How do I change my development approval?

Under the Queensland Planning Act 2016 there are two ways a development approval can be amended or changed. The processes are either a “Minor Change” or an “Other Change”. There has been a trend that matters which councils would previously have dealt with through written advice, or as being generally in accordance with a development… Continue reading How do I change my development approval?

What having services on your site means for property owners

Sometimes properties can have services on the site that are not under the control of the owner. Examples of this include power, gas, water, stormwater and sewerage infrastructure. If you purchase a property that has any of these, you may have an actual easement or restriction that applies to the site. An easement is on… Continue reading What having services on your site means for property owners

When you can get town planning approval under an old (superseded) planning scheme

Given how long it can take for a development plan to come to fruition from land purchase through to approvals there can be changes to a Planning Scheme that may adversely impact a site. Conversely there can also be changes that give significant uplift to the development potential of a site. For situations where a… Continue reading When you can get town planning approval under an old (superseded) planning scheme

The difference between a strata title and a land subdivision

Land can be physically subdivided and each parcel owned by a party, which is typically what is meant when people refer to a “subdivision”. Alternatively, a building can be divided into multiple lots and this is commonly referred to as “strata titling” or a “strata title subdivision”. The word strata means “one of a number… Continue reading The difference between a strata title and a land subdivision

What is a combined drain?

During the 1930s, reticulated sewerage systems were installed on a budget with combined drains servicing up to three homes commonly installed. That means allotments in many of Brisbane’s pre-war inner city suburbs may have this type of drain, being a shared connection to the sewer. This means each allotment doesn’t have its own sewer connection… Continue reading What is a combined drain?

Subdividing land into small lots in Brisbane

Landowners on larger parcels may be able to subdivide their lot to create two smaller lots. The increased cost of housing might make a smaller lot attractive to people looking to do less maintenance or downsize. Brisbane City Council allows different lot sizes dependent on your zoning and how close you are to “centres”, which… Continue reading Subdividing land into small lots in Brisbane

How a town planner can save you money

Quite often people assume that consultants are not only expensive, but unnecessary, on projects. Whilst the DIY attitude might get you across the line in some instances, there are a lot of times when engaging consultants can end up saving you money in the long run. Depending on your project size and stage, there is… Continue reading How a town planner can save you money

How long does a development approval last?

If you have an existing development approval for a property or you’ve just got one, you might be wondering if there is an expiration date. Sections 85 and 88 of the Planning Act 2016 outlines the default currency periods. But a council’s development approval can specify any period and override the Act’s currency periods. Here’s… Continue reading How long does a development approval last?

Why you can’t get a straight answer on site yield

One of the most common queries we receive is how many apartments, units or townhouses can be built on a particular site. Developers call this yield and it’s important because it helps calculate a project’s potential profit. Calculating yield is not as easy as A + B = C. There are a number of factors… Continue reading Why you can’t get a straight answer on site yield

What is a water approval and do you need one?

In Queensland, some councils no longer have control of water and sewerage utilities with a number of Distributor-Retailer Authorities being established as statutory bodies and service providers about a decade ago. Examples of these entities are Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU) and Unitywater (UW). Because these providers are not part of a council they are not… Continue reading What is a water approval and do you need one?