Modernised development guidelines now in effect with new DCP and MoES

Council's Development Control Plan (DCP) 2026 and Manual of Engineering Standards (MoES) 2026 came into effect on 14 April 2026, following Council's resolution to adopt these documents at the 17 March 2026 Council meeting.

After a thorough internal review, preparation and extensive technical and community input, we’re pleased to introduce these updates designed to:

• Propose a range of amended and new controls and requirements to address the current context.
• Make the documents simpler, more accessible, and easier to read.
• Improve consistency with the LEP, other plans, and strategies.
• Align with local and regional planning documents, including our Community Strategic Plan.
• Improve development controls to ensure expectations are clear, while allowing for performance criteria to encourage better planning and design solutions.
• Provide further guidance on the Council’s expectations for development to applicants and assessing staff.

We listened to the 249 unique submissions shared during the public exhibition, noting concerns about flood controls. In response to community feedback, the draft flooding controls were removed from the final DCP 2026, and Council will continue to use the flooding controls in the DCP 2011. 

Looking ahead, Council is developing a new floodplain risk management study and plan to provide an evidence-based framework to guide future flood planning controls. The study will be placed on public exhibition later this year for community feedback and will inform a new flood chapter of the DCP 2026.

To ensure minimal disruption to the assessment of development applications, any applications lodged before 14 April 2026 will be assessed and determined under the DCP 2011 and MoES 2014.

Further information is available on Council’s website:

• Engagement and outcomes: mait.city/DCP
• DCP 2026: mait.city/PlanningStrategies
• MoES 2026: mait.city/EngineeringStandards