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Relaxed Living and Rural Lifestyle
Council is committed to preserving the region’s natural assets and prime agricultural land while encouraging future growth opportunities and innovation that enhance the Scenic Rim’s relaxed living and rural lifestyle.
Progress in 2018-19 on the Draft Scenic Rim Planning Scheme - the region’s first ever unified planning scheme - represented an important milestone in the 10-year journey following the establishment of Scenic Rim Regional Council in 2008. The new planning scheme has been developed in the context of the State Government’s Planning Act 2016, the Shaping SEQ South East Queensland Regional Plan 2017 and the State Planning Policy and will replace the existing planning schemes of the former Beaudesert Shire, Boonah Shire and Ipswich City Council areas within the Scenic Rim local government area. Guided by the Scenic Rim Community Plan, it will underpin development aligned with the community’s shared vision for our region for the next 20 years and aims to provide certainty to Scenic Rim residents, landowners and investors by identifying land use intent for particular areas. It will also inform Council’s plans for infrastructure to support growth and balance the social and economic development of the region to protect and enhance our region’s lifestyle and the natural assets valued by the community. Following minor changes to address the requirements of the State interest review in July 2018, Council endorsed the draft Planning Scheme for public consultation in August. An 11-week period of public consultation, which exceeded the minimum statutory requirement, was carried out between 26 September and 14 December 2018 to ensure the community had ample opportunity to contribute to the development of the draft Planning Scheme in an open and transparent process. Opportunities for community feedback were promoted through advertising in print and social media, displays at Council administration centres and libraries and the distribution of a brochure to all ratepayers in the region seeking their input into the planning process. ‘Talk to a Planner’ and community information sessions were conducted at key locations across the region during office hours as well as after hours and on weekends to encourage as many people as possible to have their say in shaping the future of the region. The community response to the draft Planning Scheme was significant, with Council receiving a total of 559 submissions. Council appreciates the time and effort of community members who contributed to the consultation process through properly made submissions which have provided valuable feedback for Council in finalising the strategic land use planning intent for the Scenic Rim. While a wide range of issues was raised in submissions, common themes related to the natural environment, rural and residential lot sizes, land uses in rural areas, population growth, tourism and infrastructure planning.
Assessment of each submission based on its planning merits, including any recommended changes to the draft Planning Scheme, was near completion by the end of the 2018-19 year. Following endorsement by Council, a Community Consultation Report, highlighting proposed changes to be made to the draft Planning Scheme as a result of issues raised in submissions, will be released publicly. A final round of community consultation, limited to changes made to the 2018 draft of the Planning Scheme, will be carried out early in the 2019-20 financial year in line with the Planning Act 2016. Following the final round of community consultation, Council will review and respond to all submissions and submit the draft Planning Scheme to the Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning for approval. Commencement of the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme is proposed for early 2020.
PREPARING FOR NEW PLUMBING LAWS
Scenic Rim Regional Council was on target for the introduction of Queensland’s new plumbing laws on 1 July 2019. The streamlined framework of the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 and Plumbing Regulation 2019 aims to deliver fast tracked plumbing approvals to save businesses and individuals time and money and enhance community safety. While the new laws provide tougher penalties for plumbers, drainers and gasfitters who endanger public health and safety, they will also allow the fast tracking of plumbing applications associated with dwellings and sheds in areas connected to water and sewerage. Under the new laws, Council will assess plumbing applications on a two-day turnaround for premises to be connected to water and sewerage. Previously, the statutory assessment period was 20 days. Council engaged with key stakeholders in raising awareness of the new fast-track approval process and the new laws and held an information session in Beaudesert in May 2019 for plumbers, service agents, builders and building certifiers. Information packages to assist stakeholders in the submission of plumbing applications were developed in readiness for the introduction of the new laws.
Scenic Rim’s approach to adapting its processes prior to the introduction of Queensland’s new plumbing laws have improved efficiencies in Council’s customer service interactions and provided a model for other local governments. The development industry will benefit from the fast tracking of plumbing approvals that will save time and money.
