DIP intends for the QPP to be a state-wide standard that will simplify the preparation of new planning schemes and allow scheme drafters to focus on developing policy solutions rather than on negotiating format and structure with the State.

Insite Strategies, as a member of the Standard Planning Scheme Provisions Working Group, was pleased to assist DIP with providing constructive ideas and feedback to help with their successive drafts.  We particularly appreciated the opportunity to provide a regional and rural perspective.

DIP has a difficult challenge in preparing provisions that suit the broad spectrum of local government issues, and we believe that our rural and regional clients will ultimately benefit from our participation.

One of the issues in deriving a standard scheme for use throughout Queensland is that the policy responses for inner urban Brisbane are probably not appropriate for an expanding coastal town, a regional city, or a low-growth rural local government.  Even so, based on our IPA scheme preparation, development assessment and development project experience, we think that the basic structure, format and operation of each planning scheme could and should be consistent.  Insite considers that the QPP achieves this and once refined ought to suit the majority of Queensland local governments.

North Burnett Regional Council recently requested that our Bundaberg office ‘road test’ the QPP by creating a ‘mock-up’ of its proposed new planning scheme.  Not only will this clarify whether the QPP suits the North Burnett context but it should also give Councilors and the public a more tangible demonstration of their new scheme.  The work will help answer questions about which use definitions, zones and codes are the most appropriate.  Insite subsequently prepared Council’s submission to DIP and also our own separate private submission.

While we are endeavouring to reserve our judgement on the new provisions until we complete our review, our initial impressions are that the concept, structure and format are workable.  Unfortunately, at this stage the document suffers from poor drafting, and in particular, the definitions deserve much more effort.  Further, it would be more helpful if the QPP included additional advisory content that Councils could include or review, especially for scheme codes.  The current draft contains content only for a telecommunications code but no other.

The State has a wide range of State issues that require appropriate codes or parts of codes including GQAL, extractive industry, aerodromes, acid sulfate soils, heritage, State-controlled roads, vegetation management, salinity, and water resources to name a few.  We anticipate that DIP will progressively ‘roll-in’ such provisions after commencement.

Insite Strategies was the first consultant firm to trial the system in a locality outside South East Queensland and is the only consultant in Queensland to prepare, lodge and assess Smart eDA applications! Insite assesses Smart eDA applications on behalf of North Burnett Regional Council and lodges eDA applications to Councils such as Bundaberg Regional Council on behalf of our private developer clients.

Smart eDA streamlines the development assessment system and transforms the current paper-based syatem into an on-line process.  It delivers time and cost savings through faster transmission of information because it occurs electronically. The system also allows all stakeholders, i.e. applicant, assessment manager, state referral agencies, to track the progress of an application at all times. 

Bundaberg Regional Council has also recently introduced a process that allows electronic payment of application fees through Smart eDA. 

For more information visit the Smart eDA website. 

The website also has the latest Smart eDA newsletter ‘Smart eDA News’, which features an interview with our Associate – Nathan Freeman.

Experienced in all facets of town planning, Insite Strategies strikes a balance between private sector development application work and local and state government plan-making.

We can be engaged at any stage to assist in concept development, commissioning and coordination of associated consultants, preparation of applications and impact studies, response to information requests, public notification, assessment of decision notices and conditions, negotiated decision notices, and expert witness services in the planning and environment court or mediation as required.

Typical services provided include preparation of supporting documents and applications under s242 of SPA (s3.1.6 of IPA); Reconfiguring a Lot applications; coordination of other specialists including engineering, environmental, urban design and economic consultants; negotiating issues with state and local government agencies and in some instances political and media liaison.