The State Government advocates for place-based-planning of social infrastructure in alignment with broader social goals. This approach ensures that social infrastructure is not only responsive to local needs but also sustainable and equitable across regions.

The following mechanisms establish the policy framework to implement place-based planning effectively, ensuring local needs are met with targeted infrastructure solutions.

By aligning regional and community needs with statewide priorities, these mechanisms ensure that infrastructure investments deliver long-term benefits for all Queenslanders.

Social infrastructure planning policies and strategies

The following strategies and policies establish the government’s priorities and objectives for place-based planning of social infrastructure and provide guidance for organisations planning and delivering infrastructure projects.

The State Infrastructure Strategy (SIS) provides a 20-year vision and sets statewide priority actions to drive economic growth, liveability and resilience. It aligns investments across government agencies, fosters partnerships with industry and other governments and supports Queensland’s unique regions through unified planning. The SIS recognises the crucial role social infrastructure plays in enhancing community wellbeing, fostering connections and supporting local economies. It promotes cross-sector collaboration - between government, community, philanthropy and industry - to develop more multi-purpose, accessible facilities that deliver integrated services in one location. A key priority action is to progress a social infrastructure reform and capability agenda, working with key stakeholders to address barriers to funding, planning, and delivery. It advocates for place-based planning for social infrastructure:

• co-developing models for funding/investing in social infrastructure
• addressing systemic barriers to collaborative social infrastructure planning and delivery
• partnering with key stakeholders and fostering multi-sector partnerships/research alliances
• building cross-sectoral capability and advocating place-based planning to drive better community outcomes.

The Strategy for Social Infrastructure (SSI) outlines the long-term approach to planning, designing and utilising social infrastructure. It promotes a place-based approach to improve service delivery by enhancing efficiency, accessibility and alignment with regional needs. It requires better use of existing infrastructure and advocates for integrated, well-located and cost-effective solutions.

The Project Assessment Framework (PAF) is a high-level guide for evaluating and managing all types of projects, not just infrastructure. It ensures consistent decision-making throughout the project lifecycle, from concept to completion. Used across government, the PAF provides a rigorous, standardised approach to assessing projects at key stages, from identifying service needs to final delivery.

The Infrastructure Proposal Development Policy outlines the Queensland Government’s approach to the assessment and assurance of infrastructure proposals and supports agencies in their infrastructure proposal development. This approach ensures that government can have confidence in the analysis and evidence used to support investment decisions, and that the investments will deliver positive outcomes. Queensland Government employees can access additional information in the Infrastructure Proposal Development Hub (IPD Hub).

The Economic Development Act 2012 establishes Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) It is responsible for driving economic growth and community development through innovative land use planning and property development. EDQ oversees the planning and delivery of Priority Development Areas (PDAs), enabling streamlined processes and coordinated infrastructure development to support housing, urban renewal, and regional growth. EDQ plays a critical role in aligning infrastructure planning with broader government priorities to address emerging economic and community needs efficiently.

The State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 establishes the Office of the Coordinator-General (OCG) It facilitates and oversees major infrastructure and development projects to drive economic growth. The OCG oversees critical infrastructure delivery, such as transport, energy and water systems, and supports Priority Development Areas under the Economic Development Act 2012. Working with government, industry, and communities the OCG ensures sustainable development through streamlined approvals, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with proponents and state agencies.

Federal social infrastructure planning policies and strategies

Infrastructure Australia, the Australian Government’s independent advisor on nationally significant infrastructure investment planning and project prioritisation, publishes the Australian Infrastructure plan and the Australian Infrastructure Audit approximately every 5 years.

What these policies and strategies emphasise

Place-based planning and collaboration is a common theme in these strategies and policies, along with the following approaches.

Reform and optimising use before building new

Meeting the specific needs and aspirations of the local community doesn’t always require new construction. Alternative options include:

• maximising existing assets by repurposing or sharing facilities
• leveraging technology to deliver services more efficiently
• collaborating on solutions that pool funding or support co-location.

The Queensland Government’s infrastructure prioritisation hierarchy prioritises reform and better use of existing assets before considering upgrades or new construction. This ensures infrastructure funding is allocated effectively to achieve value-for-money outcomes. (Source: State Infrastructure Strategy)

Multiple services in one location

Delivering multiple services in a single location improves community access to services, maximises investment outcomes for providers and enhances infrastructure utilisation for greater social benefit. This can include sharing facilities, co-located or integrated facilities. Find out more on these shared use options