How the new Structure Plan will guide future growth and help create a complete community.
Lockyer Valley Regional Council has adopted the Grantham Structure Plan (GSP), developed alongside a consulting team led by PSA Consulting, LatStudios and Bull & Bear Economics, which sets a clear staged plan for how Grantham will grow over the next 50 years.
The GSP
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Focuses on safe, flood-resilient development on flood-free land south of the Warrego Highway
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Gives Council a framework to guide investment, improve infrastructure and strengthen the township’s future
The Grantham community has shown great resilience since the events of 2011, and the GSP provides a pathway to support population growth while improving liveability, safety and economic opportunity.
A foundation for managed, flood-resilient growth
As a fully funded project under the Commonwealth Housing Support Program, the GSP identifies around 417 hectares of potentially developable land in the Grantham Structure Planning Area. This area could support 2,600 to more than 3,100 homes over the next half-century, accommodating a future population of roughly 7,000 to 8,400 people.
That scale of growth means Grantham needs a practical and evidence-based framework to coordinate land use, transport and infrastructure.
Collaborating with Council, the PSA Consulting team developed the GSP, which sets that foundation by outlining:
- Clear directions for housing and employment land in flood-free areas.
- Safe access and movement connections, including the need for flood-free transport links.
- Upgrades to transport, water and sewer networks to support development over time.
- Integrated open space and environmental networks that protect biodiversity and landscape values.
- Opportunities for local business and industry, leveraging proximity to the Warrego Highway and future Inland Rail.
These position the GSP as a planning document and an advocacy tool that Council can use when seeking funding for enabling infrastructure.
Shaped with the community
Council ran community workshops and design exercises throughout the project to make sure local knowledge and lived experience informed the GSP. Residents spoke about their:
- aspirations for growth,
- priorities for infrastructure, and
- expectations for how Grantham should evolve.
That feedback helped Council to refine the preferred land use pattern, open space networks and infrastructure choices.
A coordinated approach to a growing community
The GSP sets out several core goals:
Support safe, flood-resilient homes and jobs
by directing new development to land that remains accessible during flood events.
Improve transport and infrastructure
with a focus on flood-free access, long-term network planning and essential water and sewer upgrades.
Boost economic activity
by taking advantage of Grantham’s strategic location near the Warrego Highway and future Inland Rail.
Protect natural areas, heritage places and community facilities
so that growth strengthens Grantham’s local identity.
Short-term actions include further investigations into servicing constraints and opportunities to sequence development around infrastructure delivery.
A strong partnership between Council and PSA
This project reflects the commitment and capability of Lockyer Valley Regional Council’s planning team. The PSA team worked closely with Council throughout the process, with strong collaboration across departments and genuine engagement with the Grantham community.
Council’s early and consistent involvement ensured that the Structure Plan is practical, locally grounded and ready to support funding processes.
A plan that prepares Grantham for the next generation
The adoption of the Grantham Structure Plan gives the community a long-term framework for sustainable growth.
It supports safe housing, strengthens resilience, guides infrastructure investment and positions Grantham to evolve into a complete community with strong connections, local employment and a high quality of life.
It also provides Council with a clear tool for advocacy and delivery, ensuring future decisions are aligned with Grantham’s needs and long-term vision.
FAQs
Does the GSP change what landowners can do with their land right now?
Not immediately. The GSP is a strategic document that outlines a long-term vision.
Any future changes to zoning or development potential will occur through separate planning scheme amendments and statutory processes.
How will Council use the Structure Plan when seeking funding?
The GSP provides a clear picture of the infrastructure needed to unlock growth.
It sets out infrastructure requirements, sequencing and the scale of future development, which allows Council to present strong, evidence-based cases when applying for State or Commonwealth funding and within their own budgetary processes.
What considerations shaped the preferred land use pattern?
Decisions were informed by topography, flood behaviour, infrastructure capacity, transport access and feedback gathered from the community.
These inputs helped identify areas most suitable for housing, employment, open space and community facilities.
Explore how PSA partners with local governments to guide growth, secure investment and plan for thriving communities.
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