The Minister for Local Government and Planning, Hon Steven Miles, recently extended the timeframe on Queensland’s declared ‘COVID-19 emergency applicable event’. This development is within the ‘applicable event’ and below is a full explanation as given by the Minister’s office:

  • In 2008, a development application for an aged care facility and retirement facility at Grasstree Court, Sunrise Beach (also known as the Blue Care development) was made to the amalgamated Sunshine Coast Regional Council (council reference: 132008/1128). This site is now within the Noosa Shire Council (the council) area.
  • The development application was approved by the council in 2011, however the council has approved several minor change applications and extensions to the development approval currency period.
  • The approval is still current, however on 24 March 2022, an application was lodged by Blue Care to the council requesting an extension to the currency period for a further two years. The extension request is currently being assessed by the council.
  • To support Queensland’s economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Planning Minister declared the first COVID-19 emergency applicable event on 20 March 2020, which ended on 30 April 2021, with a subsequent COVID-19 applicable event being declared on 29 June 2021 which was in effect until 30 April 2022.
  • On 26 April 2022, the Planning Minister decided to further extend the applicable event until 24 June 2022.
  • During these applicable events, the Planning Minister published three extension notices which provide additional time for proponents undertaking approved development. The purpose of the extension notices is to assist local governments, business, industry and the state government to manage the impacts of COVID‑19 on their operations. These notices applied to all development approvals in Queensland (with the exception of a few types of building work approvals) that were in effect, or that came into effect, during the effective period stated in each notice.
  • The three extension of time notices are as follows:
    • July 2020 extension of time notice for undertaking approved development by six months.
    • September 2021 extension of time notice for undertaking approved development by six months.
    • April 2022 extension of time notice for undertaking approved development by one year.
  • Where a development approval was in effect, the extension of time provided by the Planning Minister’s extension of time notice automatically applies.
  • There are instances where multiple extension of time notices will apply to single development approval, effectively providing a two-year extension of time. This will occur where a development approval was in effect when all three extension of time notices were given.
  • The Blue Care development has benefited from all three extension of time notices. The approval is in effect until the end of 2023.
  • The State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) has had no involvement with the Blue Care development, including extensions of time to the currency period.
  • The Planning Minister does not have the power to step in and stop the Blue Care development or retract the extension of time to undertake the development.
  • The council will still need to assess and decide the extension of the currency period separate to the Planning Minister’s extension of time notices.

To clarify this last point, should Blue Care withdraw their request to Noosa Council for an extension of currency period, there is no assessment required by Council and the development approval remains in place until the end of 2023 as per the Minister’s extension.

The information provided above states clearly that the Minister does not have the power to step in and stop the Blue Care development nor retract the extension of time to undertake the development. Should anyone wish to email the Minister directly, you can do so via deputy.premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au