The protection provided by the IQPA does not affect the development rights of property owners. Any development that is allowed under planning schemes can still occur and any development that is not allowed under the planning schemes is still not allowed. The IQPA merely provides an independent assessment body when considering development applications that may impact on the iconic values of a place.

The development assessment process under the IQPA follows the Integrated Development Assessment System (IDAS) established under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA). The IQPA establishes an independent Development Assessment Panel (the panel) to operate under this process. The function of the panel is to decide the application instead of the local government and decide the application as if it were the assessment manager.

If the panel chooses not to decide an application, the local government will continue to act as the assessment manager under the IDAS