Course Coordinator:Nicholas Stevens (nstevens@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
The purpose of this course is to enable you to build on and integrate your understanding of planning theory, practice and governance, by examining current legislative frameworks of Commonwealth and Queensland and local government planning, environment, and development assessment, enforcement and appeals. Professional skills are developed through practical application to development assessment processes.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – Online learning materials | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Weekly tutorials | 2hrs | Week 1 | 12 times |
Introduction to planning and environmental law
Queensland development assessment system
Issues of State Interest in the environment and planning
Queensland planning appeals system and alternative dispute resolution
200 Level (Developing)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Planning Institute of Australia | |
1 | Describe and discuss Queenslands Planning Law System |
Knowledgeable Sustainability-focussed |
2.2.5, 2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.3.6 |
2 | Use online database searches to inform possible development options for individual sites |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
1.2, 2.1.4 |
3 | Apply the provisions of Queenslands Development Assessment system and a local planning scheme in assessing a development proposal |
Empowered Engaged |
2.2.11, 2.3.1, 2.3.5 |
4 | Describe and identify the relationship between planning and other environmental legislation in Queensland |
Empowered Sustainability-focussed |
2.1.6, 2.2.5, 2.3.2, 2.3.4, 3.1.3 |
5 | Discuss Queensland Planning appeals system, ADR and the planning enforcement system |
Knowledgeable Ethical |
2.2.5, 2.3.4, 2.3.5 |
CODE | COMPETENCY |
Planning Institute of Australia | |
1.2 | Perform critical analysis and synthesis |
2.2.5 | Knowledge of key legal principles and practices in plan making and implementation, including an understanding of native title as a specific land tenure in Australian land and environmental law |
2.3.1 | Capacity to interpret and use land tenure systems and relevant acts and case law to undertake typical plan-making and implementation actions with regard to planning law requirements |
2.3.2 | Knowledge of wider legal and related governmental principles and frameworks underpinning planning, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law, lore, governance systems and customs. |
2.3.6 | Capacity to act in typical planning roles using planning law, such as giving basic advice about fundamental principles to lay people and other professionals. |
2.1.4 | Knowledge of and capacity to use relevant technical tools for data collection, analysis and mapping, and have knowledge of quantitative methods, spatial mapping, relevant digital software, and geographic information systems (GIS) |
2.2.11 | Capacity to critically evaluate and assess plans, planning tools, built environment proposals, and likely outcomes |
2.3.5 | Knowledge of the operation of appeal systems including the role of courts and tribunals, including the role of expert evidence. |
2.1.6 | Capacity to make appropriate choices in ethically ambiguous situations based on knowledge of social, economic, environmental, and cultural aspects of planning |
2.3.4 | Knowledge of the principles and practices of legal interpretation and the drafting of legislation and regulations. |
3.1.3 | A sound working knowledge of how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights and interests are recognised and protected under Australian law including through land rights schemes, cultural heritage and its protection, joint management arrangements, and native title legislation. |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Not applicable
Not applicable
ENP210
Not applicable
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Reflection and review of all content is encouraged in weekly interactive tutorials, and feedback will be given in class.
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1 | Report | Individual | 20% | 1500 words excluding graphics, tables and/or appendices |
Week 6 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 2 | Report | Individual | 40% | 2000 words excluding graphics, tables and/or appendices |
Week 10 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 2 hours |
Exam Period | Online Submission |
All - Assessment Task 1:Report - Analysis of local planning provisions and State interests in development assessment | |
Goal: | You will understand the planning system, how State Planning Policies and state interests are considered in Council planning schemes, and how specific environmental legislation is considered in development assessment through SARA. |
Product: | Report |
Format: | You will analyse the role of SPPs, the Planning Scheme, and environmental legislation in a potential development, using the format provided on Canvas and write a report to your client (a potential developer) advising them about: a. Any general constraints to development of the property (using planning scheme overlay mapping and codes, SARA referrals) b. The types of development preferred by Council and State government for this area |
Criteria: |
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All - Assessment Task 2:Development Assessment Project | |
Goal: | You will undertake an assessment of a simple development application against the planning scheme and write a planning report and recommendations (including conditions) to Council based on examples provided. |
Product: | Report |
Format: | You will be provided with examples of how a development application is assessed against a local government planning scheme and the provisions of Queensland’s Development Assessment System under the Planning Act 2016. You will assess a development application based on the site referred to in Task 1, to determine if it meets the requirements of the Planning Act 2016, the local government planning scheme and other relevant legislative provisions (referrals). You will need to suggest‘reasonable and relevant’ conditions and provide an adequate ‘Notice About Decision / Statement of Reasons’ for the decision. |
Criteria: |
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All - Assessment Task 3:End of Semester Examination | |
Goal: | To demonstrate comprehension of concepts, relevant legislation and required readings. |
Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled |
Format: | The exam will be completed at the end of semester in the time centrally allocated for exams.The exam will require answers to short questions based on learning materials, tutorials and compulsory readings. |
Criteria: |
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A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Information regarding prescribed texts or other associated resources will be made available on Canvas prior to commencement of study
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
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