The Queensland Government has announced it will begin consulting with industry and local government bodies to ensure that legal protection for councils from inappropriate development on flood prone land.

Minister for Planning Reform, Ian Walker, said the move was key to protect Queenslanders from exploitative development.

“Developers who want the best for communities should work closely with the state and local government to find a way forward on best-practice planning schemes that address flooding head on,” Mr Walker said.

Mr Walker said considering a legislative change to the compensation provisions of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 was a key recommendation from the Flood Commission of Inquiry – recommendation 4.1(b).

“The Newman Government is also committed to consulting with the property and development industries about possible statutory exemptions that prevent legal action against councils that provide advice in good faith,” he said.

“This approach has the support of the Local Government Association of Queensland and was generally supported at a development industry forum on SPA amendments in mid-2012.