CHAMPIONING THE REGION’S INTERESTS
Council continued to champion the interests of the Scenic Rim, providing feedback to the Queensland Government on proposed planning legislation and policy changes and through its participation in State Government programs. In February 2019, Mayor Greg Christensen travelled to Canberra as part of a delegation which met with Federal Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge to discuss the TransformingSEQ City Deal Proposition which, according to modelling by KPMG, could unlock $58 billion in economic growth for South East Queensland. As the population of South East Queensland is predicted to grow beyond five million over the next 25 years, the challenges of accommodating that growth while maintaining liveability require long-term planning and investment. The Council of Mayors South East Queensland has worked with the State Government over five years to develop an understanding of the region’s needs, which has contributed to a strong and coordinated proposition to the Federal Government to negotiate a City Deal. Aligned with the Australian Government’s Smart Cities Plan, City Deals represent a partnership between the three levels of government and the community to work towards a shared vision for productive and liveable cities by aligning planning, investment and governance. The TransformingSEQ proposition outlines six transformational opportunities for South East Queensland. Of particular relevance to the Scenic Rim are a trade and enterprise spine between Toowoomba and the trade coast, connecting Inland Rail to the Port of Brisbane to unlock new jobs in the south-west and western growth areas; innovation precincts which will incorporate agriculture and agribusiness technology; and upgrades to public transport which aim to make South East Queensland a 45-minute region by reducing commuter travel and congestion on roads.
In July 2018, Council called on the Queensland Government to introduce annual land valuations in the Scenic Rim in response to community concern caused by 2018’s valuations, which were the first in three years. Council maintained that the system of threeyear valuations, which saw some valuations increase by more than 80 per cent and many examples of inconsistent valuations, was in need of review. The government advised that Council’s request for annual valuations would be considered in conjunction with the 2018 Market Survey and feedback from relevant local and industry groups. During 2018-19 Council provided submissions in response to the Queensland Government’s proposed SEQ Transport Plan and Heritage Place nominations and participated in several working groups focused on the SEQ Regional Plan 2017, which will guide planning for the future of South East Queensland, one of Australia’s most rapidly growing regions, to 2041 and beyond.
MANAGING BUILDING AND PLUMBING APPROVALS
The downturn in the building sector across the region in 2018-19 was reflected in the decrease in the number of building and plumbing approvals issued in the Scenic Rim compared with the previous year. The number of building approvals issued by private certifiers decreased to 685 while the number of building approvals issued by Council fell to 157, representing an overall decline of 10 per cent across the region compared with 2017-18. A total of 206 class 1a building approvals was issued during 2018-19, with the market experiencing a decline of 38 per cent in new dwelling construction for the year. Tightening access to finance and investor uncertainty in the lead-up to the federal election may have been contributing factors to the downturn in the building industry, which also saw a decrease of 26 per cent in the number of plumbing approvals issued in 2018-19 compared with the previous year. The number of regulatory plumbing inspections also decreased slightly across the region during this period.
ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL LAWS
Community safety, the amenity of residential areas and the preservation of the Scenic Rim’s natural values are all supported by Council’s enforcement of local laws. The Compliance Services team adopts an ‘educate, then regulate’ approach to administering Queensland Government and local laws for which it is responsible, with the aim of achieving compliance through a collaborative approach to achieve a positive outcome. During 2017-18, in addition to breaches of local laws, Council’s compliance officers responded to a wide range of customer requests relating to matters such as: • pool fencing laws • dangerous and dilapidated buildings • development without approval • contravention of development approvals • unlawful tree clearing, and • sediment pollution. The table below shows the types of development applications processed by Council under the Planning Act 2016 during the past four years.
2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Development Applications Processed
- Material Change of Use - Reconfiguration of a Lot - Operational Works (signage) - Change of Development conditions - Extension of Time - Building Envelope Approval - Building Envelope amendment - New lots approved - Survey Plans signed - Planning Certificates issued - Flood Certificates issued - Operational Works for land development 95 36 3 19 21 37 12 201 43 38 152
29 123 36 9 12 10 0 0 116 118 43 7 33 24 4 15 158 80 43 3 27 14 0 18 140 58 37 103
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The table below shows the applications processed by Council under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 and the Building Act 1975 during the past four years.
2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Facilities registered under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 - Backflow prevention devices 588 610 588 692 - On-site sewerage facilities 2,795 2,997 3,203 3,433
BUILDING APPROVALS
Inspections performed 700 875 675 693 Council certified approvals issued 188 220 221 157 Privately certified approvals 613 649 717 685
PLUMBING APPROVALS
Inspections performed 2,633 3,030 3,132 2,615 Approvals issued 343 349 416 307
SERVICE REQUESTS
Development compliance 145 155 198 209 Building compliance 118 138 146 175
LOOKING AHEAD Council will undertake a final round of community consultation on the Draft Scenic Rim Planning Scheme, limited to changes made to the 2018 draft, in the first quarter of 2019-20.
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