Impact assessment development application

Impact assessment is generally required by Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan) where there is a need to consider the potential impacts of a particular proposal.

When undertaking development requiring impact assessment under City Plan, you will need to:

  • submit a development application to Brisbane City Council, and
  • have it approved before starting any activity or development.

An Impact assessable development application requires public notification prior to Council making a decision.

Impact assessable development

Part 5 of City Plan identifies the rules for determining the category of assessment for development.

To identify if your development is impact assessable, refer to the relevant table of assessment for that component of development in Part 5 either:

  • material change of use
  • reconfiguring a lot
  • operational work, or
  • building work

and find the category of assessment applicable to the zone or zone precinct of the site. 

Overlays and neighbourhood plans may change the category of assessment that applies to the zone or zone precinct.

Part 5.3.1 of the scheme outlines the process for determining the hierarchy of assessment levels:

  1. Zone category of assessment (lowest).
  2. Neighbourhood plan category of assessment.
  3. Overlay category of assessment (highest).

To find out if your site is in a neighbourhood plan or overlay area, look at the key facts about a property.

Assessment benchmarks

Where a proposal requires impact assessment, it is assessed against:

Public notification requirements

The applicant is responsible for public notification (advertising) of the application. The Planning Act 2016 requires the applicant to:

  • publish a notice in a newspaper that circulates generally in the locality of the land
  • place a notice as described in the act on the land
  • give notice to adjoining land owners.

Applicants can engage companies that specialise in public notices for development applications. You can find the requirements for advertising impact assessment applications.

Infrastructure charges

Under Brisbane's Infrastructure Charges Resolution, Council may include infrastructure charges notices with a development approval.

Infrastructure charges relate to trunk infrastructure networks for:

  • transport
  • public parks and land for community facilities
  • stormwater.

Urban Utilities may issue a separate infrastructure charges notice for water supply and sewerage purposes. 

Application fees

Find out about fees for Impact assessment development applications.

More information

For more information phone Council on 07 3403 8888 and ask to speak to a Town Planner.

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