The planning and development assessment system under the Planning Act 2016 sets out a standard process to ensure development applications are assessed and decided consistently and transparently, in accordance with community expectations as set out in the local planning scheme. Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning provides a fact sheet, to help understand the development assessment process.
There are five key parts of the formal development assessment process:
Pre-lodgement (voluntary but advisable)
While pre-lodgement is not part of the formal development assessment process, contacting the assessment manager (and any referral agencies that may be involved) before lodging an application is always a good idea. This will identify any potential issues or additional information requirements that can help the application track through the system smoothly.
The state government, through the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA), offers a free pre-lodgement service. Livingstone Shire Council offers Pre-lodgement Meetings/Development Advice services.
Step 1 - Application
Refer to the following resources for more information to help you with lodging your development application.
Refer to Development application - Lodgement - Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning.
Step 2 - Referral
Refer to Development assessment process - Referrals - Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning.
Step 3 - Information Request
Visit Development assessment process - Information Request - Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning.
Step 4 - Public Notification
Have your say on Development Applications
Some development applications under assessment by Council are ‘impact assessable’. This is for development proposals that are usually more complex and where the local government has identified that the development has the potential for greater impacts. These development applications will always be publicly notified for a set period of time, called the ‘public notification period’ (normally a minimum of 15 business days).
Council makes all development application material available via the Application Enquiry function on our Online Services page. Visit our Applications on Public Notification page for further information on this process and to view a list of the current applications in the public notification stage.
Step 5 - Decision
Visit Development assessment process - Decision - Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning.