As you’re probably aware, we’ve recently relocated our head office here at Gideon Town Planning. Usually, when a business relocates, it is at an exciting point in its lifecycle; business is booming, and you need somewhere bigger! Like all new premises, be they purchased or leased, there are processes to follow - a purchase or lease contract being key. But for commercial premises, what else is there that needs to be considered? DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS (DA) Does the property have any Development Approvals (DA) that allow for specific land uses on it? Depending on what sort of DA it is, it may not be aligned with what your business wishes to use the property for. Alternatively, if the property is currently used in another way but has a DA approval that aligns with your use, it may open up further opportunities. CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL The location of the premises you are considering may have some conditions of approval - particularly important when it comes to operating hours or activities undertaken on site. These come into play especially in commercial and industrial uses, and for licenced premises. Any of these conditions of approval may have a significant impact on your business operations. Therefore, these must be checked before committing to moving to a new premises. LOCAL COUNCIL PLANNING SCHEME What sort of buildings and businesses are your local Council looking to develop and encourage? Your local Council’s planning scheme outlines this as well as designating a specific zoning to suburbs for various land uses. Does the property you are looking at align with the planning scheme? LEASING? What if you are leasing a premise rather than owning it? Very common for many businesses, and most would lease a premise “in good faith” that they are legally allowed to conduct their business there. Who is responsible for checking this? Is it you, the landlord or someone else? Consider the following scenario… Percy has been operating Montgomery’s Motor Mechanics on leased premises on Skinstad Rd for the past five (5) years. The local Council has designated Skinstad Rd as a “low impact industry” zone. Business is good for Percy; he has recently employed extra staff and expanded operations to include spray painting and blasting facilities. Council receives a complaint from a commercial competitor or an adjoining neighbour due to the additional onsite activities. So the Council then has to send out the dreaded inspector to complete a compliance assessment. What do they find? Spray painting and blasting are defined as a “medium impact industry”, so the owner is then issued with a compliance notice. This now creates a whole host of issues - can he continue to trade? Who is responsible for changing the use of the property - if it can be changed? What about the terms of the lease agreement? The potential is there for a whole host of difficulties. When looking at moving premises, there is so much more to consider than just a contract. Are you considering moving? Do you need to check zoning or any potential approvals? Contact us here at Gideon Town Planning to discuss what needs to be considered when looking at new premises. We offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation to get an understanding of your business activities and opportunities.

“See that building over there, my Grandfather was born there in 19-dickity-two! And see that building across the road, that’s where he died 93 years later.” The buildings where key moments in life occur, like births and deaths, are remembered and noted for a host of different reasons and become a key part of our family stories. The building we are born in is even recorded on our birth certificate! At the end stages of someone’s life, in times of grief and sorrow, often etched into our memories is the built environment - the colour of the walls, what direction the window was facing, what sort of view was out the window - and how that can contribute to the overall comfort of someone’s loved ones in such trying times. From a planning and design perspective, it is a great responsibility to effectively create facilities that will be recorded and remembered in communities and families for generations to to come. Many significant practical elements come into play as well - size and space of the rooms, technical and technological capabilities, aspects of natural light and the gardens and surrounds. Recently here at Gideon Town Planning (GTP), we have been involved in the development of a similarly themed building here in Rockhampton - the Fitzroy Community Hospice. The hospice is a much needed facility given 70% of people say they would prefer to be cared for and die comfortably at home, but less than 10% of Australians actually die at home each year. No local facilities exist within our region, with all eight hospice facilities located in South East Queensland. The facility will be a family friendly home-like environment and also provide an out-reach program for which nursing services will go into the community to support and care for patients in their homes. At GTP, we are proud to work on projects that benefit the local community and deliver essential services to our region. Are you a health care provider planning a similar project to service your community? Contact GTP on 0402 066 532 today.

