Ministerial Infrastructure Designations

Ministerial Infrastructure Designations (MID) facilitate the delivery of certain community supporting infrastructure.

Examples of infrastructure considered include:

hospitals
schools
police/ambulance/fire stations
power lines
sporting facilities
water supply infrastructure
sewerage treatment plants
social/affordable housing.

The MID process provides an alternative to lodging a development application with the relevant local government and is managed by the department with input from other government agencies.

Most Ministerial Infrastructure Designations are requested by state departments. For example, the education department may request the designation of a site for a future school. Private entities may also request MIDs for uses such as private schools and hospitals.

The Planning Minister is responsible for making a MID.

The Minister's Guidelines and Rules (MGR) outline the process for environmental assessment and consultation for making or amending a MID.

The MGR also contains the designation process rules for local government when making and amending a Local Government Infrastructure designation (LGID). Local governments are responsible for infrastructure designations at a local level. A LGID enables local infrastructure to be delivered more efficiently, for example a new library or recreation centre.

Frequently asked questions

A Ministerial Infrastructure Designation, or MID, is a process for delivering certain types of infrastructure.
The MID process provides an alternative to lodging a development application with local government. The process is managed by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning with input from other government agencies.
The Planning Minister is responsible for making decisions on MIDs.
Under the Planning Act 2016, the Planning Minister can make, amend, extend or repeal a MID.
A MID can be used to facilitate the development of certain types of community-supporting infrastructure.
For example, hospitals, schools, police/ambulance/fire stations, sporting facilities, power lines, water supply infrastructure and sewerage treatment plants.
A comprehensive assessment of land use planning matters relating to a MID proposal is undertaken by the department which considers advice from other state agencies and technical experts.
The Planning Minister then makes a decision on the MID after considering the assessment and submissions received during community consultation.
Matters of community concern that are not specific to the material land use planning matters of the proposal, while being important matters, are not considered under the planning framework and would therefore be out of scope for the assessment of the MID. Where relevant these matters are provided to the relevant state agency or authority for consideration.
Yes.
Once lodged, the applicant is responsible for undertaking public consultation where community members can have their say.
This consultation is generally for a 20 business day period and includes placing signs on the land, a notice in the newspaper and letters to surrounding landowners and key stakeholders.
Furthermore, all MIDs (excluding for social and/or affordable housing) require preliminary engagement with key stakeholders, including the council and the local community as part of the initial stages of the MID process. This provides key stakeholders with an early awareness of the proposal and an opportunity to provide feedback.
The assessment of a MID focuses on the proposed land use, and its associated impacts including aspects such as traffic, car parking, stormwater, noise, ecology, amenity and built form.
A request to the Planning Minister for a MID can be made by both public and private entities.

Pre-lodgement meetings and enquiries

A pre-lodgement meeting is required for all proposed MIDs (excluding for social and/or affordable housing) to discuss project details and the process.

Requests for pre-lodgement meetings can be made through the Infrastructure Designations Portal.

Community consultation

Community consultation is required on all MIDs. View further information about the process:

See the public register below for all MIDs currently on consultation.