Fast Track Applications
Council has collaborated with the development industry to devise a process where qualifying development applications and survey plans can be decided within a shorter timeframe and at a reduced cost.
Fast Track Development Approval
Introducing Fast Track Development Approval, the efficient approach for assessing and approving low-risk development applications through Council-accredited consultants. As a customer, you'll experience the benefits of streamlined assessment, where Fast Track consultants evaluate your application based on Fast Track criteria and the Townsville City Plan. The assessment, along with relevant documentation, is then presented to Council officers for review and approval.
The key advantages include receiving the assessment outcome within 5 business days in place of the legislative 45 business days, as well as benefiting from a substantial discount on Council’s development application fees.
Fast Track Process Workflow
Consultants follow the subsequent process for a Fast Track application:
- Consultants determine if the application is eligible.
- Consultants develop a planning report and schedule of conditions utilising Council resources.
- Consultants submit the application via the application portal.
- Council receives the application, confirms eligibility, and issues a confirmation notice if necessary.
- Council officers review the application.
- The Council issues a Decision Notice to the consultant.
Development applications eligible for Fast Track process
Council has introduced the Fast Track process for assessing the following low-risk code-assessable development types:
- Material Change of Use:
- Telecommunications facilities
- Multiple Dwelling in Principal Centre Zone (non compliant with AO4)
- Low & Medium impact industry – noncompliant accepted development
- Office space
- Landscaping
- Parking
- Building setbacks
- Outdoor sales within Low impact industry zone
- Reconfiguring a Lot, five lots or less:
- Subdivision
- Boundary realignment
- Lease exceeding 10 years
- Easement
- Operational Works:
- Advertising devices
- Bulk earthworks within rural and rural residential zone (works area less than 2,500m2
- Development Building Works:
- Building Works in Character residential zone
Please note that each of the application types has specific eligibility criteria that must be met to qualify for the Fast Track process. If an application does not meet the outlined eligibility criteria in the application form, the traditional development assessment process will be followed instead. It's essential to carefully review and adhere to the criteria to ensure eligibility for the streamlined Plan Right process.
Applications requiring referral
If your application is subject to referral, Council can still assess it through the Fast Track process. To ensure the application receives a referral response, Council will provide a Confirmation Notice within 2 business days. Upon the receipt of the referral response, Council will generate a decision within 5 business days, provided you waive the appeal rights for the referral response.
Ineligible for Fast Track
The following development applications are ineligible for assessment through the Fast Track process:
- Impact assessable development
- Applications resulting from a show cause notice, compliance, or enforcement action
- Retrospective development applications
- Development applications under current appeal in the Planning & Environment Court
- Applications that require trunk infrastructure
- Applications that require an information request
Lodging an application
As a customer, you can utilise the eligibility criteria in the application portal to determine if your application qualifies for Fast Track process. Please be aware that only Fast Track accredited consultants can lodge applications on your behalf.
To lodge an application, please visit the following Plan Right application portal
Accredited Fast Track consultants
To have your application assessed under the Fast Track process by Townsville City Council, please consider the following list of accredited consultants:
BNC Planning Pty Ltd | 07 4724 4551 | |
Brazier Motti | 07 4772 1144 | |
Milford Planning | 07 4724 0095 | |
Northpoint Planning | 07 4440 5282 | |
RPS Group | 07 4724 4244 |
Report template and standard conditions
Fast Track accredited consultants are required to utilise Council's standardised report templates and comply with the prescribed conditions when submitting an application.
Consultant Report Template (DOCX, 2.0 MB)
View our Standards Conditions page for current templates.
Fast Track Survey Plan
Fast Track Survey Plan is a streamlined plan of survey approval process, wherein accredited consultants create plan sealing requests for Council consideration. Consultants are responsible for lodging an application which provides and certifies the necessary documentation for survey plan endorsement. Additionally, they ensure all fees, charges, and contributions are settled before lodging the application.
As a customer, the key advantages of Fast Track Survey Plan include a prompt 5-business day approval timeframe and significant fee reduction.
Fast Track Survey Plan Process Workflow
Consultants follow the subsequent process for a Fast Track application:
- Consultants determine the eligibility of the application.
- Consultants develop a compliance report and associated documents.
- Consultants submit the application via the application portal.
- Council receives the application and confirms eligibility.
- Council officers review the application.
- Council issues an Approval of Survey Plan Form to the consultant.
Lodging an application
To lodge an application, please visit the Fast Track application portal.
Report templates and checklists
Fast Track accredited consultants must complete and submit the following documents with a Fast Track application.
Accredited Fast Track Survey Plan consultants
| Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Brazier Motti | townsville@braziermotti.com.au | 07 4772 1144 |
| Milford Planning Consultants | info@milfordplanning.com.au | 07 4724 0095 |
| Northpoint Planning | hello@northpointplanning.com.au | 07 4440 5282 |
| RPS Group | townsville@rpsgroup.com.au | 07 4724 4244 |
| Vision Surveys (QLD) Pty Ltd | townsville@visionsurveysqld.com.au | 07 4721 0410 |
Become an accredited consultant with Council
To become a Fast Track accredited consultant, the organisation must demonstrate the successful submission of subsequent applications that have not required action notices. Additionally, they need to showcase proficiency in the processes and project management related to plan endorsement procedures for which they seek accreditation. Moreover, they must have the required professional indemnity insurance.
Council will thoroughly review the submitted applications and associated materials to determine the organisation's eligibility. Once accredited, the organisation will hold the accreditation for a period of two financial years.
For detailed information on the accreditation, please contact Council’s Planning and Development Department to obtain a copy of the accreditation application documents.
