Planning Assessment
This Unit seeks to facilitate the appropriate use and development of land via the processing of Material Change of Use applications in line with documents prepared by the Policy and Planning strategic direction units. Assessments in accordance with the documents produced by the City Plan Unit contain the vision for the City's preferred outcomes.
The formation of proactive initiatives closely linked to the assessment of Material Change of Use applications, will also result in better coordinated development outcomes on the ground. Improved communication and working relationships with other agencies will ensure Material Change of Use approvals reflect a whole-of-Council decision.
What Is Material Change of Use?
How Do I Make An Application?
Proposal Plan
Supporting Documents
What Happens to my Development Application once it has been lodged?
Under the Integrated Planning Act (IPA) 1997, Material Change of Use (MCU) is
- The start of a new premises, or
- A material change in the intensity or scale of the use of the premises, or
- The re-establishment on the premises of a use that has been abandoned
In order to have a MCU of premises, approval must be given by a Local Authority.
Application forms are available from the Planning and Development Department, located on the Second Floor of the Administration Building in Walker Street.
The application form must be completed fully and accompanied by the following:
- Six (6) copies of the Proposal Plan,
- The application fee of an amount in accordance with a scale of fees determined by Council, and
- Any relevant and supporting documents
The application must be consented to in writing by the owner if the application is made by a person who is not the owner.
The application must be signed by the applicant/s or, in the case of a partnership, by one of the partners or, in the case of a body corporate, by an authorised officer.
The proposal plan shall:
- Be drawn in ink or reproduced by printed process on good quality drawing paper, be accurately plotted with the North point upwards and be drawn to metric scale (of 1:100, 1:200 or 1:500).
- Show the following information and particulars:
- Full property description;
- All site dimensions;
- All building dimensions;
- The boundaries of any existing or proposed roads within or adjoining the subject land, and the length of the boundaries;
- Dimension layouts of the off-street parking areas;
- Access driveways;
- Trees (in excess of 3 metres high or 0.5 metres wide);
- Elevation plans (at least one [1] front and one [1] side);
- Floor plan of each level;
- A reference number the plan may be identified by and referred to.
The application shall be accompanied by the supporting documentation as outlined in the Townsville Planning Scheme Policy 1 - Supporting Information.
The Integrated Development Assessment System (IDAS) is the step-by-step process for lodging, assessing and deciding development applications. IDAS is set out in the Integrated Planning Act.
Council officers follow this system when dealing with an application. There are four (4) main stages of IDAS:
- Application
- Information and Referral
- Notification
- Decision
The following is an indication of how Council officers generally assess your application using the IDAS system:
Application Stage: Application lodged at front counter and entered into computer to create an Application Number. Charges raised and money receipted at Counter. Customer Service Officers complete the data entry, stamp plans, request a permanent file to be created for storage and place the application into a coloured folder (green for Building, purple for Privately Certified). An Acknowledgement Notice may be sent at this stage. Requests for extensions may also be made at this time.
Information and Referral Stage: A Technical Officer (Building Certifier) will commence the assessment of the application. This is when further information may be requested if there is insufficient information prohibiting a decision. The application will be circulated to other interested parties, both internally and externally. Planning and Development Technical Officers may utilise the services of a number of internal and external referrals for advice, comment and condition making, and there are some agencies that Council is required to use as stated in the Integrated Planning Act.
Notification Stage: This stage is only for impact assessable applications. This is usually carried out by placing an advertisement in the Townsville Bulletin, by erecting a large sign on the street frontage of the development site, and by sending a letter to all adjoining neighbours advising them of the details of the proposed development.
Decision Stage: When all comments have been received back from other departments, and all the information has been received from the applicant, the Council officer can now start the decision making stage.
- The Council officer refers to the relevant legislation, codes, Australian Standards and Council Policies to assess all aspects of the application and plans submitted.
- MCU applications may require the officer to prepare a report, which details the proposal and makes recommendation by the officer to approve or refuse the applications, as well as any conditions to be attached to the development (as part of the approval).
- The report is to be endorsed by the Manager and the Director of Planning and Development. It may also require approval under delegated authority by the Director, or may go to a Council meeting to be decided.
- A Decision Notice is posted to the applicant when a decision has been made.
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The Planning Assessment Unit contributes to the social, economic and environmental well-being of the community by incorporating those considerations into the planning, construction and administration of such works.
Property developers are provided with decisions on reconfiguration proposals within a timeframe allowing project schedules to be met and ensuring statutory requirements are met.
The unit also allows developers to conduct operational works with the certainty and confidence project schedules will be met, ensuring works comply with the required statutory requirements.
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What Is Reconfiguring a Lot?
How do I make an application?
Proposal plans
Supporting documents
What happens to my development application once it has been lodged?
Under the Integrated Planning Act (IPA) 1997, Reconfiguring a Lot is:
- Creating lots by subdividing another lot; or
- Amalgamating two (2) or more lots; or
- Rearranging the boundaries of a lot by registering a plan of subdivision; or
- Dividing land into parts by agreement (other than a lease for a term, including renewal options, not exceeding 10 years) rendering different parts of a lot immediately available for separate disposition or separate occupation; or
- Creating an easement giving access to a lot from a constructed road.
In order to Reconfigure a Lot, approval must be given by a Local Authority.
Application forms are available from the Planning and Development Department, located on the Second Floor of the Administration Building in Walker Street.
The application form must be completed fully and accompanied by the following:
- Three (3) copies of the Proposal Plan;
- The Application Fee of an amount in accordance with a scale of fees determined by Council; and
- Any relevant and supporting documents
The application must be consented to in writing by the owner if the application is made by a person who is not the owner.
