Queensland Government extends regulation limits to support recovery efforts
The Deputy Premier has advised today that the Queensland Government is extending the action to support the recovery of our State from the impacts of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred event (the weather event).
On 20 March 2025, the Deputy Premier, The Hon Jarrod Bleijie MP, declared the Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred recovery to be an applicable event for affected Local Government Areas under section 275E of the Planning Act 2016 (the Planning Act).
The new applicable event will commence from 20 March 2025 to 4 April 2025 (inclusive) and apply to the following 21 local government areas, which are the same as the earlier Tropical Cyclone Alfred applicable event (ending on 19 March 2025):
- Brisbane City Council
- Bundaberg Regional Council
- Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
- Fraser Coast Regional Council
- Gold Coast City Council
- Goondiwindi Regional Council
- Gladstone Regional Council
- Gympie Regional Council
- Ipswich City Council
- Lockyer Valley Regional Council
- Logan City Council
- Moreton Bay City Council
- Noosa Shire Council
- North Burnett Regional Council
- Redland City Council
- Scenic Rim Regional Council
- Somerset Regional Council
- South Burnett Regional Council
- Southern Downs Regional Council
- Sunshine Coast Regional Council
- Toowoomba Regional Council
Given the continued pressures on supply chains for essential goods, critical supplies and supporting business and community recovery, the Deputy Premier has declared the following uses under section 275O of the Planning Act – a shop, warehouse, transport depot, health care services, hardware and trade services, low, medium, high industry and special industry use that is directly necessary for the supply or manufacture of critical goods where for the purpose of an abattoir or food processing facility.
For the period of the declaration of use, a requirement of a designation or condition of a development approval which has the effect of limiting the hours of operation or restricting the movement of goods of the abovementioned use or class of uses does not apply in accordance with section 275P of the Planning Act.
The declaration of uses does not change operating requirements under other legislation, and it is a matter for each operator to ensure compliance with any legislative or regulatory requirement that may apply.
As you may recall, declaring an applicable event also enlivens the Temporary Use Licence (TUL) provisions of the Planning Act.
Any person may now apply to the Chief Executive of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning for a TUL to change or vary existing development approval conditions or other operating constraints which may prevent them from operating during the applicable event.
This provides an opportunity to support temporary solutions for businesses displaced or affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred or temporary operations to support clean-up activities.
A copy of the applicable event notice and the declaration of use notice and information about TULs can be found online at:
www.planning.qld.gov.au/planning-framework/legislation/ministers-powers/applicable-events.