To celebrate International Women’s Day and the Planning Institute of Australia’s celebration of women planners, we sat down with the newest team member here at Gideon Town Planning (GTP), Zayra Gomez. In this wide ranging discussion, Zayra shares her insights into a career in town planning and the role women play in the industry. 1. How did you become a town planner and why? My bachelor degree was in architecture, and for 5 years I worked on different projects related to urbanism. During that time, one particular project made me turn to planning - the improvement of my hometown’s city centre pedestrian path. On that project I was responsible for the urban design, community engagement and the overall planning strategy for the future stages of the project. This project made me realise that I wanted to become a town planner to support the community and the development of the city. I then moved to Australia to complete my Masters in Urban and Regional Planning at UQ. 2. What is your favourite part of the job? I think it is more about the satisfaction that with the work we are doing; we are not only working to fulfil the client’s needs but also in the big picture, we are contributing to the city’s economic, social and environmental aspects. 3. What is the most unexpected and/or unusual part of the job? Since moving to Central Queensland and working at Gideon Town Planning, I have found it interesting working on development applications and projects located in LGAs situated in remote parts of the state. Although the planning scheme is the same, the projects are different from one to the other, even if it is the same type of development. It is incredible how you can impact land that is thousands of kilometres apart. 4.The perception is that town planning is a male dominated industry. What have you noticed as a female town planner? Since day one of my masters, it was a surprise that actually the number of women were double the number of men, including my teachers. However, when we focus on Company Directors, CEOs and owners, our counterparts are the ones doubling the numbers. 5. You have moved here to work for Gideon Town Planning. What is your impression of Rocky so far? Back in Colombia, I am from a city with a similar population and size, so Rocky reminds me of home! I love that everything is just a 15 minute drive, even during peak hours it is not as bad as the big cities. Life is peaceful and there are many things to see and do. 6. If you could have designed one famous or historical building on the planet, which one would it be and why? The Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan. This building’s form is iconic and unique by its swooping façade. Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan It is not only a building with curved shapes that challenges the engineer’s limits; it is also the way the strongest materials in the world (concrete and steel) were manipulated to form a building that appears soft and sturdy at the same time. On top of that, it was designed by the visionary Zaha Hadid, a female Architect. Zayra is just one of many women in the planning industry who is passionate about what she does and makes a tremendous impact on our built environment. We are very excited to have her on the team at GTP and join her in celebrating International Women’s Day.

Gideon Town Planning recently hosted Ryan Mathews (Senior Relationship Credit Manager - ANZ) and Adam Bray (Senior Valuer – Opteon) as part of the UDIA’s Banking and Valuations ‘Heads Up’ series. Ryan Mathews presented on the evolving trends of property finance and how ANZ, as one of the Big Four Australian banks, deals with these challenging conditions. The key points raised in this presentation include: 1. A changing financial landscape Increased regulation Stricter capital requirements in place 2. Small developments are becoming increasingly funded by non-banks Fees, interest rates and LVR’s are higher Understanding who you are dealing with when financing your projects. As the Senior Valuer for Opteon in Central Queensland, Adam Bray provided a high-level summary of the current market update in the region and the valuation process. The key points raised in this presentation included: 1. Residential property valuations factors Location Dwelling characteristics Land Comparability with local sales data 2. Outlining the various risk ratings 3. Market update for CQ: Increase in median rents Annual median prices have remained stable Sale volumes have increased Confidence is returning to the property market Vacancy rates have continued to decrease Mortgagee possessions have slowed across all CQ areas For more information about the 'Heads Up' series, please call us on 0402 066 532. #headsupseries #UDIA #RyanMatthews #AdamBray #Opteon #valuer #propertyvaluations

You may be aware that the Major Amendment to the Rockhampton Regional Planning Scheme, is now in the public consultation period until COB Friday 17thMay 2019. The Major Amendment and all relevant supporting information / links can be found on Council’s Engagement website, via the link below: http://engage.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/planning-scheme-amendment The Major Amendment includes: New mapping and provisions for residential and commercial character buildings; Updated flood mapping to include revised hazard categories (Fitzroy River Flood) and areas protected by temporary levees (North Rockhampton Flood Management Area); Updating mapping and provisions to reflect changes to State Planning Policy mapping; Introduction of Fitzroy River accommodation precinct and Fitzroy River industry precinct along Quay Street (between Stanley Street and Arthur Street) to allow for fishing and boating related activities and short-term accommodation; Introduction of the Kershaw Gardens precinct; Provisions related to office activities within the Principle Centre Zone - Quay Street precinct have been updated to allow office accommodation at the ground floor level along Quay Lane; The High Density Residential Zone levels of assessment have been reduced to enable the conversion of existing buildings (such as apartments) to become short-term accommodation, retirement villages, rooming accommodation etc. New provisions in residential zones to allow limited short-term accommodation land use activities when reusing existing dwellings; Revised provisions and levels of assessment for advertising devises including changes to digital signage requirements; Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles have been introduced into development codes and planning scheme policies; and Administrative updates and changes. We will be having a look through the changes to determine whether there is anything in here that is likely to affect (positively or negatively) future endeavours, or those of our clients and associates. Please contact us on 0402 066 532 if you have any questions. #majoramendment #rockhamptonregionplanningscheme #planningact2016 #rockhamptonregion #townplanning

