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Last Updated: Tuesday, 08 October 2024 10:35

Information 053

FastTrack is our accelerated development assessment path for low risk, code assessable development applications lodged by suitably qualified and experienced consultants. Assessment of FastTrack applications will generally be completed within ten business days from being decision ready*.

Eligible development

Where the following development is code assessable, they are eligible for FastTrack assessment:

*Decision ready: For the purpose of a FastTrack application this means entering the decision stage and Council concluding it has all necessary information to determine the application.

**Application thresholds: Maximum 500m²  gross floor area (GFA) limit (i.e. within an existing building, additions/extensions to an existing building/use, or a new use); OR a maximum of 10 rooms/units; whichever measure is applicable to the use as determined by Council.

Note: For the purpose of a FastTrack application ‘GFA’ includes areas used for external uses, storage and/or display (i.e. in addition to GFA as defined in the administrative definitions of the TRPS) and a ‘dual key unit’ is considered as two units.

Eligibility criteria

A development application is ineligible for FastTrack if:

• submitted by an applicant that is not suitably qualified and experienced (refer ‘Who can apply?’ heading below)
• submitted without the completed FastTrack application form, appropriate design certificate (where applicable) and attachment to the application form in addition to the information listed under the heading ‘What do I need to lodge with Council’
• ‘not properly made’ (such applications will not be received by Council)
• impact assessable 
• made under a superseded planning scheme
• involves land in a neighbourhood character area and involves a use other than a dwelling house or dual occupancy
  
• involves land in a neighbourhood character area and involves a dwelling house or dual occupancy use, but does not include a letter/memorandum of advice from the heritage advisor confirming support for the proposed development
• involves a state or local listed heritage place
• involves a development not listed as being FastTrack eligible development
• a ‘combined application’ (i.e. more than a single listed use)
• nominated FastTrack application thresholds are exceeded
• submitted without a landscape concept plan (where applicable, refer note below)
• located in a Priority Development Area (PDA) 
• involves a site that is not or cannot be connected to reticulated water and sewer infrastructure or involves trunk infrastructure (where applicable)
• any proposed vehicular access/s conflict with an existing street tree that will result in damage to the tree or its removal, but does not include a letter from the Parks and Recreation Branch that approves works to or removal of the tree.

Note:

• Subject to a written exemption by Council prior to lodgement, Council has discretion to include additional development in FastTrack assessment.
• Council has discretion to exclude a FastTrack application despite being listed as eligible development at any stage in the development application process. Should an application be excluded, a reason will be provided to the applicant. Reasons will include, but not be limited to proposals that: involve multiple complex technical reports; do not include satisfactory supporting information; require the issue of an ‘Outstanding Issues’ letter; require the preparation of an infrastructure agreement; or need to be presented at a Special Meetings of Council (DA).
• A landscape concept plan and a FastTrack design certificate is required for all eligible development with the exception of caretaker’s accommodation, dwelling house (including carports and extensions), dwelling unit, home based business, roadside stalls, boundary realignments, easements and advertising devices.
• The requirement for an infrastructure agreement, or the need for an application to be presented to the DAP or a Council Meeting may not be identified until the decision stage.
• The assessing officer will contact you as soon as practical should it be identified that for any reason your application is ineligible for FastTrack assessment.
• Ineligible FastTrack applications will be assessed in accordance with the timeframes pursuant to the Planning Act 2016.
  
  
  

Applicant criteria

Subject to a written exemption by Council, prior to lodgement, a FastTrack application can only be lodged by a suitably qualified and experienced applicant.

For the purpose of a FastTrack application, an applicant must be a qualified town planner or have a qualification in a development related discipline (e.g. urban designer, surveyor, architect, building designer, building surveyor, engineer, social scientist or solicitor etc.) and experience in the preparation, lodgement and/or assessment of development applications with or within Queensland Local Government.

Application submission

How to submit an application

Online application - preferred method

Online customer service portal - Register (top right hand corner) and then select 'Development applications'.

Further information about the portal can be found in the 'Submit your development application online' article.

Items required for submission

• FastTrack application form, including attachment containing supporting information (see 'Related documents')
• FastTrack design certificate, where applicable (see 'Related documents')
• land owner’s consent, if applicable 
• relevant forms
• proposal plans
• landscape concept plan, where applicable 

and other supporting information such as:

• attachment to FastTrack application form (i.e. supporting information)
• any technical reports (each saved separately)
• any additional or supporting information and/or documents 

Note: A full town planning report is not required in the case where all matters identified on the FastTrack application form have been satisfactorily addressed in an attachment.

Application fee

The FastTrack application fee is the same as the standard fee at the time of lodgement of an application. Please refer to the current Planning and Development Group Register of Cost Recovery Fees and Charges to determine the applicable fee. If lodging electronically, please contact Council to arrange for payment of the Council application fee at the time of lodgement.

Application fee rebate

Once a FastTrack application has been determined and a decision notice has been issued, Council will issue a 15% rebate of the application fee paid. 

Assessing officer

The assessing officer who is allocated to a FastTrack application will contact the applicant generally within two  business days of lodgement to advise their name and contact details. The assessing officer may need to refer a FastTrack application within Council to allow for assessment by specialist officers from a number of different functional areas. However, it is important following lodging a FastTrack application with Council that the assessing officer is the ‘single point’ of contact for all applicant enquiries.  

Standard conditions

The Development Services branch has developed and maintains standard condition sets in response to changes to legislation and standards as well as to ensure that development permits issued by TRC:

• make obligations clear
• use concise language
• contain consistent referencing of approved plans and documents
• contain consistent headings and formatting
• are designed for an electronic business environment
• are consistent across the region

A FastTrack application will generally include conditions from standard condition sets in the assessing officers report recommendation. However, in the case where non-standard or site specific conditions are proposed to be included in an approval, you will be contacted by the assessing officer to discuss the requirement.

Tips for success

You can assist Council in assessing your FastTrack application as fast as possible by:

• checking your FastTrack application against the ‘eligibility criteria’ heading above
• completing all questions and appendices on the FastTrack application form and where identified address matters identified in an attachment
• submitting the FastTrack application form, design certificate (as relevant) and landscape concept plan (as relevant) together with the mandatory and additional information listed under the ‘What do I need to lodge with Council’ heading above
• including a pre-application referral agency response (where relevant)
• including pre-lodgement meeting minutes (where applicable)
• including any infrastructure agreements required as a result of the proposed development (where applicable, e.g. payment of stormwater contributions in accordance with the Charges Resolution No. 4 in lieu of an on-site treatment in certain stormwater catchments).
  
  

Further information

For information and assistance, please contact Council’s Technical Advice Officers on 131 872  or at the Customer Service Centre at 4 Little Street, Toowoomba.

Related documents

• Development - FastTrack application form APP 012 (online) - registration required
• Development - FastTrack MCU PSW design certificate application form CL 006 (PDF for print)
• Development - FastTrack RAL design certificate application form CL 007 (PDF for print)
• Development - FastTrack information sheet INFO 053 (PDF for print)