Premier Bligh said an important area to be looked at for better growth management was the expansion of land for public recreation rather than conservation, explaining "we want to open up as much green space as possible...., to ensure the amount of land for public recreation expands in line with a growing population.

"Some school ovals do open after hours on an ad hoc basis but what we are proposing is a structured scheme that can open up schools right across the State." Greater community use of state school playing fields is just one of many options the department is seeking the public's thoughts on, before they commence a pilot program which should take between six to 12 months to complete.

In addition to the proposal to open up school land for public use other proposed measures also include:

• Plans for a statewide inventory of land available for community recreation by the end of this year.
• New planning instruments to ensure Green Space needs must be considered in planning for major new urban areas.

The Premier said the Department of Infrastructure and Planning would compile the first inventory of land available for community recreation in Queensland.

"A statewide green space inventory of land for public recreation will be developed and we expect to have a better picture by the end of this year," said the Premier.

"The inventory will include suitable state own land such as unused reserves to former TAFE sites... and also privately owned land where the owner has given voluntary consent for it to be used for recreation."

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said the Government would if necessary amend the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 to ensure Greenspace Network Plans were considered in planning and development assessment for new major urban areas.