The application must be signed by the applicant/s or, in the case of a partnership, by one of the partners or, in the case of a body corporate, by an authorised officer.
The proposal plan shall:
- Be drawn in ink or reproduced by printed process on good quality drawing paper, be accurately plotted with the North point upwards and be drawn to metric scale
- Show the following information and particulars
- Full Property description;
- The boundaries of the subject land and proposed allotments to be subdivided;
- The number and dimensions of the proposed allotments;
- The location of any existing or proposed easements/reserves affecting the subject land;
- The boundaries of any existing or proposed roads within or adjoining the subject land, and the length of the boundaries;
- Areas of subject land subject to slip or erosion;
- Flood levels, drainage patterns and catchment areas;
- The location and size of any existing building or structure on the subject land;
- The purpose for which the proposed land is to be subdivided;
- The date the plan was prepared;
- A reference number the plan may be identified by and referred to.
The application shall be accompanied by:
- A Planning Study, Traffic Study, Environmental Impact Study where required by the Act, the Town Planning Scheme or a Statement of Planning Policy, or as otherwise requested in writing by the Director, Planning and Development.
- Any requests for variations to or relaxation of the By-law requirements. These requests must be accompanied by the grounds relied upon in support of such variation or relaxation.
- Such other information relative to the application as may be requested by the Director, Planning and Development.
The Integrated Development Assessment System (IDAS) is the step-by-step process for lodging, assessing and deciding development applications. IDAS is set out in the Integrated Planning Act.
Council Officers follow this system when dealing with an application. There are four (4) main stages of IDAS:
- Application Stage
- Information and Referral Stage
- Notification Stage
- Decision Stage
The following is an indication of how Council Officers generally assess your application using the IDAS system:
Application Stage: Application lodged at front counter and entered into computer to create an Application Number. Charges raised and money receipted at Counter. Customer Service Officers complete the data entry, stamp plans, request a permanent file to be created for storage and place the application into a coloured folder (Green for Building, Purple for Privately Certified). An Acknowledgement Notice may be sent at this stage. Requests for extensions may also be made at this time.
Information and Referral Stage: A Technical Officer (Building Certifier) will commence the assessment of the application. This is when further information may be requested if there is insufficient information prohibiting a decision. The application will be circulated to other interested parties, both internally and externally. Planning and Development Technical Officers may utilise the services of a number of internal and external referrals for advice, comment and condition making, and there are some agencies that Council is required to use as stated in the Integrated Planning Act.
Notification Stage: This stage is only for impact assessable applications. This is usually carried out by placing an advertisement in the Townsville Bulletin, by erecting a large sign on the street frontage of the development site, and by sending a letter to all adjoining neighbours advising them of the details of the proposed development.
Decision Stage: When all comments have been received back from other departments, and all the information has been received from the applicant, the Council Officer can now start the decision making stage.
- The Council Officer refers to the relevant legislation, codes, Australian Standards and Council Policies to assess all aspects of the application and plans submitted.
- Reconfiguration of a Lot applications may require the officer to prepare a report, which details the proposal and makes recommendation by the Officer to approve or refuse the applications, as well as any conditions to be attached to the development (as part of the approval).
- The report is to be endorsed by the Manager and the Director of Planning and Development. It may also require approval under delegated authority by the Director, or may go to a Council meeting to be decided.
- A Decision Notice is posted to the Applicant when a decision has been made.
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What Is Operational Works?
How do I make an application?
Engineering drawings
Supporting documents
Under the Integrated Planning Act (IPA) 1997, Operational Work is:
- Extracting gravel, rock, sand or soil from the place where it occurs naturally; or
- Planting trees or managing, felling and removing standing timber for an ongoing forestry business (whether in a native forest or a plantation); or
- Excavating or filling that materially affects premises or their use; or
- Placing an advertising device on premises; or
- Undertaking work (other than destroying or removing vegetation) in, on, over or under premises that materially affects premises or their use;
But does not include building, drainage or plumbing work.
Application forms are available from the Planning and Development Department, located on the Second Floor of the Administration Building in Walker Street.
The application form must be completed fully and accompanied by the following:
- Three (3) copies of the Engineering Drawings and one (1) copy of the Job Specification;
- The Application Fee of an amount in accordance with a scale of fees determined by Council; and
- Any relevant and supporting documents
The application must be consented to in writing by the owner if the application is made by a person who is not the owner.
The application must be signed by the applicant/s or, in the case of a partnership, by one of the partners or, in the case of a body corporate, by an authorised officer.
The engineering drawing shall:
- Be certified by a Civil Engineer, qualified in accordance with Council By-laws and shall be submitted for all roadworks and associated stormwater drainage, allotment improvement works, water supply and sewerage works.
- Show, in general, the following information and particulars
- Title block;
- Locality plan;
- Layout and stage plan;
- Roadworks/Earthworks plan;
- Stormwater Drainage plans, including catchment plan and drainage calculations;
- Sewerage Reticulation plans;
- Water Reticulation plans;
- Soil and Water Management plans;
- Approved Street Names on ALL Layout plans;
- The date the plan was prepared;
- A reference number the plan may be identified by and referred to.
The application shall be accompanied by:
- Specification of Works; Priced Schedules of Quantities; Subgrade Test Results and Pavement Design.
- Such other information relative to the application as may be requested by the Director, Planning Services or the Director, Engineering Services.
- All works shall be in accordance with the appropriate Townsville City Council Standard Specification/Drawings. Where no Townsville City Council Standard Specification/Drawings exists for a particular type of work, consultants may use their own standard specification/drawings for work subject to the approval of the Director, Engineering Services.
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