Planning a development in Brisbane or elsewhere in Queensland?
Find answers to common questions about town planning, development applications, subdivisions, RiskSMART, planning approvals and development feasibility.
Speak with Consult Planning for practical town planning advice tailored to your property and proposed development.
A town planner provides professional advice about land use, development and planning requirements.
For a development project, a town planner can assess the planning constraints affecting a property, identify development opportunities, advise on approval requirements, prepare or coordinate development applications and communicate with council or other assessment authorities.
Consult Planning provides advice from early-stage development feasibility and due diligence through to development applications, approvals and planning
advocacy.
It is usually best to speak with a town planner before purchasing a property or committing significant money to a development project.
Early planning advice can help identify potential constraints, approval requirements and development opportunities before you proceed.
Consult Planning can undertake preliminary planning assessments to help you understand the planning potential of a site and identify issues that may affect your proposed development.
A town planner can assess the planning controls and site
circumstances relevant to your proposal and provide an
opinion about development potential.
Development potential cannot normally be determined from
the property’s address alone. Factors can include zoning,
overlays, site area and dimensions, access, infrastructure,
services, environmental constraints, surrounding
development and the applicable planning scheme.
Consult Planning recommends site-specific planning advice
rather than relying solely on what has been approved on a
neighbouring property.
Town planning fees depend on the type, scale and complexity of the project.
A straightforward planning assessment may require significantly less work than a complex development application involving multiple technical reports, negotiations or planning issues.
Consult Planning provides tailored fee proposals so clients can understand the likely planning costs before proceeding.
Not every development requires a development application.
Whether an application is required depends on the proposed development, the property’s planning controls, the applicable planning scheme and relevant Queensland legislation.
Some development may be accepted development, while other proposals may require assessment and approval by a council or another assessment manager.
A town planner can assess your proposal and advise you about the likely approval pathway before you proceed.
A development application is a formal application to carry
out assessable development.
Depending on the proposal, a development application may
relate to matters such as:
The requirements vary depending on the type of development and the site.
There is no single timeframe for every development application.
The assessment period depends on the type of application, the assessment pathway, whether public notification is required, whether council requests additional information and the complexity of the proposal.
Some eligible projects may qualify for a faster assessment pathway such as RiskSMART, while other applications may require a more detailed assessment.
A town planner can provide a more meaningful timeframe estimate after reviewing the proposal and site characteristics.
Yes. Preparing and submitting development applications is a core Consult Planning service.
Depending on the project, Consult Planning can assist with applications including Material Change of Use,
Reconfiguring a Lot, Operational Works, Environmentally Relevant Activities, advertising signs, road closures and permits to occupy.
>>Learn more about development applications.
A Material Change of Use, commonly referred to as an MCU, generally relates to a change in the use of premises that requires planning assessment under the applicable Queensland planning framework.
Whether a proposed use constitutes a Material Change of Use depends on the circumstances and applicable planning requirements.
A town planner can assess the proposed use and advise on the relevant approval pathway.
Yes. Consult Planning provides planning advice and assistance with change-of-use and Material Change of Use matters.
The planning requirements depend on the existing use, proposed use, site controls and applicable planning scheme.
Potentially. Whether a property can be subdivided depends on the applicable planning controls and the characteristics of the site.
Subdivision may involve considerations such as minimum lot dimensions, access, servicing, infrastructure, overlays,
environmental constraints and council requirements.
Consult Planning can undertake an initial assessment of your site and advise on the likely planning requirements.
>>Learn more about property subdivisions.
The subdivision process depends on the site and the type of subdivision proposed.
Generally, the process involves:
RiskSMART is a fast-track development assessment program available for eligible development proposals through participating local government processes.
Consult Planning has extensive RiskSMART experience and has been involved with Brisbane City Council’s RiskSMART program since its introduction in 2005.
Consult Planning has also been accredited with Logan City Council since 2013.
Eligibility and assessment timeframes depend on the
relevant council program and the specific proposal.
>>Learn more about RiskSMART applications.
For eligible proposals, RiskSMART can significantly
streamline the development assessment process.
Consult Planning states that eligible projects can potentially receive development approval in as little as five business days, depending on the applicable process and circumstances.
The actual timeframe depends on the project, council
requirements, application completeness and whether the proposal is eligible for the relevant RiskSMART pathway.
Yes. Early town planning advice can be particularly
valuable before purchasing a property or committing to a
development project.
Consult Planning provides due diligence and site
acquisition advice to help identify planning constraints
and development opportunities before a property purchase or development commitment.
Learn more about planning due diligence.
Planning due diligence is the process of investigating the
planning controls, constraints and development opportunities affecting a property.
Depending on the project, this can involve reviewing
planning schemes, zoning, overlays, site characteristics,
existing approvals and other statutory requirements.
The purpose is to identify potential planning risks and
opportunities early so you can make a more informed
property or development decision.
Yes. Town planning consultants can assist with responding to council issues, negotiating appropriate development outcomes and advocating for a client’s proposal during the assessment process.
Consult Planning provides planning advocacy and works with clients to identify practical solutions to planning issues.
A planning scheme issue does not necessarily mean a project
cannot proceed.
The appropriate response depends on the nature and extent of the issue, the applicable assessment framework and the overall merits of the proposal.
A town planner can identify the relevant planning
provisions, consider alternative development options and advise on potential strategies for progressing the project.
Yes. All our consultants are university qualified and meet the requirements for membership of the Planning Institute of Australia.
Our Director is a Registered Planning accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia recognising not only qualifications but also extensive experience.
We are experts and specialists in what we do. Town Planning is our sole focus, we don’t do anything else.
We also pride ourselves on accessibility and responsive communication.
Yes, we hold $10 million professional indemnity insurance and $20 million public liability insurance.