TOWN PLANNING

Development Applications

The Cook Shire Council Planning Scheme 2017 v2 provides a comprehensive framework for land use and development within the Shire. It includes detailed zone development codes, and guidelines to ensure sustainable growth, environmental protection, and alignment with community need. Development in Cook Shire follows a planning process set by the Queensland Government and the Planning Act 2016.

To develop land or use it for a specific purpose you may need to submit a development application to Council for Planning approval. Applications are assessed in accordance with State Government legislation and the Cook Shire Council Planning Scheme 2017 v2 .

Enquiries to Council’s Planning officers are welcomed and pre-lodgement meetings can be arranged with the Planning team to discuss your proposal and provide feedback. In many cases, an independent consultant may be required to assist in surveying, developing and submitting an application.

You may need to submit a Planning Development Application if you are proposing to:

• Use the land for a specific purpose, for example: camping ground; multiple dwellings; worker’s accommodation; shop/office; storing machinery; industrial/commercial uses.
• Reconfigure a lot – rearrange a boundary line; by subdividing ‘cutting up’ a block of land; or creating an easment for access purposes.
• Undertake operational works on, over or under land – earthworks; road construction; extend infrastructure; fill and excavation.
• Construction work within an area with certain overlays, such as:  Landslide Hazard; Extractive Resources; Character and Coastal /Flood overlay mapping and may require a code assessable development application.

What are the main types of Development Applications?

There are different types of development identified by the Planning Act 2016. Your project may include more than one type of development and you may have to submit development applications to cover each type of development.

The types of development are:

• Reconfiguring a Lot – if you are subdividing land, rearranging a boundary line, creating an easement for access purposes or creating a community title scheme (where you have common property).
• Material Change of Use – if you are starting a new use (i.e. a motor vehicle workshop on vacant land), changing the use of the land (i.e. from a plant nursery to an industrial storage shed) or significantly increasing the intensity or scale of the use (i.e. extensions to an existing shop).
• Building Work – certain types of building work may need a development application in addition to a Building Application.
• Operational Work – earthworks; road construction; extend infrastructure; fill and excavation.

Development applications are assessed against the Cook Shire Planning Scheme which incorporates Local, Regional and State Planning Policy and identifies land use zones, which detail the preferred land use most suitable for the zone.

Development applications may include a period of public notification (impact assessment) where the community is invited to make submissions in support of or opposing a development. Some development applications require aspects of the proposed development to be assessed by the Queensland Government, these applications are referred to the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) as part of the development assessment process.