Developments to become easier
Development applications in one state are set to become quicker and simpler under new government plans, according to one department.
Deputy premier and minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jeff Seeney, yesterday announced new plans for Queensland’s planning and development system.
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"The old system was tired, bureaucratic and mired in red tape - it was unnecessarily holding up construction and development across the state,” Mr Seeney said.
A key component of this reform will be to allow developers to deal with one office, rather than multiple government departments, to assess development applications.
This will help in “reducing the complexity and increasing the certainty of development outcomes,” he said.
"Other red tape reduction initiatives include the removal of master and structure planning arrangements that the industry deemed ineffective and the separation of state resource allocation and entitlement requirements from the development application process.
"The powers of the Planning and Environment Court will be expanded to allow the awarding of costs to successful litigants - where the court sees fit - while at the same time providing a new streamlined "no costs" regime within the court for less substantial matters which do not require the attention of a Judge,” Mr Seeney continued.
However, appeals which are seen to have ‘little merit’ will be discouraged going forward.
"Councils will have the discretion to accept development applications which do not include all required supporting information at time of lodgement, reducing red tape and streamlining the application process,” he said.
