Queensland Guidelines: Meat Chicken Farms - Department of ...

3.0 The development assessment process
The Integrated Development Assessment System (IDAS), established under SP Act, provides a
single legal administrative framework for the assessment and approval of almost all development
in Queensland.
It is advantageous to undertake a pre-lodgement meeting with the relevant local government
before the formal submission of a development application.
The information and referral stage of IDAS serves two purposes: firstly, it provides an opportunity
to ask the applicant for more information; secondly, it provides for consideration of other interests
by referral agencies that are outside the scope of the assessment manager.
Most meat chicken farm developments, as prescribed by local planning schemes, require public
notification with subsequent appeal rights for submitters.
The decision stage of IDAS sets out the requirements for assessment managers when assessing
development applications.
3.1 Is a development permit required?
A development permit must be obtained prior to assessable development being carried out.
Development applications are made to the assessment manager, which in most circumstances for
meat chicken farms is the local government where the farm is to be located.
Assessable development is prescribed by local planning schemes and the Sustainable Planning
Regulation 2009 (SP Regulation).
Local planning schemes vary from local government to local government. There is considerable
variation in the definitions of meat chicken farms, what development is assessable and the level of
assessment required.
The SP Regulation prescribes assessable development and this includes meat chicken farms that
come within the definition of Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA) 4 (Poultry farming) under the
Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 (EP Regulation). Poultry farming consists of farming a
total of more than 1000 birds for:
producing eggs or fertile eggs
rearing hatchlings, starter pullets or layers
rearing birds for meat, including:
- chickens
- ducks
- geese
- guineafowl
- turkeys.
3.2 Pre-lodgement meeting
Proponents of meat chicken farm development are encouraged to consult with local government
early in the planning stages. Consultation with local councils will provide preliminary feedback on
the appropriateness of the proposed meat chicken farm providing for increased certainty in the
development process.
Many local governments provide a pre-lodgement service that enables an applicant to discuss a
proposal with them prior to lodging the development application.
Queensland Guidelines Meat Chicken Farms 10