More affordable housing and the creation of new jobs are expected on the back of sweeping reforms from the Queensland Government’s election promise to provide better planning.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney has said that significant changes to legislation would help make Queensland’s planning system the best in the nation. Clearer, less complicated planning laws will help to kick-start the construction industry, boosting jobs and delivering more affordable housing for Queenslanders.
A new State Planning Policy and a one-stop-shop State Assessment and Referral Agency is thought to deliver changes that will help the construction sector live up to its full potential.
There have been a number of reforms that will come to fruition and these changes will provide greater certainty for developers and greater confidence for councils, giving them the capability and discretion needed to make assessment applications. The current government made many of these plans when the system was in infancy. A further 12 months down the track and it looks as though there may be some positive movement. The Regional Planning Interests Bill will soon be debated in Parliament and the Planning for Queensland’s Development Bill will be introduced later this year.
It is thought that this Bill will significantly simplify Queensland’s planning and development system and will replace the cumbersome Sustainable Planning Act 2009. This new Bill is planned to ensure Queensland’s planning system focuses on supporting economic growth.
