New laws need to deliver planning reform

Published Wednesday, 12 June, 2013 at 02:27 PM

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

Fundamental reform of the state’s planning system to boost Queensland’s property and construction sectors will require a once-in-a-generation overhaul of planning laws.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney announced at a Property Council of Australia function today that he intended to introduce new planning legislation into Parliament early next year.

“Good government is about planning for tomorrow, and tackling challenges head-on,” Mr Seeney said.

 “The Government understands that for too long, Queensland’s property and construction sector has been burdened by an over-regulated planning system.

“The purpose of the new legislation will be to enable development.

“We need to drive a major transformation of the state’s planning system and culture from its current approach, which is actually stifling development.

“The principle underpinning this is to simplify the state’s land use planning, and development approval regulations and prescriptions.

“This will greatly assist local governments to better plan for their communities, without the constraints of an overly burdensome and prescriptive approach to their planning schemes.

“Work is well underway to bring this important piece of legislation to a reality.”

Mr Seeney said the Government had worked hard over the last 15 months to progressively strip back the mountains of unnecessary red tape that was smothering business and the property and construction sectors.

“We’re not resting on our laurels, more work needs to be done,” he said.

“For example, we are preparing new statutory regional plans and are in the process of reforming the infrastructure charges regime.”

Following the Government’s inaugural Planning Forum in March, feedback from attendees indicated overwhelming support for reform of the current Sustainable Planning Act – a clear sign it is still too complex and cumbersome.

“Councils want reform, the development industry wants reform and the Newman Government will deliver,” he said.

“The new legislation will be a once-in-a-generation planning reform which has at its heart a lower regulatory burden, which will benefit the community, councils and industry, and enable us to get on with developing and creating jobs.”

[ENDS] 12 June 2013

Media Contact: John Wiseman – 0409 791 281