Material change of use and reconfiguration of a lot
The following are the current concurrence agency policies for material changes of use (MCU), and reconfiguring a lot (RaL).
- Concurrence agency policy for material change of use (PDF, 191K)*
- Concurrence agency policy for reconfiguring a lot (PDF, 186K)*
The previous concurrence agency policies have now been superseded.
Development assessment
Under the Integrated Planning Act 1997, state and local governments use the Integrated Development Assessment System (IDAS) for all development assessment. IDAS streamlines the process to apply for development permits by enabling separate agencies to assess different elements of an application concurrently.
If you propose a MCU or RaL on land containing remnant vegetation, the department may be required to assess any associated vegetation clearing as a 'concurrence' agency.
For example, if the assessment manager (usually the local government) determines that your application meets certain criteria set out in the Integrated Planning Regulation 1998, they must direct you to refer your application to the department as a concurrence agency.
The department will then assess any vegetation clearing associated with your development early in the planning process, so you will not have to obtain a separate operational works approval later.
On 8 October 2009, new regrowth laws took effect. These laws will not affect how MCU and RaL applications for clearing native vegetation are assessed by DERM.
For more information see fact sheet Applications for a material change of use and reconfiguring a lot (PDF, 90K)*.
Guide for local governments and applicants
The Guide for local governments and applicants- implementing MCU/RaL triggers (PDF, 158K)* is structured in two parts. The first part deals with MCU applications and the second deals with RaL applications.
The primary decision support feature of the guide is a number of tenure-based decision trees that contain a series of questions that can be applied to an application to assist local governments or applicants determine when an application needs to be referred to DERM.
Fees for MCU/RaL applications referred to DERM for concurrence agency assessment are applicable.
Application fees
MCU and/or RaL applications referred to DERM under the Vegetation Management framework on or after 9 November will also now need to be accompanied by a fee payable to DERM at the time of referral.
Refer to the Fees for Vegetation Management Services (PDF, 84K)* fact sheet for more information on the fees that apply to different applications.
Contact information
If you have problems downloading any of these documents, or would like a copy mailed to you, please contact:
Central West Region
- Rockhampton (07) 4938 4615
North Region
- Townsville (07) 4799 7126
South East Region
- Bundaberg (07) 4131 5754
- Gympie (07) 5480 5333
- Ipswich (07) 3884 5328
South West Region
- Toowoomba (07) 4688 1098
For a map of regional boundaries, and for a full list of business centres, see the departmental business centres pages of the website.
For email enquiries, please email VM Enquiries.
* Requires Acrobat Reader
Last updated: 19 November 2009