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Number 197: 17 January 2025

Rate 3 Streetlighting Improvements

Ipswich City Council (council) have undertaken a review of the processes associated with the assessment and handover of Rate 3 Streetlighting assets. The purpose of the review was to identify areas which could mutually benefit council officers and the development industry. The improvements which were identified will take effect immediately and are outlined below:

Removal of Maintenance Period for Rate 3 Streetlighting

Council will no longer require a 12-month maintenance period once an asset has achieved what was formally known as On Maintenance. Meaning that council will accept maintenance responsibility of the asset once it has reached the requirements of Asset Acceptance. Asset Acceptance will be contingent on the full completion of works (including defects rectification), energisation and an accepted submission of As Constructed Information, certifications, warranties, test results and the Financial Apportionment Form. It should be noted that a maintenance security bond will not be required, however Rate 3 Streetlighting may still be subject to Incomplete Works Bonding.

Condensed Financial Apportionment Form

As mentioned above, one of the requirements of Asset Acceptance is the provision of the Financial Apportionment Form. Council has reviewed the current Financial Apportionment Form and has created a condensed version of the form for Electrical and Streetlighting Works. The updated form can be found at Financial Apportionment Form and Instructions.

Minimum Incomplete Works Bond

Council has also reviewed the Incomplete Works Bonding policy under Planning Scheme Policy 3 – Part 10.1.4 and have considered that the minimum Incomplete Works Bond will be set at $15,000.00. The minimum bond covers the provision of As Constructed Information (As Design As Constructed (ADAC), test certification, warranties, test results and the Financial Apportionment Form) and energisation. It should be noted that Planning Scheme Policy 3 – Part 10.1.4 does not specifically address milestones for Rate 3 Streetlighting works and it is hoped that the minimum bond will provide guidance for applicants looking to bond Rate 3 Streetlighting works incomplete for small to medium sized subdivisions.

Please note that the above relates to Rate 3 Streetlighting infrastructure only and other lighting associated with other development works will be subject to the normal requirements of Planning Scheme Policy 3 – General Works. Furthermore, the Minimum Incomplete Works Bond relates to Operational Works under the Planning Act and council’s Planning Scheme and does not include the Ripley Priority Development Area under the Economic Development Act.

Should you have any enquiries regarding the above, feel free to contact council's Engineering, Health and Environment Branch via email (engineering@ipswich.qld.gov.au)

Number 196: 13 December 2024

New Off-site Stormwater Quality Improvement Policy and Updated Voluntary Payment

Since 2012, Ipswich City Council (council) has operated the Off-site Stormwater Quality Improvement Program (the Program). The Program allows eligible developers to voluntarily pay a fee to council in-lieu of meeting some or all of their stormwater quality improvement responsibilities under the State Planning Policy 2017. Council must use the fees to deliver projects off development sites (i.e., off-site) that achieve an equal or greater stormwater quality outcome relative to what would be achieved by developers meeting responsibilities on development sites.

In late 2022, council undertook a review of the Program to ensure it can meet the responsibilities it inherits from developers participating in the Program in the future. The review identified several issues and recommendations to address them including, but not limited to, the following.

  1. The preparation of a new Off-site Stormwater Quality Improvement Policy (the Policy) to ensure consistent council decisions aligned to best practice and the achievement of desired economic, environmental, and social outcomes in Ipswich.
  2. The update of council’s Voluntary Off-site Stormwater Quality Improvement Payment (the Payment) to ensure environmental, financial, and other risks associated with off-site stormwater quality improvement are minimised for council and the Ipswich community.

In December 2024, council resolved to adopt the Policy. Now in effect, the Policy can be found on council's website here. The updated Payment will take effect from 1 July 2025 and be included in the 2025-2026 Register of Fees and Charges. It will include the following changes to the unit and rate used to calculate the Payment:

Payment unit

To ensure consistent assessments of the stormwater quality improvement responsibilities council inherits from developers, and the performance of off-site projects in meeting them, the current unit will change from square metres (m2) of water quality treatment area to kilograms (kg) of Total Nitrogen (TN) per year (kg/TN/year). The change of unit will result in the current rate of $1,121.23/m2 being updated to the equivalent value of $29,506/kgTN/year. Note that this does not represent an increase to the fee rate, and therefore the fees to be paid by developers, only a change in the unit used to measure responsibilities.

Payment rate

To address environmental modelling uncertainties and recover council’s costs for the operation of the Program, including the planning and delivery of projects to meet the responsibilities council inherits from developers, the updated fee rate will increase from $29,605/kgTN/year to $48,532/kgTN/year. This denotes a 64% increase in the fee rate, made up of a 50% increase to address modelling uncertainties and associated environmental and financial risks, and a 14% increase to recover council’s Program and project management costs.

