New State Planning Policy announced

Published Thursday, 28 November, 2013 at 03:16 PM

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

The Newman Government has unveiled landmark reforms to revolutionise the way local councils, the development and construction industry and the State work together to make the best planning decisions for all Queenslanders.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney announced Queensland’s new State Planning Policy at an Urban Development Institute Association luncheon in Brisbane.

“Creating the State Planning Policy is a landmark moment in our sweeping reform of Queensland’s planning and development processes,” Mr Seeney said.

“We promised to deliver better infrastructure and planning and bring an end to Labor’s obsession with red tape and over-regulation.

“This policy delivers on that commitment by replacing the previous government’s 14 confusing, contradictory state policies with one single document.

“The end result will be better, more consistent planning by councils and quicker, clearer decisions for applications by developers and other stakeholders.”

Mr Seeney said the new policy provides greater clarity for local government by consolidating in one document, the state interests and policies that councils must consider when preparing or amending local planning schemes, or assessing development applications.

“It will make it easier for them to reflect and balance state interests up front in local planning schemes, ensuring the right development in the right location, without unnecessary delays,” he said.

“Developers now also have a clear guide to assist them when preparing applications for certain types of development or in certain areas when the local planning scheme is yet to reflect the policy.”

State interests are matters the Queensland Government has an involvement in to meet economic or environmental objectives, or to ensure Queensland’s planning system operates efficiently and effectively.

The policy will be complemented by a single source of mapping material that visually represents these interests in a transparent and easy-to-use manner in the one spot.

The plan arranges 16 separate state interests under five broad themes:

  • Liveable communities and housing
  • Economic growth
  • Environment and heritage
  • Hazards and safety
  • Infrastructure.

The policy was the result of 15 months of intensive public consultation undertaken by Mr Seeney’s department which considered more than 300 submissions.

The State Planning Policy and supporting documents will be available online from Monday December 2 at www.dsdip.qld.gov.au

[ENDS] 28 November 2013

Media Contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Elizabeth Spry 0418 928 744