Development schemes, applications and requests

Find out about State development area (SDA) development schemes and how to make an SDA application or request.

Development schemes

Each State development area (SDA) has processes controlling how planning and development happen within it. These are set out in a regulatory document known as a development scheme.

What a development scheme does

Development schemes help ensure developments in SDAs are well-planned and managed.

A development scheme:

  • identifies land uses compatible with the objectives of the SDA
  • sets out or refers to the processes, timeframes and procedures for the assessment of applications and requests related to development in the SDA
  • assists in avoiding or minimising impacts to environmental, cultural heritage and community values
  • ensures orderly development
  • considers industries that already exist in the SDA as well as surrounding land uses
  • takes priority over local and state government planning for development regulated by the relevant SDA development scheme.

How a development scheme is made

When an SDA is declared, there are 4 steps to make a development scheme:

  1. A draft development scheme is prepared in conjunction with a draft development precincts map. The draft considers any technical studies undertaken and consultations for the SDA.
  2. The draft is made available for public consultation. This ensures all stakeholders can have their say.
  3. The Office of the Coordinator-General reviews all feedback collected. This informs amendments to the draft development scheme and draft development precinct map before a recommendation is made to the Minister.
  4. The development scheme is submitted to the Governor in Council. When approved, it regulates land use, infrastructure planning, and development within the SDA. The development scheme overrides the local planning instruments.

Current development schemes

Each SDA has a development scheme that sets out the rules and processes controlling how planning and development happen.

SDA applications and requests

Where an SDA has been declared there are opportunities for business and industry. These opportunities depend on the SDA, but it can include:

  • access to industrial hubs and major development sites
  • infrastructure corridors with access to electricity transmission lines, water and gas pipelines
  • rail and road networks
  • airports, seaports and more.

To take advantage of these opportunities, businesses must comply with the rules and regulations outlined in the SDA’s development scheme. The development schemes set out the framework for development, including when an SDA application or request is required.

Before submitting an SDA application or request, it is essential to review the relevant development scheme to understand:

  • whether your proposed activity requires approval
  • the specific requirements and processes involved.

Not all development activities require an SDA application or request. Each SDA’s development scheme clearly defines which activities do and do not require approval.

Where approval is required, development cannot proceed until the Coordinator-General has assessed the application and made a formal decision to approve the development.

There are different types of applications and requests for development in an SDA. The most common is an SDA application for a material change of use.

A material change of use is:

  • the start of a new use of the premises
  • the re-establishment on the premises of a use that has been abandoned
  • a material change in the intensity or scale of the use of the premises.

A development scheme may also provide for an SDA application for:

  • reconfiguring a lot
  • operational work.

Additional applications and requests may include:

  • request for pre-lodgement consideration
  • request to change an SDA application
  • change application for an SDA approval
  • request to state a later currency period
  • request to carry out prior affected development
  • request for approval of a plan of subdivision.

It is important to note there are some variations in terminology used in the development schemes as a result of amendments to the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971. For more information, read the applications and requests advisory note ( 169.5 KB).

Assessment of an SDA application or request

You can find how SDA applications or requests are assessed, and the timeframes for them in each SDA’s development schemes, or their development assessment process.

Access the current SDA development schemes.

The steps involved can differ, and may not be required, depending on the:

  • type of application
  • scale of the project.

Generally, assessments are made within a framework of 6 stages.

Assessment framework

Steps in the assessment framework for development schemes

1. Request a pre-lodgement consideration

Before you apply it’s strongly recommended that you request a pre-lodgement consideration. You can provide us with details of your proposed development and we can help identify any potential issues before making a full application or request.

You can ask for either:

  • formal pre-lodgement consideration of a proposed SDA application, resulting in formal written advice being provided or
  • informal pre-lodgement consideration of any proposed application or request or carrying out SDA self-assessable development.

