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APRIL 2012 - ISSUE 43
GLADSTONE REGIONAL COUNCIL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
Gladstone Regional Council Phone 497 0 0700 Fax 4975 8500 Email info@gladstonerc.qld.gov.au
2012
The value contribution of youth An Australian, State, and Territory and Local Government Initiative within our community will be celebrated this month during National Youth Week 2012, which runs from April 13 to 22.
National Youth Week is promoted annually to give young people an opportunity to share ideas; attend live events; have their voices heard on issues of concern to them; and to showcase their talents. It is about recognising just how valuable they are to our community and our nation's future. This year, Gladstone Regional Council, in cooperation with Australian Pacific LNG, Arrow Energy, QGC, the PCYC, BeyondBlue, Anthony Breed's College of Music and the Queensland Government, are presenting an action-packed week of activities throughout the region. All events are drug and alcohol free. Check out our calendar of events and be sure to seek out further information from organisers Vernetta Perrett, Council's Youth Development Officer, on 4976 6311 and Katie Macleod, Youth Worker at the Discovery Coast Community Health Service, on 4902 1100. See Calendar of Events pages 8-9
Residents advised that covenants only apply to initial land buyers One of the most common reasons for planning objections being lodged with Council is that neighbours believe the type of dwelling, or its design, is a breach of covenant. What many of those objecting do not realise is that a building covenant, usually included in a contract of sale between a developer or their representative and the first buyer of a block of land, does not extend to subsequent buyers of that property. Council's Chief Planner Andrew Kearns said Council frequently dealt with planning objections which related to a mistaken belief that planning covenants continue through time and through change of ownership. He said it was important that property owners understood the rights and legalities of building covenants in relation to Council. "Usually these developer covenants will include conditions detailing the built form requirements of new dwellings in the area, such as building size, colour schemes, building types and restrictions on sheds," Mr Kearns said. "These covenants are only binding between the developer and the first purchasers of the property and are only able to be enforced by the developer. "Council has no role in these developer
covenants and it is not a Council requirement to include a covenant with these types of requirements." Mr Kearns said any Council requirements concerning the purchase of a property would be included as a statutory covenant over the land, usually including specifics regarding the servicing of the property or noise attenuation requirements. He said when applications were lodged over properties which are subject to developer covenants for subdivisions or developments, such as duplexes or units, the covenants had no bearing on the outcome of that application. "A developer covenant does not override the planning scheme and there is no requirement for the covenant to be considered as part of these types of applications," Mr Kearns said. "The majority of submissions received for low density residential developments such as duplexes and small lot housing refer to the developer covenants as reasons for refusal. "This is not a consideration that Council can make and is not a valid planning issue. "As such, it is important to understand that Council's influence on what role a covenant has in the future development over a particular site is limited."
APRIL2012 IN THIS ISSUE
2
LNG Housing Progress
3
Playgrounds ready these holidays
5
Healthy Food Choices
Visit Council’s Website - www.gladstone.qld.gov.au
7
Recycled bus shelter
10
Local Government Elections