Proposed amendments to the Brisbane City Plan intended to improve implementation and interpretation of parts of the planning scheme and correct some inconsistencies and interpretation issues have been placed on public exhibition.
Of particular interest to Property Council of Australia members, the proposed amendments include changes to ensure that all multi-unit dwellings in local plans are subject to impact assessment rather than code assessment. The Property Council has previously expressed concern that this change will result in longer approval time periods for developments and less certainty for developers despite the overall intent of an area being for multiple unit dwellings.
The proposed amendments also include:
- removal of Local Plan demolition controls from Medium and High Density Residential Areas, recognising the conflict between retaining character housing and developing sites in those Areas to their full potential;
- revision of the Stormwater Management Code, including identifying the levels of information required at the conceptual planning and detailed design stages respectively;
- a review of the mapping of wetland areas to include areas between 0.2 and two hectares and review existing wetland areas greater than two hectares;
- clarification of front and rear setbacks, terminology and minor corrections to the House Code, Residential Design - Small Lot Code, Residential Design - Character Code, Residential Design Codes for Low-Medium Density, Medium Density and High Density Areas; and
- moving design controls for the Queen Street, Brunswick Street and Chinatown Malls from Local Laws to the City Plan.
The Property Council’s Planning and Development Committee had discussed the general nature of these proposed amendments with the Brisbane City Council’s Planning Branch in late-2001 and will be preparing a formal submission on the proposed amendments, as exhibited. Members are encouraged to contact the Property Council with any concerns or comments on the proposed amendments.
Submissions close 28 May 2002
