How do I process a referral?

View application documents

Documents contained within each application are in PDF format.

SPEAR users relevant to an application may view the documents associated with an application by going to the Details tab and then clicking on the hyperlink for the selected document.

Documents are also able to be printed or downloaded and saved to a computer or other system.

Requesting additional information

During the application process Responsible Authorities or referral authorities may require further information from the Applicant Contact to make their decision on planning permits or certification. This information can be requested through SPEAR. The Applicant Contact is then prompted to respond to the request, which in turn prompts the requester (the Responsible Authority or referral authority) to assess the information they receive against their original request.

For referral authorities, the request for further information can be made at anytime after a referral request has been received. It can also be requested as part of a referral response to referrals under Section 55 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, combined with a request to the Responsible Authority for a suspension of the statutory time clock.

SPEAR applications will not be able to progress through the planning process where there is an outstanding response to a request for further information, action, or assessment of a response has not been completed. For example, the Responsible Authority will be unable to issue a planning permit decision until any current request for further information is completed.

Adding a response

Any application that has been referred to your organisation through SPEAR must be responded to within SPEAR.

Responsible Authorities will be unable to issue a planning permit, certification or Statement of Compliance (SOC) until your response is in SPEAR.

Sending a paper response to Responsible Authorities for a SPEAR referral will delay the process and can significantly increase the amount of work required by Responsible Authorities and you, to complete the referral process.

Documents

Documents contained within each application are in PDF format.

SPEAR users relevant to an application may view the documents associated with an application by going to the Details tab and then clicking on the hyperlink for the selected document..

Documents are also able to be printed or downloaded and saved to a computer or other system.

Types of referrals

The Responsible Authority in SPEAR is able to refer an application under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the Subdivision Act 1988, according to the following sections:

Section 55:                

Referral of an application for planning permit

Section 57C:              

Referral of an amended application for planning permit

Section 8:                  

Referral of a subdivision application (certification and Statement of Compliance)

Section 11:                 

Referral of an amended subdivision application (recertification and Statement of Compliance)

SPEAR is also able to ‘notify’ referral authorities under Sections 52 and 57c of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Adding a response to a Section 52 or Section 57b notice

If you receive a Section 52 or Section 57b notice, SPEAR will allow you to view all the associated documentation, but will not mandate a response. Unlike a Section 55 or Section 8 referral, which a referral authority must respond to, a Section 52 or Section 57b notice provides the referral authority the opportunity to view the supporting documents, and provide a response to the Responsible Authority should they feel the proposal is of interest.

To submit a response, the referral authority selects the optional action ‘add submission to advertising notice’ and adds a PDF containing the referral authority’s submission.