The committee will make sure the views of both local and wider groups are considered in its content, he says.

"The Darling Downs Regional Planning Committee creates an accessible forum to address community issues and interests," Seeney said.

"This committee will oversee the regional planning process and increase understanding within the community of the Darling Downs Regional Plan.

"Communities will be represented by their mayors who will be responsible for presenting the views of their local regions during the process. Industry representatives will also have a voice at the table.”

There will be widespread community consultation throughout the process of developing the regional plans and a number of opportunities for community members to have input.

Including land use mapping in the statutory regional plan would help resolve conflict between landholders and the agricultural and resources sectors, Seeney said.

"The Darling Downs region has some of Queensland's most diverse agricultural assets and an abundance of coal, natural gas and other resource deposits," he said.

"This plan will ensure the region grows in a managed and sustainable way and allow us to deal with urban expansion, the timing and sequencing of infrastructure, enhancing tourism opportunities and the management of environmental impacts."

Seeney said the committee was chosen to increase transparency of the regional plan development process, following an expressions of interest process for community and industry representatives.

He said it would represent a diversity of regional viewpoints and interests during the preparation of the Darling Downs regional plan.

The committee of 21 members comprising mayors, sitting members and community and industry representatives will meet throughout the regional plan preparation process, which is expected to be finalised in August 2013.