Changes to town planning schemes made easier

Published Friday, 16 November, 2012 at 01:52 PM

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney

The State Government has simplified guidelines for making and amending planning schemes following council and industry feedback.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the changes would cut red tape and empower local governments.

“This reform is part of this government’s overhaul of the planning system,” Mr Seeney said.

 “The new Statutory Guideline 02/12 Making and Amending Local Planning Instruments (MALPI) guideline sets out a clear process for councils to follow when seeking to make or amend planning schemes and local planning instruments.

“It sets out both the local and state government’s obligations and timeframes for their fulfilment.

“The revised process empowers local governments to make decisions, and reduces intervention by the state government in local planning matters.”

The new statutory guideline replaces the original Statutory Guideline Version 01/12 released in January 2012.

Assistant Minister for Planning Reform Ian Walker ordered a review of the previous guideline released in January this year following feedback received at a series of planning reform forums during May to July 2012.

“Following my meetings with key bodies it became clear the process could be improved and the guidelines made more useful and relevant to local government and other users,” Mr Walker said.

“The latest changes mean councils can have more control and ownership of their own planning schemes, and be more responsive to the changing needs of their community.”

Key changes include:

  • The Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning will act on behalf of the Minister as the lead agency in the state interest review process. Removing the formal review process by the Minister will save time for the state agency liaison process
  • The second state interest review process has been removed, which saves 25 business days
  • There were previously provisions that caused a draft instrument to lapse if certain timeframes were not met. These timeframes have been removed, to give local governments more flexibility, and take into account council processes such as recess periods and committee meeting dates
  • Empowering local governments to decide when an amendment to their planning scheme is of a ‘minor’ nature, and therefore can be processed by the council as a minor amendment to the planning scheme
  • Simplifying the flowcharts that indicate the process for a scheme amendment.

A copy of the new Statutory Guideline 02/12 Making and amending local planning instruments can be obtained from www.dsdip.qld.gov.au.

[ENDS] 16 November 2012

Media contact:
Kate Haddan – 3224 4600