A review of the Iconic Queensland Places Act 2008 (IQPA) has recommended that Queensland’s Iconic Panels be phased out, announced Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe.

Mr Hinchliffe said the review showed the Douglas Iconic Panel rarely disagreed with Cairns Regional Council’s assessment of development applications, and referred two-thirds of applications back to Council.

“The review showed that the Douglas Iconic Panel chose to review just 57 of the 193 applications before Cairns Regional Council and there were only three occasions where the Panel’s decision differed to Council’s advice,” he said.

Cook MP Jason O’Brien said, unfortunately, the numbers speak for themselves.

“I have stressed to the Minister the importance of preserving the iconic features of our unique Douglas region and I welcome the decision to retain the panels in an advisory role.

“I’d like to congratulate Cairns Regional Council for accepting its responsibility to protect the character and defining qualities of our community and I call on Council to maintain a panel for the Douglas community and to support its advice.

"While the Panel will be phased out as a legal entity, Cairns Regional Council can create its own advisory board and I hope Council takes the opportunity to do this for Douglas," he said.

Division 10 Councillor Julia Leu, who also sits on the Douglas Iconic Panel, said that the demolition of the Panel may have future consequences.

"My main objections are that we can't predict the future make up of the Council and that the statistical analysis on which they based their decision is flawed."

Cr Leu said the Panel was put in place to ensure the values and character of the Douglas Shire weren't diluted over time.

She added that without legislative support, a watered-down advisory committee recommendation to Council would have little bearing on the approval or otherwise of a development plan.

The IQPA and the Iconic Queensland Places Regulation 2008 were introduced during local government reforms, to ensure newly amalgamated Councils would have regard for the natural features and environment that that local communities considered to be iconic in particular places in Queensland.