Disputes occur when two or more parties disagree with a decision or course of action. The Sustainable Planning Act 2009 ( 2.6 MB) outlines several options to assist with finding a resolution for disputes relating to building, development or plumbing including:

• free alternative dispute resolution (through the Planning and Environment Court)
• deemed refusal arrangements
• Planning and Environment Court
• Building and development dispute resolution committees.

Disputes relating to the Building Act 1975 ( 1.1 MB) and the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 ( 772 KB) are resolved through the Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committees. There are several types of appeals/declarations relating to plumbing and building including:

• plumbing and drainage appeals
• infrastructure charges appeals
• development application and approval appeals
• compliance assessment appeals
• enforcement notice appeals
• building appeals
• declarations with respect to development applications, acknowledgement notices, compliance assessment process and development approvals under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009.

The Registrar, Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committees, is unable to provide advice for matters appealed to the Planning and Environment Court.

The types of disputes that the Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committees deal with are outlined in the legislation. For issues not outlined in the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 or the Building Act 1975, other sources are available including the:

• Building Services Authority
• Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.