You can request a pre-lodgement consideration of an application, request or carrying out SDA self-assessable development via the online form. Select the applicable SDA, then select 'Request for pre-lodgement consideration'.

You can also make a request for pre-lodgement consideration by:

2. Application stage

There are 3 main steps to making an SDA application or request:

2.1. Obtain owner’s consent

Written consent of the owner of the land is required for some SDA applications and request.

Access the current SDA development schemes and check the development scheme to find information on landowners consent requirements.

When landowner consent is needed, use our template for owner’s consent ( 83.0 KB) as part of your application.

2.2. Make an SDA application or request

Use our secure online form to make an SDA application or request.

Or contact the Office of the Coordinator-General for a hard copy form by:

To be accepted by the Coordinator-General as properly made, your SDA application or request must:

  • be made in the approved form
  • include all the required information (as specified in the relevant SDA application or request form)
  • provide all supporting documentation (as specified in the relevant SDA development scheme)
  • include payment of the relevant fee.

2.3. Pay the fee

You must pay the fees when you submit your SDA application or request. The fees allow us to recover some of the costs of assessing your SDA application or request.

If you would like to request a fee waiver, a written request providing sufficient grounds for the waiver must be made as part of a pre-lodgement consideration and approved prior to submitting an SDA application or request.

Fees must be paid at the time the SDA application or request is lodged otherwise the SDA application or request may be considered not properly made.

You can pay by Visa, MasterCard or American Express using the Commonwealth Bank BPoint facility, in the secure online form, or payment can be made via direct deposit.

See the See the schedule of fees and how to pay them ( 191.3 KB).

Once received, we review the SDA application or request to ensure:

  • it is a properly made  application
  • the relevant fee (if applicable) has been paid
  • all required supporting information has been submitted.

The information you provide must be sufficient to enable us to adequately assess your application or request. Insufficient information may result in a request for additional information.

3. Referral stage

SDA applications are often referred to relevant state government agencies and local governments for comment.

As part of this referral process, a proposed development may be assessed against other  state or local statutory instruments, such as:

  • legislation
  • state policies
  • local planning schemes.

Refer to the Referral and the role of referral entities ( 173.5 KB) advisory note for more information.

4. Public consultation stage

Some SDA applications have a public consultation stage where people can have their say. We decide which ones need a consultation based on our public consultation policy ( 136.0 KB).

Note: the public consultation policy does not apply to the Stanwell-Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor SDA.

Current public consultations

There are no SDA applications currently undergoing public consultation.

Notice of public consultation templates

If you’re a proponent of an SDA application undergoing public consultation, you can use the following templates.

Complying with public consultation requirements

If you’re a proponent of a SDA application requiring public consultation, you must declare that you’ve met all public consultation requirements through our statutory declaration.

5. Review stage

A review only applies if additional advice on any matter related to the application  is required. This additional advice may be requested from another person the Coordinator-General considers is appropriate.

6. Decision stage

In making a decision, the Coordinator-General evaluates the application along with all submissions, advice, and additional information provided.

A decision will be made to :

  • approve all or part of the application
  • refuse the application or
  • approve all or part of the application with conditions.

Once a decision is made, the Coordinator-General provides the applicant written notice of the decision.

The Coordinator-General must hold for inspection a copy of all decision notices given under each SDA development scheme.

View SDA decision notices.

Auditing and compliance

Where an SDA application is approved, audit reports may be required as a condition of the approval.

  • If you’re a proponent or auditor compiling audit reports, view the audit report guideline ( 95.5 KB).
  • If you’re a proponent who carries out SDA self-assessable development in an SDA, you may be required to provide compliance documentation to the Coordinator-General prior to commencing SDA self-assessable development. Use the compliance reporting guideline for SDA self-assessable development ( 89.2 KB) to assist you to meet the compliance reporting requirements for SDA self-assessable development in an SDA.

Relevant resources

Contact us

We're here to help. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss your project by:

Last updated: 25 November 2025

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