Planning Development Officer

Tweed Shire Council; Murwillumbah; On-site; AUD 88,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent full-time

Salary up to $103,869 + 12% super

Flexible work options

Training and development opportunities

9 day fortnight

Generous employment conditions

Job summary

Tweed Shire Council in Murwillumbah is seeking a planning professional to assess development applications from lodgement through to recommendation for approval or refusal. You will ensure compliance with planning legislation and environmental planning instruments, conduct site inspections, and prepare reports to support sustainable development outcomes.

The role requires degree-qualified Town Planning with strong written and verbal communication, plus eligibility for PIA membership.

Qualifications

• Degree in Town Planning or near completion required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills essential.
• Ability to prepare reports and build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Eligibility for membership with the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assess and coordinate development applications from lodgement to recommendation for approval or refusal.
• Ensure compliance with planning legislation, policies and environmental planning instruments.
• Conduct site inspections, prepare reports, and monitor consent conditions.
• Provide professional planning advice to residents, developers and government agencies.
• Investigate complaints and undertake follow-up actions and enforcement when required.
• Prepare high-quality reports and briefs for management, Council, committees and external stakeholders.

Skills

Written & verbal comms

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Town Planning degree or near completion

Job description

Play a key role in shaping sustainable community outcomes by assessing development applications, ensuring compliance with planning approvals, and providing effective responses to planning and regulatory matters.

About the role:

Assess and coordinate development applications from lodgement through to recommendation for approval or refusal, ensuring compliance with relevant planning legislation, policies and environmental planning instruments.

Conduct site inspections, prepare reports and monitor compliance with development consent conditions to support responsible and sustainable development outcomes.

Provide professional advice and respond to planning enquiries from residents, developers, consultants, government agencies and other stakeholders.

Investigate and resolve planning and regulatory complaints, undertaking appropriate follow-up actions and enforcement activities where required.

Prepare high-quality reports, correspondence and briefings for management, Council, committees and external stakeholders, including representing Council in legal and regulatory matters when required.

What's on offer:

• a permanent full time position
• a base salary ranging from $87,689 per annum with competency-based increments up to $103,869 per annum, plus 12% super
• 70 hour, 9 day fortnight
• training and development opportunities
• flexible work options for a healthy work life balance
• generous employment conditions.

We are seeking:

• Degree-qualified in Town Planning or nearing completion, with a genuine interest in shaping sustainable and well-planned communities.
• Demonstrated experience or understanding of processing development applications within a local government or planning environment.
• Sound knowledge of planning legislation, regulations and environmental planning instruments, with the ability to apply them effectively.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare reports and build positive relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Eligibility for membership with the Planning Institute of Australia PIA and a commitment to professional development.

About us:

• Located on the picturesque far North Coast of NSW, bordering the Gold Coast.
• The Tweed is a vibrant, diverse location offering a lifestyle near the water, in a rainforest or on a farm.
• Tweed Shire Council is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds in both traditional and non-traditional roles. We provide workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options.
• Join an employer of choice. Professionals Australia Local Government Engineers' Association has named Council the 2021 and 2025 Employer of Choice for our great employment practices within NSW local government.

Where it's located:

This position is based in Murwillumbah and can be directed to work from any Council work site.

Position closes:

Friday 25 September 2026 at 12 noon sharp (NSW time). Late applications will not be permitted.