Your Opportunity
This is a great opportunity to gain valuable work experience in the Planning team. You will be mentored and provided training in assessing development applications; providing advice on all the provisions of the Planning Scheme and associated legislation to Council developers and the general public; and working with programs which promote a greater understanding of and compliance with planning and development matters.
Term: Temporary Full-time, part time is available
Hours of Work: 72.5 hours per fortnight
Pay Level: $2,575.55 to $2,743.23 per fortnight (Level 2), plus superannuation and annual leave loading
In accordance with Council's Enterprise Agreement and the relevant Award. Pay rate dependant on relevant skills and experience.
Employment Base: Warwick, Queensland
Other Information: Council may be flexible with hours to accommodate your study schedule. Your salary will be dependent on skills and experience level.
Applications Close: 12pm Tuesday 20th May 2025
Flexibility - Work arrangements which balance study commitments with work hours.
Make an Impact - Enjoy a hands-on approach building relationships with the community to create a region that is open to positive outcomes. Commitment to continuous improvement of practice and processes.
Team Environment - Close-knit supportive team, working with each other, and across departments to deliver a united approach.
Professional Growth - On the job training and access to professional training and development. Variety of work across all areas of development assessment. Opportunities to represent the team at community engagements projects such as public consultation of the draft planning scheme.
Lifestyle - Enjoy the work life balance in the Southern Downs with the unique natural hot spots and leisure opportunities.
About the Department
With teams in building, plumbing and planning, the Planning and Development Department falls within the Planning and Environmental Services directorate, tasked with governing development in Southern Downs and fostering growth in the region. The department raises community awareness of compliance with statutory requirements and educates the community on the broader land use policy.
Key functions of the department include assessing development applications and providing advice to developers, residents and elected members. In this role you will provide detailed advice to Council on the associated legislation governing planning and development, find creative solutions to development problems and, be involved in the progression and review of strategic planning documents.
The Planning and Development team at SDRC are ready to welcome you, whether you are an experienced professional looking to expand your opportunities in local government or a graduate looking to join a dynamic and diverse Council to kickstart your career
What You Will Do
For full details of this position, please ensure you download the Position Description below.
(Note: For applicants viewing this job vacancy through SEEK.com, you will be able to access the Position Description by clicking on the "Apply" button, or by visiting the job advertisement on our website at www.https://www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/council/careers-at-council/current-job-vacancies).
The complete Key Responsibilities of this role can be found in the Position Description. These include (but are not limited to):
- Assist the Department with Strategic Planning projects i.e. New Planning Scheme consultation, Local Heritage Register review, Urban Design Frameworks etc
- Undertake preliminary assessment of development applications to determine if “properly made” in accordance with the relevant legislation and preparation of notices for “not properly made” applications.
- Participate in and assist with the coordination of Pre-lodgement meetings in relation to proposed developments and document discussions
- Gain an understanding of and experience in the assessment of development applications consistent with relevant policies and procedures, legislation, regulations, and standards
What You Will Need
To be considered for this role, you will need:
- The legal right to live and work in Australia
- Currently enrolled in a qualification recognised by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) OR relevant experience and commitment to enrol in a qualification recognised by PIA (a minimum of two (2) subjects must be completed per semester)
- Demonstrated knowledge of or ability to acquire knowledge of development assessment processes used in Queensland
- Ability to interpret and apply legislation to achieve outcomes
- Capacity to plan and prioritise workload to meet outcomes within required timeframes, while maintaining attention to detail.
- To be able to demonstrate your competence in relation to all of the Selection Criteria as detailed in the Position Description
What We Offer
At Southern Downs Regional Council, we know that that our people are our strength. With this front of mind, we provide a wide range of benefits and a holistic approach to supporting our employees, including:
- Competitive wages, conditions and allowances
- Salary packaging and remote area benefits available, which can significantly increase tax savings and take-home pay
- Discounted corporate health insurance plans
- Improved work-life balance opportunities, such as a 9-day work fortnight and consideration of other flexible work options
- Generous leave provisions including Special Family Leave, Cultural Leave and 17.5% annual leave loading
- Access to a wide range of health and wellness initiatives, including free, skin checks, flu vaccinations and wellness medicals, and discounted gym memberships
- Employee Assistance Program for staff and their families (24/7 access). This service includes counselling, financial coaching, nutritional support and legal referrals, as well as access to specialised wellbeing support for LGBTIQA+ individuals, First Nations people, and individuals experiencing domestic and family violence through dedicated helpline
- Opportunities for on and off the job personal and professional development (study assistance available in accordance with policy)
To view comprehensive details of our employee value offering, please click HERE. (Note when viewing this job vacancy through SEEK.com - you will be able to access this link once by clicking on the "Apply" button, or by visiting the job advertisement on our website at www.https://www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/council/careers-at-council/current-job-vacancies)
Further Information
For further information about this role and working for Southern Downs Regional Council, please refer to the documents below:
(Note when viewing this job vacancy on SEEK.com - the links to information below will only be available once you click on the "Apply" button. Alternatively, you can access them via the job advertisement on our website at https://www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/council/careers-at-council/current-job-vacancies).
If you have any additional enquiries in relation to this position, please contact Catherine Travers, Senior Planning Officer on 1300 697 372.
Southern Downs Regional Council – A Great Place to Work
What we do at SDRC is more than just a job to us. Whether it’s maintaining our clean water supply, keeping our parks and gardens beautiful, servicing our plant and vehicles, providing contemporary library services, responding to natural disasters or showcasing our region’s immense natural beauty and economic strength, every Council employee strives to make a real difference for our local community.
Few employers combine so many diverse disciplines (eg engineers, childcare workers, trades such as mechanics and plumbers, safety specialists, project managers, plant operators, finance experts, IT specialists and urban planners to name a few) in one organisation. At SDRC, we work together towards the same goal. By integrating a multi-disciplined workplace with collective ideas and skillsets, we provide unique opportunities for our people to develop and grow within their chosen career.
We are passionate about aligning business, community and government to achieve social, economic and environmental outcomes. We believe this is best realised when people are invested in the long-term outcomes of where they live and work. If this sounds like you too, then working in local government at SDRC may be right for you.
Our Values
SDRC recognises our people as our strength, and our five values guide how we work with each other, our actions, our decision making and how we serve our community. Our values bring us all together and contribute to our employees having a meaningful and rewarding career, with opportunities to grow and thrive. To learn more about Council's Values, please click on the link in the "Further Information" section of this advertisement, or visit our website.
Apply Now!
At SDRC, we believe that diversity enriches our workplace, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes. We welcome applications from qualified people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and abilities, who have applicable working rights in Australia.
To apply for this opportunity, you will be asked to complete an online application form and provide:
- A short written response (maximum 1-2 pages, dot points acceptable) on how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities would enable you to achieve the key responsibilities and meet the selection criteria of this role (as outlined in the Position Description); and
- Your current CV or Resume.
When you are ready to begin your application, please click on the "Apply" button below to be taken to our online application portal. Please ensure you provide all of the information requested and that your application is lodged by the closing date (as shown above). Should you have any difficulty lodging your application online, please contact our People & Culture team on ph 1300 697 372 for assistance.
We look forward to receiving your application.
