Ryrie Park in Braidwood is one of the town’s icons. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Fewer people and water worries mean a Capital Country council is heading back to the drawing board over a key planning document.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) has been preparing the Braidwood Structure Plan (BSP) for several years and started drafting it in 2023/24.
“It sets out the proposed future land uses, the mix and type of uses, staging and infrastructure delivery for the area,” council documents state.
“Land identified within the BSP will be progressively rezoned to keep pace with demand.”
An initial version was put out for public feedback, with the submissions triggering a series of substantial changes to the document.
At a recent meeting, councillors unanimously voted to accept a new version of the plan – which takes into account the feedback – and launch another round of consultation.
In the new version of the plan, QPRC has reduced areas initially identified for future growth in the plan amid updated population projections.
Council papers state that while there was an initial population projection estimate of between 2033 and 5056 by 2051, this is now considered unlikely.
“Based on the latest average annual growth rates ranging from 0.7 per cent to 2.5 per cent (1.4 per cent average), the 2051 population is now estimated to be between 2108 and 2732.”
The changes were made after concerns were raised about population estimates, environmental impacts, potential conflicts over land uses and residents wanting to keep existing zoning.
The amended BSP also states that the Shoalhaven River (the town’s existing water source) can supply an extra 300 dwellings with water, under revised understandings of its capacity.
It flags a limit of 309 dwellings in Braidwood, in light of infrastructure and the water availability concerns.
A switch to prioritising infill development in the R2 zone within the town’s boundaries is also proposed, which could bring up to 175 lots.
The plan also states there are seven land parcels along Lascelles and McKellar streets that could be used by commercial properties.
The town’s road network could see changes under the draft plan. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The changes also covered Braidwood’s transport infrastructure, meaning the future of a promised bypass appears uncertain.
The amended BSP states that while QPRC is committed to moving ahead with the project if necessary, the latest traffic study found there is no need “now or in the near future” for it.
Potential routes were also removed from this version of the document.
(Several routes were raised in a discussion paper prepared during development of the BSP, though council papers also state none were considered “appropriate” over concerns around heritage, the location preferred residential growth areas, associated costs and topography.)
The amended plan also suggests a range of action items for the council, to be considered or implemented in the short or long term.
Those include monitoring of dwelling and subdivision approvals to ensure they don’t exceed expected water yield, preparing a carpark strategy for Wallace and Lascelles streets, carrying out preliminary investigations into the site for a new cemetery and investigating mixed-use development opportunities along the Kings Highway.
It also proposes annual reporting of planning metrics (including the number of approved residential lots), population growth, the staging of land releases and technical investigations.
During the meeting, councillor John Preston thanked Braidwood residents for their engagement with the council during the BSP process.
“The opportunity that they have to continue this engagement with council is before them now … We always enjoy working with the Braidwood community; they are very engaged.”
Once the consultation process finishes in early 2026, the draft document will be returned to councillors for a vote on its endorsement.
The amended Draft Braidwood Structure Plan will be on public exhibition from 1 December 2025 until 20 February 2026 on the Your Voice QPRC website.
