The purpose of this page is to explain the intent of the Community facilities and Open space zones category in the Townsville City Plan.

A zone identifies the preferred land uses in a particular area. All properties in Townsville are zoned. Precincts may be identified for part of a zone. A precinct may provide additional or  different requirements for a specific area within the zone.

A planning scheme (such as the Townsville City Plan) is a legal document that guides and regulates how land can be developed. The Townsville City Plan is made up of two key elements: a written component and maps.

Purpose of the Community Facilities and Open Space Zones Category

The Community facilities and Open space zones category contains  a group of four  zones that together represent a diverse range of land uses, in both private and public ownership. The diverse nature of the land uses means the zones are found widely throughout the Townsville region. The four zones in the Community facilities and Open space zones category are:

The Townsville City Plan provides for Community facilities, Open space and Environmental management and conservation across four zones. The four Community facilities and Open space zones are:

  • Sport and recreation zone
  • Open space zone
  • Community facilities zone
  • Environmental management and conservation zone.

Other Information of Interest to the Community Facilities and Open Space Zones

The Overlays pages provide information about other aspects of the Community facilities and Open space zones.

Overlays

The Community facilities, Open space, Sport and recreation and Environmental management and conservation zones are likely to be affected by multiple overlays. For  example, the Environmental management and conservation zone is used to provide protection of natural environmental values such as biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Uses in the zones may also need to consider natural hazards for siting of community infrastructure, in particular to ensure that hazards do not pose too great a risk to property or the safety of people.

Community Facilities and Open Space Zones Overview

The Townsville City Plan uses the Planning Regulation 2017 requirements for zones (including standardised names and colours). Use definitions are located in Schedule 1 of the Townsville City Plan. The following tables summarise  the overall intent of the four zones within the  Community facilities and Open space zones category including  particular precincts within each zone and examples of intended development.

Sport and recreation zone

Purpose:

  • provides for a range of organised activities that include sport, cultural and educational activities where the uses require a level of built infrastructure, such as clubhouses, gymnasiums, public swimming pools and tennis courts, and infrastructure (such as lighting, landscaping, toilets) to support the activities and to meet community needs
  • an example of a use in the Sport and recreation zone is the Murray Sporting Complex.

Examples of Intended Development:

  • club
  • educational establishment
  • food and drink outlet
  • indoor sport and recreation
  • outdoor sport and recreation
  • park.

Purpose:

  • development of the precinct maintains the golf course and other outdoor recreational facilities and provides an integrated mix of residential and small-scale tourist accommodation.

Examples of Intended Development:

  • bar (small scale only)
  • club (small scale only)
  • community use (e.g., art gallery, library, museum)
  • food and drink outlet (small scale only)
  • outdoor sport and recreation (e.g., cricket oval, golf course, swimming pool)
  • shop (small scale only).

Purpose:

  • development facilitates the ongoing operations of the Cluden Racecourse and is directly associated with or ancillary to horse racing.

Examples of Intended Development:

  • bar (small scale only)
  • club (small scale only)
  • food and drink outlet (small scale only)
  • major sport, recreation and entertainment facility (e.g., horse racing facility)
  • shop (small scale only).

Purpose:

  • the precinct accommodates the development of a motor sport facility, which will fulfil an important role as a required motor sport destination and training ground for driver education.

Examples of Intended Development:

  • bar (small scale only)
  • club (small scale only)
  • food and drink outlet (small scale only)
  • outdoor sport and recreation (e.g., cricket oval, golf course, swimming pool)
  • shop (small scale only).

Open Space Zone

Purpose:

  • provides for informal recreation where the built form is not essential to the enjoyment of the space
  • it may provide for local, district and regional-scale parks to serve the recreational needs of a wide range of residents and visitors
  • open space areas may perform stormwater drainage functions as well as including shelters, amenity facilities, picnic tables, and playgrounds and infrastructure to support safe access and management of these spaces
  • a key aspect of the zone is to ensure a high level of public access
  • well-known and used examples of the Open space zone are The Strand, Castle Hill and Riverway.

Examples of Intended Development:

  • club (small scale only)
  • community use (e.g., art gallery, library, museum)
  • food and drink outlet (small scale only)
  • market
  • outdoor sport and recreation (e.g., cricket oval, golf course, swimming pool)
  • park.

Purpose:

  • development in Pioneer Park and Riverway is subordinate to, and does not compromise, its primary role and function as a pedestrian-focused recreational and open space area.

Examples of Intended Development:

  • club (small scale only)
  • community use (e.g., art gallery, library, museum)
  • food and drink outlet (small scale only)
  • market
  • shop (small scale only).

Community facilities zone

Purpose:

  • provides for community-related activities and facilities whether under public or private ownership.

Examples of Intended Development

  • community use (e.g., art gallery, library, museum, etc.)
  • educational establishment (e.g., school)
  • emergency services (e.g., fire station)
  • hospital
  • residential care facility.

Purpose:

  • to create a well-designed ‘gateway’ to Picnic Bay and support a transition from the existing landfill use to form a more community-focused hub including uses such as education, open space, recreation and other community facilities.

Examples of Intended Development:

  • community use (e.g., art gallery, library, museum)
  • educational establishment
  • indoor sport and recreation
  • outdoor sport and recreation (e.g., cricket oval, golf course, swimming pool).

Environmental Management and Conservation Zone

Purpose:

  • provides for the protection, restoration and maintenance of areas identified as supporting significant biodiversity and ecological integrity
  • these areas remain undeveloped other than small-scale facilities that support conservation, low-impact nature-based recreational activities and essential infrastructure
  • one of the most prominent areas of Townsville included in this zone is the Town Common Conservation Park.

Examples of Intended Development:

  • educational establishment (small scale only)
  • food and drink outlet (small scale only)
  • park
  • shop (small scale only).

Frequently Asked Questions

Generally, zones within the Community facilities and Open space zones category do not support the establishment of individual dwelling houses. Rather, the purpose of the zones is to help support the establishment of uses and community infrastructure that benefit the community as a whole.

Yes. There are a number of general provisions that require assessment. With the exception of land within the Balgal Beach golf course precinct (in the Sport and recreation zone), there is no minimum lot size (and associated lot minimum road frontage and depth requirements). Rather the acceptability of a proposal to subdivide land  will be generally determined by the final intended use of the new lot/s. Other design objectives to consider include the provision of services (water, sewer, stormwater, access) and the location of natural vegetation.

All of the four zones in this category permit, in principle, the establishment of some commercial uses where it can be demonstrated that they directly support the function or enjoyment of the area, generally enhance safety and amenity and maintain the primary function of the area without compromising community access and enjoyment. Such uses (which are also intended to be small in scale) may include a club, a food and drink outlet, a market, indoor sport and recreation, function facilities, educational establishment and shops.