ALMBC Calls For Stronger Venue Protections In Queensland’s New State Planning Policy
Draft policy recognises the night-time economy, but grassroots music venues need clearer protection as housing density grows
The Australian Live Music Business Council (ALMBC) has made a submission on the Queensland Government’s draft State Planning Policy 2026. The submission welcomes the draft’s support for the night-time economy, and calls for stronger protections for the state’s music venues.
The State Planning Policy sets out the Queensland Government’s interests in land use planning, and every council in the state must reflect it in its planning scheme. The draft is the first full review of the policy since 2017. For the first time it includes a policy to facilitate “a safe, vibrant and diverse night-time economy”, which includes protecting night-time economy locations from encroachment by sensitive land uses such as new housing.
The ALMBC has welcomed this as a big step forward and a good fit with the Queensland Nightlife Economy Action Plan 2026–2032, which the government released in July. The submission also points out several gaps that will matter to grassroots venues. Live music appears only as part of the Tourism state interest, and the draft never names music venues. The policy also doesn’t say who pays for soundproofing when new homes are built next to an existing venue. That matters even more because the government has declined the Night-Life Economy Commissioner’s recommendation for sound attenuation grants.
The ALMBC also raised concerns about the draft’s push for higher density housing in and around centres, where most Queensland music venues trade. Protection from encroachment currently covers only major entertainment facilities such as stadiums and arenas, leaving the small and mid-sized venues most exposed to new residential development without the same safeguard.
The submission draws on recent reforms in other states, including:
- New South Wales’s order of occupancy rules and statewide rollout of Special Entertainment Precincts
- Victoria’s new Live Music Overlay
- the Northbridge precinct in Perth, which treats almost every lot in the precinct as though a venue is operating there
The ALMBC’s recommendations to the Queensland Government include:
- recognising live music venues of every size, in metropolitan and regional areas, as cultural and economic infrastructure
- stating the agent of change principle as a state interest policy, so the party introducing a new use is responsible for managing noise
- linking the Housing state interest to the night-time economy policy
- protecting established music venues from encroachment
- making sure fast-tracked housing approvals cannot bypass these protections
- encouraging councils to support existing Special Entertainment Precincts and establish new ones
The ALMBC has asked to meet with the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning to discuss the submission. It will continue working with QMusic, the Night-Life Economy Commissioner and local government on practical planning provisions for councils.
Find out more about the draft State Planning Policy: https://www.planning.qld.gov.au/planning-framework/plan-making/state-planning/state-planning-policy
