New online tool improves access to planning information
29 August 2022
It is now even easier for the community to view development applications and property data after Ipswich City Council flicked the switch on a new online tool.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Chair Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said ‘Development.i’ provides improved and easier access to historic and current planning and property information.
“Our city is the fastest growing in Queensland, welcoming 4,820 new residents in the past financial year,” Mayor Harding said.
“We know that as our city grows, residents are hungry to know more about what is planned for their streets, suburb and local areas.
“This tool will make it easier for the community to access information about how and where our city is growing, and to have a say in the planning process, as it’s important to achieve shared community outcomes.
“Development.i replaces council’s previous PD Online application tracking system, allowing the community to track development applications in a more user-friendly way.
“It puts a wealth of information at residents’ fingertips, making it easy to search for property information, be notified about development applications and lodge submissions or comments on applications.
“It is also mobile friendly, which means it can be accessed on the go.”
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Deputy Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said Development.i allows residents to tailor information to their interests and needs.
“The strength of this new tool is that anyone can log on and quickly see property information specific to their needs,” Cr Tully said.
“Users can look up what development applications are active in your street and the search results can be filtered and shown on a map for easy reference.
“Users can also set up alerts to be notified when development applications are lodged.”
In the 2021-2022 financial year, about 1,300 development applications were lodged to council, an increase of 7 per cent year on year.
The city is currently home to 242,370 residents and is expected to welcome another 278,000 residents by 2041.
Council is embarking on a program of improvements including a new planning scheme and a new local government infrastructure plan.
Mayor Harding said the upcoming new planning scheme is being prepared in an electronic format to allow planning information to be communicated more readily to the community.
“It is anticipated that these new systems will be connected so that we can provide our community with better information about the planning scheme, how it impacts property, and how this relates to development across the city,” Mayor Harding said.
Development.i can be accessed at https://developmenti.ipswich.qld.gov.au