Local Government

ePlanning Services in Toowoomba

Early in 2013, PlanDev Business Solutions were engaged by Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) to develop a Council-based ePlanning Strategy focused on enhancing the access to information across Council and to support easier participation in planning and development processes. PlanDev Business Solutions worked closely with key stakeholders from across TRC to develop two (2) documents, being the TRC ePlanning Project – Vision and Current State Review along with the TRC ePlanning Project – Gap Analysis and Roadmap.  These two (2) documents form part of the Technical Specification document for this Project. We have now been engaged to deliver project management services for TRC to assist in implementing the Action Plan and Next Steps components of their ePlanning Project’s Gap Analysis and Roadmap document which provides an extensive level of detail on the Project’s scope. This will include developing a project management plan, a supporting business case and assistance in the ongoing delivery of the program during 2014.  Assistance will also be provided by Brendan Nelson from MWH to provide quality review and assist in project implementation activities. This engagement demonstrates the important experience of the PlanDev Business Solutions team members in developing the National ePlanning Strategy and more importantly, the ability to assist Local and State Governments localise and implement the required services.

New Risk Framwork for SARA Processes

PlanDev Business Solutions are currently finalising the development of a 'Risk Framework' for transport-related triggers for Queensland's new State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA). Launched on 1 July 2013, the State Government launched SARA to improve the coordination and responsiveness of the Queensland Government in dealing with development assessment. The development and implementation of SARA is being led by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP). The PlanDev team undertook an analysis of Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) involvement in development assessment has been undertaken to investigate ways to streamline the lodgement and processing of applications through SARA using a risk framework.  The framework will be used by SARA and DTMR when undertaking assessment of development applications that trigger transport-related matters for consideration. An integral part of streamlining the assessment process within the SARA is the creation of a sound and effective risk framework to ensure that development applications can be assigned to a specific risk track of assessment (i.e. lower risk—shorter approval track, higher risk—longer, more detailed approval track) and assessed accordingly. Soon to be released, the process changes will have significant improvements on the existing 'award winning' development approval processes across the State. We are very excited to have been involved in such an important project and look forward to seeing it fully implemented over the next few months.

Best practice the key to streamlined development approvals

The State Government and local government groups are working together on a new program aimed at discovering the best ways of assessing and approving construction projects and applying them across the state. The new partnership, involving the Government, high growth councils, the Local Government Association of Queensland and the Council of Mayors (SEQ), will help ensure new housing and commercial development is completed and ready for sale as quickly and efficiently as possible. Dubbed “Concept to Construction – Development Assessment Innovation Project”, the new program will enable local councils to adapt for their own use the systems and practices that have achieved best outcomes in terms of effective and accountable development assessment. LGAQ president Margaret de Wit said 20 of Queensland’s highest growth councils had committed to take part in the project. “That means the benefits will be very broad, and ensure that there are streamlined, consistent and cost effective assessment services for most development applications in areas it matters most to adopt  efficient ways of bringing building projects to market quickly,’’ she said. “This project will promote increased development activity and support jobs and economic growth  through increased industry certainty and efficient assessment and approval processes.’’ The project also recognises the construction industry as a major contributor to rebuilding the Queensland economy. Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chairman Graham Quirk said the project leverages off improvement work undertaken by the Council of Mayors (SEQ) over the past few years. “The project is about taking best practice and sharing it with other Councils for the benefit of the State,” Councillor Quirk said. The Government is contributing $200,000 to the project, while participating councils will contribute an additional $250,000. “We believe this project will help forge strong and genuinely collaborative partnerships between the public and private sectors to bring real and permanent improvement to the development industry and contribute to the economic growth of local communities,’’ Cr de Wit said. Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience Minister David Crisafulli said the LGAQ and the Council of Mayors (SEQ) deserved kudos for helping councils to cut through process-driven approvals. “Local governments can be the real engines for growth in Queensland’s economy if we help them overcome pointless red tape and paperwork just for the sake of it,” he said. “Streamlining development processes will streamline job creation.”

Continuing Planning Reform in Qld

Nine high-growth councils across Queensland have joined with South East Queensland Councils to commit to improving development assessment process, commencing the Concept to Construction Development Assessment Innovation project. The project, a partnership between the Council of Mayors (SEQ), the Local Government Association of Queensland and the Queensland Government, will offer improved certainty for the development industry and help to stimulate jobs and economic growth. Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chairman Councillor Graham Quirk says the project will leverage off best practice solutions and ideas to create efficient assessment and approval processes, at the same time ensuring good-quality and long term outcomes for communities. "The Concept to Construction project is the largest and most comprehensive reform of development assessment process that any state has undertaken and it is fitting that it is led by local government – the level of government that is closest to the community" said Cr Quirk. “The project focuses on stimulating economic development, building confidence in DA process, cutting red tape and bringing a renewed focus on risk management. “The Concept to Construction project will discover the best ways of assessing and approving new developments and apply these across the state to help ensure new housing and commercial development is completed and ready for sale as quickly and efficiently as possible.” The first phase of the project is underway with councils benchmarking their DA services against the Council of Mayors (SEQ) Development Assessment Framework of Leading Practice, a document that aims to bring a world leading standard to DA in Queensland. Ten SEQ Councils, including Brisbane, Redland, Ipswich, and Logan City Councils and Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Somerset, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba Regional Councils, along with Cairns, Tablelands, Townsville, Whitsundays, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Gympie and Southern Downs Councils are involved in the project. The Queensland government has contributed $200,000 to the project while participating councils will contribute an additional $250,000. The project will run over the next 12 months

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