Development Assessment

Council's Development Assessment department provides urban and rural development assessment and land use planning services to the community.

As our region continues to grow, our aim is to ensure the region's natural and built assets are properly sustained and protected.

Over the last 3 years Council has implemented a number of initiatives aimed at supporting the development industry and growth of our region including:

• Shovel Ready applications - In 2009/10 Council approved 14 applications under the Shovel Ready scheme providing $1.5 million in incentives for developments.
• Infrastructure Incentives Policy - Under the current incentives policy for infrastructure charges, Council has provided approximately $4.5 million in infrastructure charge discounts.
• Infrastructure agreements - Council has entered into five infrastructure agreements to provide credits to developers for community infrastructure that they provide.
• ExpressWay - A suite of process improvements and information that assist to make the development assessment processes faster and easier to use.

In association with the Fraser Coast Opportunities initiative, Council offers free prelodgement meetings for developments that will result in establishment of new businesses or the expansion of existing businesses.

Development applications

For information on development applications submitted and determined, refer to PD Online. 

Council's PD Online software allows applicants, businesses, developers and members of the public to view and print information and track the progress of development application online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Related links

• ExpressWay
• IDAS application forms
• Forms and information sheets
• Planning schemes, policies and resolutions
• Investment Attraction Incentives Scheme

Contact us

Planning enquiries can be made between 8.15am and 4.45pm Monday to Friday by phoning 1300 79 49 29 or in person at the Hervey Bay or Maryborough Customer Service Centres.

To obtain prelodgement feedback on a development proposal Council offers Development Assessment Review Team (DART) meetings.

These meetings provide an opportunity for applicants and Council to discuss key issues relevant to the assessment of a proposal prior to lodging a development application.