(1) In this section
—
development approval means an approval granted
under a relevant scheme;
relevant scheme means an improvement scheme as
defined in the Planning and Development Act 2005 section 4(1) or a region
planning scheme.
(2) This section
applies to a development approval that —
(a) is
valid on 8 April 2020; or
(b) is
granted on or after 8 April 2020 if, at the time it is granted, a COVID
emergency declaration is in effect.
(3) Despite anything
provided in a development approval or in the relevant scheme under which it is
granted, the development approval —
(a)
remains valid until the day which is 2 years after the day on which, but for
this section, it would have ceased to be valid; and
(b)
lapses if the development has not been substantially commenced before that
day.
(4) A development
which has been substantially commenced by the day provided by subsection
(3)(a) is taken to have been substantially commenced within the time required
under the development approval and the relevant scheme under which it is
granted.
(5) This section does
not prevent the time until which a development approval remains valid or the
time within which a development is required to be substantially commenced from
being varied by an amendment to the development approval made under the
Planning and Development Act 2005 .