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.”
