$1.95m for Queensland council planning projects

The Queensland Government is offering local councils a share in $1.95 million funding via the second round of its Innovation and Improvement Fund.

The funding is for projects that will lead to better local planning systems.

“We’re urging councils, and especially regional councils, to go online to check the pre-application information for round two funding,” said Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick.

“This is about councils embracing the challenge to look at how they are operating and develop innovative ways to improve their planning systems and practices.

The $4.5 million Innovation and Improvement Fund was initiated in 2017 to help councils transition to the state’s new planning system.

“It was a fantastic success with funding of $2.55 million approved for 33 projects, benefiting 40 councils across the state for a variety of innovative planning ideas,” the Minister said.

Success stories from the first round include:

• Mackay Regional Council’s mobile app that brings real-time planning data to residents, with information on how the planning scheme applies to their property, street and community.
• Sunshine Coast Council’s in-progress development of an online application that will make it easy for the public to visualise development assessment activities and be alerted to development applications.

“This fund gives councils the ability to get great planning ideas off the ground and into practice that align with the state’s planning focus,” said LGAQ Chief Executive Greg Hallam.

“This is a genuine opportunity to work with councils and launch innovative projects. We encourage members to take advantage of this fantastic initiative already demonstrating impressive results,” added Richard Moore, Queensland Manager of the Planning Institute of Australia.

The pre-application stage is open until 1 June, with the formal offer round open from 4 June to 27 July.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/zstock

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