It pays to do your research before you buy. Knowledge is power, and never more so than when you are purchasing a property. Most people hit open houses with an idea of what they are looking to buy - 3 bedrooms with perhaps a nice yard with room for a shed or a pool or maybe it’s a large block of vacant land with the potential to build or subdivide. But before you make an offer it pays to do a little extra research to make sure there are no hidden surprises. Planning, zoning, overlays and infrastructure can have a major impact on what you can, or cannot, do with a property. Therefore you want to be sure that whatever applies to your property is workable for your plans both now and down the track. A little research into building or planning approvals can help you avoid: additional costs to bring the property up to code; issues with insurance; and impacts to property value or resale potential. Of course, rules and regulations do change over time and you can’t fully future proof against that, but you can check what currently applies to the property. Firstly, look at zoning. Zones basically help Councils organise the area they govern. They use zones to outline the acceptable, or “preferred”, land uses. Zones are mapped out and have different levels of assessment. The criteria and intent for a particular zone is laid out in its Zone code. The zone your property is within can affect your future plans. For example, if you plan to develop your large residential property block into 3 storey townhouses this may not be approved if your property is in the low-density residential zone. If you’re not sure Gideon Town Planning can look into this for you. Overlays are also important to be aware of when considering a property. Essentially overlays identify areas that have sensitivities, constraints on land use, valuable resources or special development opportunities – these overlays include bushfire, flood, scenic amenity and more. It is also wise to check what infrastructure is located on the premises. Water, sewer and stormwater pipes and connections may be located in or around the property. An online search can be undertaken or alternatively council or Gideon Town Planning can assist. Buyers should also be wary of claims that a property has existing planning approvals. Give us a quick call or conduct a fact check and verify this for yourself. There would be nothing worse than believing you can develop a site with an existing DA, only to find this to be untrue or not as described. So why should you care about zones, plans and overlays? Because they can impact what approvals may be required for a residential project. The same applies to commercial, rural or industrial properties. A straightforward renovation, for example a new deck over a sewer line, could become a lengthy and potentially costly exercise.

We attended the UDIA Central Queensland Market Update in September 2018 at The Empire Hotel. It focused exclusively on Central Queensland and the guest speakers included Rob Sobyra, Director of Evidence and Data at Construction Skills Queensland, Kirsty Chessher-Brown, Chief Executive Officer at UDIA Queensland and Todd Brandon, Principal & Sales Manager at McGrath Estate Agents Rockhampton. The discussions related to key indicators including house prices, land values, and house sales for local suburbs. Clink the links below to view the latest information on Rockhampton and Gladstone. Other regions can be found on the UDIA website. Rockhampton: http://www.udiaqld.com.au/getattachment/News-Publications/News/2018/May-2018-Market-Report/UDIA0025-Market-Report_Rockhampton-(inc-Livingstone)_03.pdf.aspx Gladstone: http://www.udiaqld.com.au/getattachment/News-Publications/News/2018/May-2018-Market-Report/UDIA0025-Market-Report_Gladstone_02.pdf.aspx

With our first 12 months in operations done and dusted, the Melbourne International Comedy Roadshow seemed the perfect fit for our first birthday celebrations. The evening kicked off at Customs House before everyone headed down the road to the Pilbeam Theatre for a night of knee-slapping laughter. We would like to thank all of our clients and project partners for your support over the last year. We also moved our office to the recently renovated Customs House at 2018 Quay Street. Come say hi! Below is some of the photos from our first birthday celebrations in our new office. #melbourneinternationalcomedyroadshow #happybirthdaytous #firstbirthday #12monthsinbusiness #customshouse #birthdaycelebrations #newoffice

