormwater quality management
- Strengthens the stance that constructed lakes are only provided where there is an overriding need in the public interest and water quality objectives can be met
- Adds requirement of a sinking fund for constructed lakes
Other Related Documents for Review
The Draft - ITP Checklist 42 - Bioretention Basin
The inspection and testing plan (ITP) checklist for bioretention basins will guide the tests and inspections required during the construction of bioretention basins. The checklist refers to the Healthy land and water construction and establishment sign-off forms for bioretention systems which are industry standard checklists that are to be completed to guide the construction process and ensure assets are constructed correctly. While the ITP is not required to form part of the formal planning scheme or PSP amendment, it is being released for feedback due to its correlation to the PSP – healthy waters.