25 February 2026
At today’s Ordinary Council Meeting (25 February 2026), Council formally considered the development application for an “Other Change – Material Change of Use” to increase groundwater extraction and introduce a high-impact industry (water bottling facility) at 396 Keoghs Road, Elbow Valley.
Council resolved to refuse the application on clear planning grounds.
It is important to clarify that the water licence itself was issued by the Queensland Government under the Water Act 2000 and remains a matter of State jurisdiction. Council was not determining the validity of the water licence. Council was determining the proposed land use change — namely the introduction of a large-scale industrial bottling facility and the intensification of groundwater extraction within a Rural zone.
Council’s decision was based on several key factors:
• Rural landscape and character: The proposed 3,570m² warehouse, 10-metre building height, significant retaining walls and acoustic barriers represent an urban-scale industrial development that is inconsistent with the scenic and rural character of the locality.
• Groundwater sustainability: While the State licence permits up to 96ML per year, Council was not provided with updated technical evidence demonstrating that increasing extraction to that level would avoid impacts on the aquifer, surrounding agricultural uses, or the water resource catchment.
• Traffic and infrastructure impacts: The ultimate stage of the development could generate up to 30 heavy rigid vehicle movements per day. The application did not adequately assess the impacts of later stages on Keoghs Road or the broader local road network.
• Noise and amenity: The Noise Impact Assessment only assessed Stage 1 traffic assumptions and did not demonstrate acceptable impacts for Stages 2 and 3.
• Community submissions: 25 properly made submissions raised concerns regarding amenity, water security and rural impacts, reinforcing the planning conflicts identified in the assessment.
The Mayor emphasised during debate that regional communities must have confidence that their natural resources are protected and that industrial development is appropriately located. Council has a responsibility to protect the rural landscape, support agriculture and eco-tourism, and ensure development aligns with the Southern Downs Planning Scheme.
The Mayor also noted that while the water licence is a State matter, serious community questions remain about aquifer recharge rates, long-term drought resilience, and why extraction from one of Queensland’s most drought-prone regions would be intensified without demonstrated local benefit. Council has formally requested that the Queensland Government listen to community concerns and ensure those matters are transparently addressed.
Today’s decision was not anti-development. It was a decision grounded in the Planning Scheme, infrastructure capacity, environmental stewardship and the long-term interests of the Southern Downs community.
Council remains committed to working constructively with all levels of government to ensure regional water security, agricultural sustainability and appropriate economic development outcomes.
Last edited date 25 Feb 2026