What was once an abandoned residential site in south Rockhampton, the corner of Kent and Archer Streets is now a bustling mixed-use commercial development. This exciting project is the brainchild of Kele Property Group Director, John Kele and has been created to provide a one stop precinct for fitness and health enthusiasts. Not only has this development allowed for existing businesses to expand into a purpose-built facility but it has attracted new businesses to open in Rockhampton. The concept and layout was designed by Design + Architecture and is home to Crossfit CQ, Marvericks Olympic Weightlifting, Archer Street Boxing, Spinal Life Australia, The One Life Centre and The Green Eat Café. Gideon worked closely with the team from Kele Property Group, Rockhampton Regional Council and other local consultants within the project, to successfully obtain the development approvals. Gideon Town Planning further assisted with post approval negotiations relating to the construction phase of the project and infrastructure charges. The grand opening is this weekend and Gideon Town Planning wish Kele Property Group and all the businesses within the centre all the best. Kent & Archer Street Grand Opening Where: Corner of Kent & Archer Street, Rockhampton (South Side) When: Saturday 17 February 2018, from 6am to 2pm Don’t miss it!!! #kentamparcher #commercialdevelopment #KelePropertyGroup #rockhamptonregionalcouncil #purposebuiltfacility #DesignArchitecture #fitnessamphealthenthusiasts

Have you ever wondered what Town Planning is? Planning covers a very broad range of issues, but it's essentially about the decisions that change the environment we live in and affect our everyday life. Decisions like new roads, the size of a new shopping centre, the location of parks, and what you do on your block of land are all influenced by town planning. Under Queensland's planning system, local councils and the State Government develop planning schemes to control land use and development. Planning schemes are also developed to ensure the protection and conservation of land in the present and long-term interests of all Queenslanders. Preparing and submitting a development application is at the heart of what we do and to give you a bit more information and assistance with understanding the process of development applications we have developed an information package to assist you with your planning project. With experience in diverse applications throughout Central Queensland and interstate, Gideon Town Planning has the expertise to facilitate your development application at every stage. Look out for the link to this package on our website soon. #centralqueenslandregion #townplanning #what39snew #QueenslandPlanningSystem #developmentapplication

This month’s Spotlight Project is Archer Brothers Coffee & Bar, an exciting new coffee and bar venue that opened on Saturday 16th December at 180 East Street. As part of the establishment of the Archer Brothers Coffee & Bar, we provided professional town planning services and advise that included the town planning assessment, liaison with project consultants including building certifier, Rockhampton Regional Council and project builder. Gideon Town Planning also obtained the liquor license for the premises. We wish them great success with their business venture. Next time your in the area, drop into this new business for a coffee or a cold one!

If you are looking to develop in Rockhampton - then the time is NOW! Council have today released a new Infrastructure Incentives Policy that will help grow our region into something bigger and better. We, as community members, in conjunction with the Council, want to see our region grow and develop into a place that people want to visit and this new Incentives Policy is a step in the right direction to help developers make it happen. Council are looking for new thinking, new development and new opportunities. The Incentives Policy is targeted at a diverse range of industries to encourage different industries to become involved in the development market. Developers looking to develop educational and training establishments, medical, health and community services, aged and retirement facilities, destination tourism facilities and farm stay accommodation that will significantly increase employment in the Rockhampton Region and attract residents from outside the Local Government Area will be eligible to receive this new Incentives Policy. The new Incentives Policy provides tangible financial support for developments that are set to deliver significant and sustainable growth for the region. The incentives are something you don't want to miss out on with 75% of infrastructure charges for new developments being cut. More details of the policy is due for release by Rockhampton Regional Council in the coming days. The aim is get major projects off the ground and to start building a brighter future for Rockhampton sooner. Once the developments receive the approved stamp from Council, they can now get straight onto building the project from the ground up in a much shorter timeframe then we have ever seen before. Brace yourself Rockhampton, we are about to see some significant changes to our skyline as we see these major developments reach greater heights. This will also help improve our economy and boost our tourism industry meaning for more life and excitement in our region. If you have a project in mind that you think may be eligible for this new Incentives Policy, give us a call today and we will put you in the right direction to making your development dreams a reality. We will give you the best possible chance of getting your project application across the line. #incentivespolicy #rockhamptonregionalcouncil #majordevelopments #centralqueenslandregion