Development approvals
In 1997, the Queensland Government introduced the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA). The IPA established a new system for assessing and placing conditions on development applications in Queensland.This system is known as IDAS — the Integrated Development Assessment System. IDAS aims to co-ordinate and integrate the assessment and conditioning powers of government agencies responsible for administering a range of legislation dealing with development approvals.
One of the first pieces of legislation incorporated into IDAS was the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act). The EP Act and Environmental Protection Regulation 1998 (EP Reg) previously provided the ‘Licensing and Approval’ process for activities that could potentially harm the environment.
Environmentally relevant activities (ERAs) — other than mining or petroleum activities) — are now assessed (and have conditions placed on them) through the IDAS process. Following the successful completion of the IDAS process, a development approval may be issued. Development approvals replace the licences previously issued under the EP Act.
Development applications are lodged with the assessment manager. If the only assessable development in the application is the ERA, the administering authority is the assessment manager. The assessment manager varies depending on what other assessable development is involved in the development proposal. Where the administering authority is not the assessment manager, it is the referral agency.
NOTE: If you are unsure whether your development proposal is assessable against a planning scheme, contact your local government. A number of information sheets on development approvals and the IDAS process are available at Environmental Management/Planning and guidelines/Environmental legislation.
For application forms and guidelines go to the Department of Local Government and Planning’s IPA website.
Last updated: 01 February 2006
