Queensland Numbered Acts

PLANNING ACT 2016 - SECT 5

5 Advancing purpose of Act

(1) An entity that performs a function under this Act must perform the function in a way that advances the purpose of this Act.

(2) Advancing the purpose of this Act includes—

(a) following ethical decision-making processes that—

(i) take account of short and long-term environmental effects of development at local, regional, State and wider levels; and

(ii) apply the precautionary principle, namely that the lack of full scientific certainty is not a reason for delaying taking a measure to prevent degradation of the environment if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage; and

(iii) seek to provide for equity between present and future generations; and

(b) providing opportunities for the community to be involved in making decisions; and

(c) promoting the sustainable use of renewable and non-renewable natural resources, including biological, energy, extractive, land and water resources that contribute to economic development through employment creation and wealth generation; and

(d) valuing, protecting and promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture and tradition; and

(e) conserving places of cultural heritage significance; and

(f) providing for housing choice, diversity and affordability; and

(g) encouraging investment, economic resilience and economic diversity; and

(h) supplying infrastructure in a coordinated, efficient and orderly way; and

(i) applying amenity, conservation, energy use, health and safety in the built environment in ways that are cost-effective and of public benefit; and

(j) avoiding, if practicable, or otherwise minimising the adverse environmental effects of development (climate change, urban congestion or declining human health, for example).