The Department of Infrastructure and Planning

The Department of Infrastructure and Planning is leading, supporting and coordinating priority infrastructure and major projects.

The Department is providing planning advice on significant development projects and is driving urban, regional and rural planning strategies across Queensland.

As the lead agency for the Northern Economic Triangle Infrastructure Plan 2007-2012, the Department of Infrastructure and Planning is committed to:

• a whole-of-government approach
• facilitating coordination across government agencies and industry
• information sharing
• consulting with, and seeking active participation from, key stakeholders
• deliver specific actions in the plan relevant to the department's role of planning and coordinating critical infrastructure.

The Northern Economic Triangle Infrastructure Plan 2007-2012, released in August 2007, integrates the activities of the economic centres - Mount Isa, Townsville, and Bowen - by developing strategies to support stronger regional linkages and the competitive advantages of individual economic centres and sustainable communities.

The Infrastructure Plan contains 31 strategies and 121 actions aimed at realising this vision through the provision of infrastructure, skills development and leadership capable of underpinning major private sector investment in the Northern Economic Triangle.

An objective of the Infrastructure Plan is to broaden the economic base of the Townsville region by building on its proximity to the North West Minerals Province and its well established economic and social infrastructure to strengthen Townsville's position as an international centre for base metals processing and value-adding.

The Infrastructure Plan provides a commitment to "Attract new investment in line with the Smart State Strategy and facilitate industry establishment particularly on the Townsville State Development Area". One of the Plan's immediate priorities is to concentrate Townsville's port, transport corridors and State Development Area activities in the city's south east to promote industrial growth and an appropriate interface with urban areas.

Relevant authorities of the Coordinator-General

Colin Jensen is the Coordinator-General and the Director-General of the Department of Infrastructure and Planning. The Coordinator-General operates under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971. This Act provides for planning and development through a coordinated system of public works organisation, as well as for environmental coordination, and related purposes. It provides the person holding the office of the Coordinator-General with significant powers to manage major projects on a whole-of-government basis.

The Act was substantially revised and updated in 1971 with the central role of the Coordinator-General in planned development preserved. In 1971, specific powers relating to supervision of the environment were incorporated into the Act. Substantive amendments to the Act were made in 1999, principally to provide for the coordination of environmental impact statements for projects declared to be significant, and the acquisition of land for persons other than the State. The Act provides the Coordinator-General with the power to declare a project to be a significant project for the purpose of requiring the proponent to prepare an Environment Impact Statement.

The Act also ensures there is adequate land stocks for industrial development close to key transport and export links.

For instance, the Townsville State Development Area was declared in 2003 with 4,800 hectares available for industrial development with direct links to road, rail and port facilities.

The Act was again amended in late 2006 to strengthen powers of the Coordinator-General.

One of the amendments to the Act provided the Coordinator-General with the power to step in where decision makers (State or Local Government) fail to make a decision on a key project.

The Act was also amended to create infrastructure easements where needed, to fast-track critical projects.