The new Policy and update to the Payment will maintain council’s position as a leader in off-site stormwater quality improvement in Queensland. This has been reflected in historic awards for off-site projects (e.g., Small Creek channel naturalisation) and most recently, the 2024 Award for Excellence in Policy and Education from Stormwater Queensland for the Program’s review.

For further information, please visit council’s Off-site Stormwater Quality Improvement Program website.

Number 195: 29 October 2024

Quarterly Activity Report

This is the latest Quarterly Activity Report which snapshots Development Applications Lodged and Determined, together with information on a variety of Regulatory functions which have occurred in the Ipswich City Council area.

The full snapshot can be viewed here.

Number 194: 28 October 2024

New Online Functionality for Private Certifiers

Ipswich City Council is pleased to notify you of a recent enhancement to the Online Lodgements Portal for Private Certifiers, enabling the digital upload of Final Inspection Certificates.

The enhancement brings additional functionality to the Portal, providing Private Certifiers an online option to upload and lodge all of the following documents with council, associated with Building Works applications:

  • Form 56 - Notice of Engagement
  • Decision Notices BWPC1 and BWPC2 (excluding amended Decision Notices)
  • Final Inspection Certificates*

*This new functionality will be available for all new Building Works applications lodged with council after today, Monday 28 October 2024. However, for applications lodged prior to this date, Private Certifiers will need to email the Final Inspection Certificates to council for processing.

This change was implemented to enhance customer experience and add the last piece to the online lodgements process. By enabling the online submission of Final Inspection Certificates, council hopes that your interactions with us are now more efficient, consistent and convenient.

User support information, along with the Online Lodgements Portal link, can be found under the ‘Online Services’ tab at Ipswich.qld.gov.au

If you have questions or concerns relating to the Online Lodgements Portal for Private Certifiers, please contact Ipswich City Council’s Lodgements team during business hours on (07) 3810 6888 or email plandev@ipswich.qld.gov.au

Ipswich City Council appreciates your business and values your past and future feedback.

Number 193: 4 October 2024

Update: Draft Ipswich Plan 2024 (including draft LGIP 2024)

Approval of the draft Ipswich Plan 2024 (including the draft LGIP 2024) was not received from the state government prior to it entering the pre-election caretaker period.

Ipswich City Council will continue to engage with the State Government post-election.

The anticipated adoption and commencement date of Ipswich Plan 2024 (including the LGIP) cannot be confirmed at this stage. A further update will be provided when available.

Thank you for your continued interest in this important project and in shaping the future of our City.

Number 192: 1 August 2024

Annual Activity Report Card

This is the latest Annual Activity Report which snapshots Development Applications Lodged and Determined, together with information on a variety of Regulatory functions which have occurred in the Ipswich City Council area during the 2023-2024 financial year.

The report can be viewed here.

Number 191: 1 August 2024

Quarterly Activity Report

This is the latest Quarterly Activity Report which snapshots Development Applications Lodged and Determined, together with information on a variety of Regulatory functions which have occurred in the Ipswich City Council area.

The full snapshot can be viewed here.

Number 190: 1 July 2024

Adoption of the Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2024

Ipswich City Council (council) has adopted the Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2024, effective on and from 1 July 2024.

The purpose of the Ipswich Adopted Charges Resolution (No.1) 2024 is to:

  • replace the Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2023, including indexation to March 2024;
  • state the adopted charges for providing the local government trunk infrastructure networks; and
  • state the levied charges to be levied by the local government for development for the demand placed on the local government trunk infrastructure networks.

The Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2024, as well as previous versions, are available on council’s website at Ipswichplanning.com.au/planning-documents/planning-scheme

For further information, please contact council’s Planning and Regulatory Services Department, City Design Branch on (07) 3810 6251.

Number 189: 1 July 2024

Register of Fees and Charges (2024-2025)

Ipswich City Council has adopted a new fee structure for the new financial year which includes changes to the fees applicable for development, operational works, building and plumbing applications, and health and regulatory services fees.

This document can be located here.

Number 188: 20 June 2024

Ripley Valley PDA Application/Lodgement Form Now Available

The new ‘Ripley PDA Application/Lodgement Form’ is now available. This form is for use with lodgement of all applications in the Ripley Valley Priority Development Area and is available from Ipswich City Council’s Ipswich Planning website.

Please note that this is an update and correction to the previously advised link detailed in eAlert 187 dated 14 June 2024.

