State Development Area changes to boost industry

Changes to six State Development Areas (SDAs) across Queensland will make it easier to plan and progress projects within the specified industrial zones.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said Coordinator-General Barry Broe had identified a number of opportunities to improve and clarify the development schemes of six SDAs across the State.

“These SDAs will be set aside for industry to promote economic development in Queensland,” Mr Seeney said.

“The Coordinator-General has made it clearer and easier for project proponents by defining what they are allowed to do and ensure their applications are processed efficiently.

“This will cut red tape and make way for better investment in Queensland.

“We want to see more economic activity in our SDAs, more jobs and more economic development.

“The Newman Government is making it easy to do business in Queensland, as we promised to.”

The amendments include the addition of a voluntary but recommended pre-lodgement stage to:

• help proponents define the acceptability of a proposed use
• ensure applications are properly made when they are submitted
• minimise the need for information requests

The amendments will also change the definition of material change of use (MCU) to provide better clarity to the different types of development.

The SDAs subject to these changes are Abbot Point, Gladstone, Townsville, Callide Infrastructure Corridor, Stanwell to Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor, and Surat Basin Infrastructure Corridor.

Development schemes for SDAs regulate land use and planning and include the recognition that the Coordinator-General has primary carriage of the development, operation and management of SDAs.

[ENDS] 5 October 2012

Media Contact:  Kate Haddan – 0418 373 516