The Blackwater Priority Development Area (PDA) was declared in July 2010. The goal was to help meet housing pressures expected from growth in the resource sector by bringing land to the market quickly and deliver a diversity of housing to suit the needs of the rapidly growing Blackwater community. It encompassed the entire town north of the Capricorn Highway and included existing houses, as well as some short term accommodation facilities, commercial and industrial uses and associated infrastructure.

Lat27 provided urban design and landscape design services in support of new neighbourhood development.