New meetings for testy issues

TOOWOOMBA Regional Council will hold a new weekly meeting to vote on contentious development applications.

The special meeting will replace the Development Assessment Panel and is being introduced because of shortening decision-making timeframes.

The wide-reaching Planning Act 2016 will come into force on July 3 and was introduced after the Sustainable Planning Act was repealed.

Under the new act, councils will have less time to decide on some development applications.

If a council does not vote on the matter it may be automatically approved.

In endorsing the new meetings yesterday, the main issue debated by the councillors was who should decide which applications are “contentious”.

The proposal endorsed by the councillors means that at least four councillors must address a signed notice to the chief executive officer in consultation with the Planning and Development Group general manager for applications to be referred to the new meeting.

Council officers had originally tabled a report with a broader definition, which would have allowed general managers to refer items to the meeting, but that was rejected by the councillors.

The new meetings will take place at 2pm on Wednesdays and will be held weekly initially, with an aim to make them fortnightly.

Cr Chris Tait said while the changes in timelines for various applications was complicated, they effectively led to a shortened decision-making time for the council’s planning officers.

If the matters are not voted on by the council developers can issue the council with a “deemed approval notice” which automatically approves the plans.