Operating hours for essential businesses extended to help FNQ communities recover

• Shops, warehouses and transport depots can operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week to deliver vital goods and services to the Far North
• Businesses can apply to modify development conditions preventing them from operating due to the Tropical Cyclone Jasper
• Key development assessment timeframes extended by 20 days in affected local government areas

Shops, warehouses and transport depots in affected local government areas will be allowed to operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week to help the Far North recover, Planning Minister Meaghan Scanlon has announced.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper has been declared an ‘applicable event’ under planning legislation, a decision which will also see development applications in affected local government areas receive a 20-day reprieve to alleviate pressures.

The affected local government areas are:

• Cairns Regional Council
• Cook Shire Council
• Douglas Shire Council
• Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire
• Mareeba Shire Council
• Tablelands Regional Council
• Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
• Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire

Individuals and businesses are also able to apply for a ‘temporary use licence’ to change or vary development conditions which are preventing them from operating  as a result of the cyclone and subsequent flooding.

Examples of a temporary use licence could include a restaurant located in an area of flooding applying to relocate furniture and equipment to higher ground, or a hotel in a coastal area applying to host guests in safer areas within the building.

Last year’s planning regulation changes empower the rapid deployment of emergency housing, eliminating the requirement for development approval.

The declaration will remain in effect until February 9, 2024.

Quotes attributable to Planning Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“We want to help get affected businesses and operators back online as soon as possible.

“These changes will help Far North businesses and suppliers restock shelves and start operating again while the clean-up and recovery gets underway.

“Cairns and Douglas councils approached us about getting these measures online, and we’ve responded quickly.

“As the picture of the damage becomes clearer and we rebuild, we’ll continue to work closely with the community to see what support we can provide them.”

Further information:

To find out more head to: https://planning.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/planning-framework/legislation/ministers-powers/applicable-events

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz - 0420 592 078 and Robyn Wuth - 0461 555 208