Planning for a growing Central Goldfields

Over the past five years, more than 2,000 community members have told us they want our Shire to grow because of the benefits it will bring. To plan for this, we’re looking at areas where growth can occur and where we might be able to accommodate new housing and employment areas in our Shire.

Key areas were identified for investigation in Council’s Population, Housing and Residential Settlement Strategy including Maryborough North, Flagstaff and Carisbrook.

Additional work has been undertaken to investigate the capacity of rural living zone areas surrounding Maryborough, Flagstaff and Carisbrook to accommodate greater density.

Through the Land Use Framework Plan (LUFP) project, and the Rural Living Zones Review (URLO), we're specifically looking at how we might facilitate housing growth in and around Maryborough and Carisbrook. In doing this Council must (under State law) consider planning policy imperatives around bushfire, flood and other risks and potential conflicts with industrial activity. It must also consider opportunities to foster community connectedness to make sure residents have access to all the services and facilities they need.

• Project One: The Maryborough, Carisbrook and Flagstaff Framework Plan – this document looks at a number of different areas around the three settlements and provides clear directions for which areas are considered suitable for future housing, and for accommodating the kinds of industry needed to provide local employment opportunities.

• Project Two: The Rural Living Review – this document looks at all areas around Maryborough and Carisbrook and explores whether any areas of ‘rural living’ land (i.e. large blocks outside the main urban areas) have the potential to be subdivided further to allow for more people to live in those areas. Initial recommendations for both these projects have now been made by the consultants and it’s time for the communities and other key stakeholders to let the team know:

Are the recommendations on the right track?

What things might the team have missed that you think they should be thinking about in making their recommendations?

Both documents are available to read in their DRAFT form over the next four weeks (until 25 August 2025) with various opportunities to provide feedback.

Importantly, the team will be around during this period holding a number of different sessions where you can come and ask questions if something isn’t clear or make other suggestions if you’ve got a great idea to share.

For further information about the project, see the Quick Facts section on the right-hand panel of this page, or come along to one of our community workshops - time and dates below:

Community workshops

In August 2025 we will host four community workshops as well as targeted discussions with key landholders and stakeholders.

The community workshops will be held at various times and locations across the three days. Members of the consultant team and Council officers will be available at all sessions.

• Carisbrook and Flagstaff: Wednesday 13 August, 6pm to 7:30pm - Carisbrook Senior Citizens.
• Carisbrook and Flagstaff: Thursday 14 August,10am to 11.30am - Carisbrook Senior Citizens
• Maryborough: Thursday 14 August, 6pm to 7:30pm - Maryborough Community Hub
• Open Community Session: Friday 15 August, 10am to 11:30am - Maryborough Community Hub