Local government boundary reviews
The Local Government Change Commission (Change Commission) is the independent body responsible for assessing proposed changes to Queensland councils.
Change proposals must be presented to the Minister for Local Government for consideration. The Change Commission can only assess those proposals referred to it by the Minister.
The types of assessments include:
- Divisional boundary reviews - assessing the internal boundaries of a divided council (known as divisions or wards).
- External boundary review - assessing the common boundaries between councils.
- Electoral arrangement review - assessing whether a council is divided, undivided, the number of councillors, council name or classification (city, shire, region, town) and other such changes.
Current reviews
The Minister responsible for Local Government has referred the following local government change requests for the Change Commission's independent assessment.
The Change Commission has received a referral from the Minister responsible for Local Government to consider a boundary change between Rockhampton Regional Council and Livingstone Shire Council.
This would involve the potential transfer of the suburbs of Glenlee, Rockyview and Glendale from Livingstone Shire Council's local government area to the Rockhampton Regional Council local government area.
In line with the terms of the referral, the Change Commission has engaged the Queensland Treasury Corporation to assess the potential financial impacts of this change. The report of the financial assessment will be made publicly available before public consultation commences.
Following this review, and before making a recommendation, the Change Commission will undertake community consultation.
What happens next?
The Queensland Treasury Corporation is currently working with the two Councils to undertake the financial assessment of the proposed change.
It is anticipated the financial assessment will be finished by the end of January 2022 and the report on the assessment will be published soon afterwards.
In 2022, the Change Commission will ask electors in both local government areas what they think of the proposed change. The format for this poll has not yet been decided.
After that, the Change Commission will provide the results of its assessment to the public, and the Minister responsible for Local Government.
The Governor in Council may implement a recommendation of the Change Commission under a regulation. The regulation may provide for anything that is necessary or convenient to facilitate the change.
The Change Commission has received a referral from the Minister responsible for Local Government to consider a boundary change between the Barcaldine Regional Council and the Blackall Tambo Regional Council, Charters Towers Regional Council, Central Highlands Regional Council, Flinders Shire Council, Isaac Regional Council and Longreach Regional Council.
This proposed change would see 24 lots currently split between Barcaldine and the other Councils being united, so they are no longer split between local government areas.
STATUS: Early commencement period
The Change Commission has commenced consultation with the Councils in order to consult the impacted landholders.
Fact sheets
- Fact Sheet 1: An overview of the Change Commission PDF (0.03 MB)
- Fact Sheet 2: Divisional (Ward) Boundary Reviews PDF (0.03 MB)
- Fact Sheet 3: External Boundary Reviews PDF (0.03 MB)
- Fact Sheet 4: Electoral Arrangement Reviews PDF (0.03 MB)
Legislative requirements
Assessments will be based on the following legislation (and subordinate regulations):
Brisbane City Council
All other Queensland local government areas
Spatial data
Spatial data relating to local government divisional and area boundaries are available to download from QSpatial.
Contact us
For further information, please phone 1300 881 665 or email LGboundaries@ecq.qld.gov.au.