Sustainable Planning Bill

On 19 June 2009 the Sustainable Planning Bill 2009 was tabled in Parliament by the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Stirling Hinchliffe.

Source of the changes and benefits are highlighted in the below Ministerial media releases:

• Community to benefit from new planning and development rules
• Councils still key players in planning reform

The Bill ( 2.8 MB) and the Minister’s speech in Parliament ( 1.2 MB) are available to download.

Background

In late 2007, the state government released its implementation agenda to reform Queensland’s planning and development system. A critical part of the reform agenda will be delivered by new legislation that:

• shifts the focus from planning process to delivering sustainable outcomes
• reduces complexity through standardisation
• adopts a risk based approach to development assessment
• introduces a broader range of opportunities for people to reach agreement and resolve disputes
• provides improved opportunities for the community to understand and participate in the planning system.

The changes will assist in delivering a contemporary planning, development and building system that can provide sustainable development outcomes for all Queenslanders

Full details of the proposed Bill can be found on the Parliamentary website. Also on that website is the detailed explanatory notes to give greater details to the changes. Alternatively download a short summary of the changes ( 98 KB)

This Bill is a result of extensive consultation and reflects the 80 recommendations from the report, Planning for a Prosperous Queensland - A reform agenda ( 970 KB) for planning and development.

Reform agenda aims

The aim of the reform agenda is to move the focus from the planning process to the delivery of sustainable outcomes. These outcomes will be delivered by:

• new planning legislation introducing improved tools for state and local government to manage planning and development proactively
• reduced complexity through greater standardisation
• adopting a risk-based approach to development assessment
• streamlined dispute resolution processes
• encouraging active community participation in the planning and development assessment system.

As Australia’s fastest-growing state, Queensland needs a contemporary system of planning and development assessment that continues to deliver the lifestyle for which it is famous.

As part of delivering this contemporary system of planning and development assessment, the Department, in partnership with stakeholders, industry and the community, has conducted an extensive review of IPA and IDAS.  This review has resulted in the Queensland Government commencing the reform agenda detailed in the report "Planning for a Prosperous Queensland: A reform agenda for planning and development in the Smart State".

Download the report or the related highlights document:

• Report highlights ( 335 KB)
• Part one - Reform Agenda full report ( 970 KB)
• Part two - Reform Agenda consultation summary ( 388 KB) 

Key drivers for reform

Some of the key drivers for the reform of Queensland’s planning and development system are its booming population and the decline in housing affordability.

Growth in Queensland

Queensland is likely to have approximately 2.4 million households by 2026 – an increase of more than one million households from 2001. The rate of household growth will actually exceed the population growth rate, as current trends indicate most future households will contain one or two people. This unprecedented growth needs to be accommodated in balance with our existing high quality of neighbourhoods in which we live, the beautiful and pristine environments in which we play and the dynamic and prosperous economy in which we work.

Further information

For further information in relation to the reform agenda contact the Planning Group.