Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committees provide an accessible, affordable and timely service for members of the public not satisfied with decisions made by local government and private certifiers.

The committees replaced the Building and Development Tribunals which were established under the Integrated Planning Act 1997. With the commencement of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 ( 2.6 MB), the name was changed and the jurisdiction expanded to hear a wider range of appeals and to make declarations.

Appeals can be heard about matters such as siting requirements, inspections of building work, swimming pool fencing, fire safety, plumbing and drainage, compliance assessment, limited development approvals and errors in infrastructure charges notices.

Declarations by committees can be sought in relation to properly made applications, a matter stated in an acknowledgement notice, lapsing of request for compliance assessment and changes to development approvals.

Committees are established as required from a pool of appointed general referees and are conducted in an informal manner. General referees are appointed for a term of no more than three years by the minister of the department. No legal representation is permitted at committee hearings and decisions are delivered in plain English.

A committee has jurisdiction to decide certain matters defined in the following Acts: 

• Sustainable Planning Act 2009 
• Building Act 1975 (other than a matter under that Act that may or must be decided by the Building Services Authority) 
• Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 [SPA 508 (a)] 
• Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002 [SPA 508 (c)]
• matters prescribed under a regulation.
  

Applications lodged on or prior to 17 December 2009 were assessed under the Integrated Planning Act 1997. Applications lodged after this date are assessed under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009.

The Building Act 1975 and the building and development dispute resolution committees are part of Qplan - Queensland’s planning, development and building system.

Further information

For urgent enquiries relating to lodging an appeal please contact (07) 3235 4309.

For further information contact the Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committees.