Councils consider alternative dispute resolution
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Queensland’s local councils are seeking an alternative to the costly court system to resolve planning disputes. The process where developers appeal against a council decision in the Planning and Environment Court is costing local governments millions of dollars each year. Bundaberg mayor Kay McDuff says the Local Government Association of Queensland’s executive is proposing to form a joint working group with the State Government or liaise with industry to find an alternative that will keep costs down. “The Planning and Environment Court will be there in the short-term, whether we would lose it all together or not I do not know,” she said. “But I know in other states they have an alternative to the Planning and Environment Court and it is more or less introducing something similar to what they have in other states.” Source : abc.net.au |