海角社区

Overview to the SARA Referrals under Planning Regulation 2017

In Queensland, we are fortunate to have State based referrals that are managed by the one entity (for the most part) being the State Assessment and Referral Agency. This system has been in place for a number of years and this series seeks to look at the referral system and what this means for the day to day practice of town planning and undertaking development assessment.

To start the series, we are pleased to have Leah Harris to speak about the overview of the referrals system, such as the:

• Why we have referrals in place?
• What is the head of power for the referrals?
• What is the role of SARA?
• How does SARA work with other agencies / Assessment Managers?
• What are the MyDAS2 system and the Development Assessment Mapping System (DAMS)?
• How can planners work with SARA for a smooth referral process?

Leah Harris M海角社区 - Principal Planner, Department of Housing Local Government Planning and Public Works

Leah is a seasoned town planner from Mackay, with 20 years of diversified experience in both government and private sectors. Known for her strategic and practical approach to urban development, she has made her mark with impactful presentations at planning conferences and an enriching stint in Canada. As a graduate of the LGMA Propeller Program and an inspiring mentor, Leah embodies dynamic, forward-thinking leadership amid the evolving landscape of the planning industry.

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Under the Planning Act 2016, a development application may trigger a requirement for an application to be referred to a referral agency. Referral agencies are generally Queensland Government departments and authorities.

These referrals may be triggered due to the following:

• the land uses proposed, such as a hazardous chemical facility or an environmentally relevant activity;
• the location where the development is proposed, such as in proximity to electricity infrastructure, within a regional plan area or within a wetland;
• the size of the development, such as the urban design triggers or the transport threshold;
• the impact that the development may have, such as clearing native vegetation; or
• an attribute of the building or land upon which a development is proposed, such as whether the site is heritage listed or is contaminated.

This seminar series aims to demystify the referral process and to assist the audience to better understand some of the trickier referrals that planners may come across in their day to day work.

The chairperson for the seminar series will be:

Renee Wall R海角社区 - Director, Wall Planning Group

Renee is founder of Wall Planning Group and is a planning professional with over 20 years experience in the planning sector, specialising in the delivery of major projects. Renee is fascinated by people and places and is a passionate advocate for town planning across Queensland.

Note: For large group viewing of the seminar, please contact qld@planning.org.au