Number 187: 14 June 2024

New Ripley Valley PDA Application/Lodgement Form

Ipswich City Council (council) officers recently undertook extensive consultation with both internal and external stakeholders (EDQ and the Development Industry) to obtain constructive feedback on experiences and/or challenges that are being faced with developments in the Ripley Valley Priority Development Area (PDA). The findings of this consultation have now been analysed, validated and used to inform the creation of a ‘RVPDA Improvement Plan’ (Improvement Plan). It is important to note that the Improvement Plan focuses not only on areas of improvement for council, but also areas that the development industry can improve upon in order for council to facilitate the desired quicker and more efficient development assessment process.

As part of the Improvement Plan, a new ‘Ripley PDA Application/Lodgement Form’ (Form) has been prepared and will be published on council’s Planning and Development website for use with lodgement of all applications in the Ripley Valley PDA. This form will be available for use from Monday 17 June 2024.

The new Form will replace the existing ‘Engineering Certification Form – EDQ’ and is to be used for all applications and/or lodgements in the Ripley Valley PDA, including planning applications through to plan sealing applications. Please note that from Monday 17 June 2024 onwards, the Form and all plans, documents and fees indicated on the Form as 'mandatory supporting information' must be submitted for the application to be accepted. When naming the 'mandatory supporting information' attachments, please name as they appear on the Form e.g. PDA Form – Application for Compliance Assessment, Certification Deed Poll – Project Coordinator, Supporting Plans, Supporting Documents, etc.

Council is hopeful that this new form will contribute towards significant overall improved efficiencies for developments in the Ripley Valley PDA. Once again, as an organisation we are strongly committed to a continued open/honest working relationship with the Development Industry and we trust that the Industry will work collaboratively with council staff moving forward in order to ensure the Ripley Valley PDA Improvement Plan is successful.

Number 186: 6 June 2024

$350 million Incentivising Infill Development Fund opens 10 June 2024

A new $350 million Incentivising Infill Development Fund is about to open, being an initiative of the State government under Homes for Queenslanders to encourage new residential development in well-located areas.

The fund will provide relief from infrastructure charges for market-ready development to unlock more homes for Queenslanders.

To qualify for funding, proposals must demonstrate returns to the Queensland community by facilitating more diverse, more affordable and well-located housing options.

Applications open on 10 June 2024 to landowners, development proponents, and authorised representatives of landowners such as planning consultants and development managers.

Find out more about the process, check eligibility and read the Guidelines.

Please contact the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works IIDFund@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au if you have queries about the fund or application process.

Number 185: 1 May 2024

Quarterly Activity Report

This is the latest Quarterly Activity Report which snapshots Development Applications Lodged and Determined, together with information on a variety of Regulatory functions which have occurred in the Ipswich City Council area.

The full snapshot can be viewed here.

Number 184: 18 March 2024

Ipswich Plan 2024: Update

Ipswich City Council (council) is in the process of preparing a new planning scheme, Ipswich Plan 2024, to help plan for the future of our growing city.

The draft Ipswich Plan 2024 was shared with the community from 15 May to 16 July 2023 and the draft Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) from 12 June to 25 July 2023.

The draft Ipswich Plan 2024 received significant interest from the community with 506 submissions received and a further 35 submissions on the draft LGIP.

Council has reviewed the submissions received and has prepared a public consultation report.

If a person or organisation has lodged a submission on the draft Ipswich Plan 2024, draft LGIP or proposed ‘planning change’ (draft Feasible Alternatives Assessment Report (FAAR)) they will soon receive a letter from council directing them to the Submissions Portal where they will be able to access their personal response by using their unique reference number provided in the letter from council.

The draft Ipswich Plan 2024, including supporting mapping, has been amended in response to submissions received. Most of the revisions made are related to clarification improvements, minor updates and minor corrections.

Council has sent the revised plan to the State Government for final review and expects it to come into effect later in 2024, pending State Government and final council approval.

Following State Government and council final approval of the Ipswich Plan 2024, the planning scheme, mapping and associated property report information will be updated online.

Follow the progress of the Ipswich Plan 2024 on the Shape Your Ipswich page and register for project updates.

Number 183: 7 March 2024

Ipswich City Council – Electrical Specifications

Ipswich City Council has released an updated version of the Ipswich City Council Electrical Specifications.

The Electrical Specifications for Parks and Facilities document is available to download.

To obtain a copy, please visit ipswichplanning.com.au/planning-documents/technical-specifications.

Number 182: 30 January 2024

Quarterly Activity Report

This is the latest Quarterly Activity Report which snapshots Development Applications Lodged and Determined, together with information on a variety of Regulatory functions which have occurred in the Ipswich City Council area.

The full snapshot can be viewed here.