WITH development applications taking up to four years to process, the Queensland Government has decided to reform the Integrated Planning Act and is consulting with developers and property groups. But it did not succeed, and approvals still took too long, Property Council (Queensland) executive director Robert Walker said yesterday.
"We are not saying 'throw out the Act' completely," he said. "We are saying that changes could be made ... to deliver on the Government's promises when it was introduced back in 1998."
Planning Minister Desley Boyle has invited councils, development industry figures and community groups to a summit next month to "obtain ideas" on reforming the Act.
"There have been claims that layers of bureaucracy have led to cost blow-outs in developments, with these costs being passed on to home buyers," Ms Boyle said.
Queensland's "unprecedented growth" had put a huge load on planners and other property development professionals in the public and private sectors.
Mr Walker said the reforms could lead to cheaper housing.
The eight-year-old legislation was designed to streamline processes and reduce red tape for developers, who previously had to gain approvals from up to 60 different authorities and agencies.
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