The Development Plan Overlay (DPO) is a planning tool used to implement a plan to guide the future use and development of land in the form of an outline development plan, detailed development plan or master plan.

The application of the DPO identifies areas, generally vacant land, that require the forward planning of future use or development to be resolved before a permit can be granted for any further development to take place on the land.

The Development Plan Overlay is used to:

• Prepare a plan to coordinate proposed use or development, before a permit can be granted.
• Guide content of the plan by specifying particular requirements in a schedule for the land.
• Provide certainty about the nature of the proposed use or development on the land.
• Remove public notice provisions for subsequent planning permit applications.
• Identify particular permit conditions that help to implement the plan and ensure permits granted are in general conformity with the plan.
• Provide statutory force to development plans.

A Development Plan is a planning tool which implements preferred outcomes and identifies necessary services and infrastructure required to facilitate development of a large parcel of land in a coordinated and integrated manner.

It provides certainty about development of land using a set of documentation, establishing planning permit conditions for proposals and removing public notification and third-party rights from planning permit applications.

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A Development Plan is required to be lodged with us for approval for any land that has the Development Plan Overlay and where the landowner or applicant wishes to further develop the land.

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The Development Plan may consist of plans or other documents and the content is guided by the specific requirements listed in the schedule to the Development Plan Overlay.

Once a Development Plan is approved, all future planning permit applications for the subject land that are generally in accordance with the approved plan, will be exempt from notice and review, meaning they are not required to be advertised to adjoining landowners.

We are committed to consulting community during the Development Plan assessment stage given after approval the absence of review rights during the planning permit process. As part of this consultation process, the public are invited to provide feedback that is then considered at a formal Council Meeting before a decision on the Development Plan is made.

Public consultation processes for Development Plans may vary depending on the location and nature, however, at a minimum will include:

• Notification via notices in local media;
• Information on the website; and
• Written notification to immediately adjoining landowners.

We accept amendments may need to be made over time. Requests for amendments may also require a public consultation process (subject to consideration of changes).

After community consultation concludes, our officers will consider information provided by the applicant and feedback received and use it to inform a report and recommendation to be decided at a Council Meeting.

Should you need further information please contact our Strategic Planning team.

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