Development Assessment and Application Process

Material change of use

A material change of use is:

• starting a new use for a premises
• re-establishing a use that was abandoned
• increasing the intensity or scale of the use of the premises.

Examples include: converting an office in to a medical centre, building a child care centre, constructing a dwelling house or units, expanding an industrial premises.

Reconfiguring a lot

Reconfiguring a lot is subdividing or combining lots, rearranging boundaries, dividing lots by agreement or creating an access easement.

Examples include: Subdividing one lot into multiple lots, dividing land into parts by agreement (i.e. a lease over 10 years), re-aligning the boundary of a lot and creating or changing and easement giving access to a lot.

Operational work

Operational works means work in, on, over or under premises that naturally affects premises or the use of the premises.

Examples include earthworks (i,e. filling of excavation), vegetation clearing, erecting a sign. Operational work does not include, amongst other things, building work, drainage work or plumbing work.

Building work

Constructing a new building or structure or extending an existing building or structure.

Examples include building a new building or structure (i.e house, shed, garage), part or complete demolition of a building or structure, repairing, altering or extending a building or structure.

A development approval can be a:

• Development permit, which approves the proposed development and authorises the development to be carried out.
• Preliminary approval, which approves the proposed development, but does not authorise the development to be carried out.
• Variation request, which seeks to vary the effect of any local planning instrument in effect of the premises.
• Combination of a development permit and a preliminary approval.

The Isaac Regional Planning Scheme identifies that different types of projects require different types of approvals which is typically determined based on location, level or risk and community expectation.

The Isaac Regional Planning Scheme allows some projects to be accepted development, meaning that they do not require any town planning approval, while others are accepted development, subject to requirements, meaning they do not require approval if they meet certain criteria. Other types of projects need a development approval. Certain types of development are simply not allowed, and you cannot lodge an application for these projects. Council will not assess these applications and refers to these projects as prohibited development.

The categories of development and assessment prescribed under the Planning Scheme are detailed below:

Accepted development

Where development is identified as accepted development, a development application is not required and there is no need to comply with Codes or other requirements of the Isaac Regional Planning Scheme.

Accepted subject to requirements

Certain types of projects do not need a development application but must comply with Council's rules and applicable Codes. These projects are referred to as accepted development, subject to requirements. An example of a type of development that could fall within this category is a Home based business.

Note If a development that is accepted subject to requirements does not comply with all acceptable outcomes, the development will typically require a code assessable application.

Code assessable development

Under the Isaac Regional Planning Scheme a Code assessable development application is expected development. It does not require public notification.

When undertaking development identified as requiring code assessment under Planning Scheme, you need to:

• submit a development application to Isaac Regional Council, and
• have it approved before starting any activity or development.

A Code assessable application is assessed against all the applicable codes identified in Isaac Regional Planning Scheme as assessment benchmarks.

Impact Assessable

Impact assessment is generally required by Isaac Regional Planning Scheme where there is a need to consider the potential impacts of a particular proposal.

When undertaking development requiring impact assessment, you will need to:

• submit a development application to Isaac Regional Council, and
• undertake public notification prior to Council making a decision.
• have it approved before starting any activity or development.

To make a 'properly made application', your development application must satisfy the requirements set out in the Planning Act 2016. Specifically, applications must include:

The correct application form/s

• Supporting information required by the application form/s
• Written owner’s consent (where required)
• The required application fee - view the current Fees & Charges Schedule

DA form 1 must be used to make a development application involving:

Except when applying for development involving building work, refer to DA form 2.

Find this form on the State Government website here https://planning.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/planning-framework/development-assessment/development-assessment-process/forms-and-templates

DA form 2 must be used to make a development application involving building work.

Use the Planning Act form 5 to request to change a development approval under section 78 of the Planning Act 2016.

It is important when making a change application to be aware of whether the application is for:

• a minor change that will be assessed under section 81 of the Planning Act 2016, or
• an 'other' change that will be assessed under section 82 of the Planning Act 2016.

Find this form on the State Government website here hyper link https://planning.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/planning-framework/development-assessment/development-assessment-process/forms-and-templates