ABB155 Property Law and Land Use Planning
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | ABB155 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | UXB134 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $5,436 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABB155 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | UXB134 |
| Coordinator: | Tan Yigitcanlar | tan.yigitcanlar@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Professionals involved in planning and property require an understanding of how property rights are defined, regulated, and applied within land use planning frameworks. Knowledge of property law, including land tenure, planning controls, and the registration of property interests under the Torrens Title system, is essential for understanding how land can be used and developed.
In this unit, you will develop foundational knowledge and skills in property law, land use planning, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). You will be introduced to spatial analysis techniques used in planning and property contexts and apply these to examine land use patterns, planning controls, and site constraints. The unit also develops your ability to communicate property and land use planning concepts clearly in writing and through visual and spatial representations.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify how real property rights, legislation, and land use planning systems influence the use and development of land.
- Explain how Queensland legislation regulates land tenure, property interests, and planning controls relevant to land use and development.
- Apply foundational concepts of real property law and land use planning to analyse defined property and development scenarios.
- Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify and illustrate land use patterns, site constraints, and planning controls.
- Communicate property and land use planning concepts using clear written explanations and basic visual and spatial representations.
Content
This unit introduces key fields of study related to property law, land use planning, and spatial analysis, including but not limited to the following:
- Property and land use frameworks, including the relationship between property rights, land use regulation, and development outcomes.
- Statutory regulation of property and land use in Queensland, including relevant legislation, planning instruments, and development assessment processes.
- Real property law and land tenure, including freehold and leasehold interests, the registration of property interests, and common encumbrances affecting land use and development.
- Land use planning systems and controls, including planning schemes, zoning, overlays, and environmental and site-based considerations influencing development potential.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in property and planning contexts, including spatial data, mapping, and basic spatial analysis to examine land use patterns and site constraints.
- Communication of land use analysis, including written and visual representation of property and planning constraints.
Learning Approaches
Learning in this unit adopts a theory-to-practice approach that supports the development of foundational knowledge in property law, land use planning, and spatial analysis. Core concepts are introduced through weekly lectures, which establish the legal and planning frameworks for the unit.
Weekly tutorials support the application of lecture content through guided activities. These include dedicated sessions focused on applying property law concepts to site-based scenarios in support of the first assessment, as well as tutorials that introduce and apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyse land use patterns, planning controls, and site constraints. Tutorials also provide opportunities for formative feedback to support assessment tasks.
Students are expected to engage in directed private study, including prescribed readings and online learning materials, to consolidate understanding of lecture and tutorial content.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Academic feedback is provided through tutorial guidance and formative discussion, and through feedback on submitted assessment work (rubric-based feedback and comments). Students are also supported through guided activities and low-stakes practice tasks in Canvas to help them monitor their understanding.
Assessment
Overview
The assessment in this unit is designed to support your achievement of the unit learning outcomes and to provide opportunities to apply foundational knowledge and skills in property law, land use planning, and spatial analysis. The assessment tasks require you to undertake applied, site-based analysis consistent with property and planning contexts.
The assessment has been designed to allow you to:
- receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, and skills (formative assessment); and
- demonstrate your learning to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).
Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the unit’s attendance mode.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Property case study
In this assessment, you will analyse a hypothetical redevelopment scenario to examine how land tenure, property interests, and land use planning controls influence the potential use and development of a site. You will interpret relevant Queensland legislation, planning instruments, and title information to identify legal and planning constraints affecting redevelopment.
Your analysis will be communicated through a written case study report that demonstrates the application of foundational property law and planning concepts to a defined site-based scenario.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Site Constraint Analysis
Acting as a property or planning professional advising a client, you will individually analyse land use planning controls and site constraints using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). You will source and interpret relevant spatial and planning data to identify and illustrate constraints affecting the potential use and development of a site.
Your analysis will be communicated through a written site constraint analysis report supported by maps, diagrams, and other visual material, demonstrating how legal, planning, and spatial considerations inform land use decisions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
No special requirements
Costs
No additional costs
Resources
Required readings will be available on the Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
All commencing Faculty of Engineering students are required to complete the Mandatory Safety Induction
You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Site Constraint Analysis - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis
UD05 Bachelor of Property Economics
- Identify theoretical and technical knowledge of economic, legal, social, cultural, global, physical, technological and sustainable contexts required to value, manage and develop property assets and investment portfolios
Relates to: ULO1, Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis - Apply theoretical and technical knowledge and skills, methods, calculations, property technologies, and sustainability strategies to evaluate the feasibility of property development opportunities, to identify finance options for property investments, and to enhance the performance of assets or investment portfolios
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis - Think critically and innovatively to solve authentic property problems.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Site Constraint Analysis - Collect and analyse data using industry-standard proprietary software and strategies to evaluate financial and property market trends to inform current and future property decisions.
Relates to: ULO4, Site Constraint Analysis - Communicate and negotiate with diverse, real-world audiences
Relates to: ULO5, Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis - Apply ethical judgement and principles of sustainabilty to make positive global, economic, societal and environmental contributions.
Relates to: ULO3, Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Online
| Unit code: | ABB155 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | UXB134 |
Overview
Professionals involved in planning and property require an understanding of how property rights are defined, regulated, and applied within land use planning frameworks. Knowledge of property law, including land tenure, planning controls, and the registration of property interests under the Torrens Title system, is essential for understanding how land can be used and developed.
In this unit, you will develop foundational knowledge and skills in property law, land use planning, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). You will be introduced to spatial analysis techniques used in planning and property contexts and apply these to examine land use patterns, planning controls, and site constraints. The unit also develops your ability to communicate property and land use planning concepts clearly in writing and through visual and spatial representations.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify how real property rights, legislation, and land use planning systems influence the use and development of land.
- Explain how Queensland legislation regulates land tenure, property interests, and planning controls relevant to land use and development.
- Apply foundational concepts of real property law and land use planning to analyse defined property and development scenarios.
- Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify and illustrate land use patterns, site constraints, and planning controls.
- Communicate property and land use planning concepts using clear written explanations and basic visual and spatial representations.
Content
This unit introduces key fields of study related to property law, land use planning, and spatial analysis, including but not limited to the following:
- Property and land use frameworks, including the relationship between property rights, land use regulation, and development outcomes.
- Statutory regulation of property and land use in Queensland, including relevant legislation, planning instruments, and development assessment processes.
- Real property law and land tenure, including freehold and leasehold interests, the registration of property interests, and common encumbrances affecting land use and development.
- Land use planning systems and controls, including planning schemes, zoning, overlays, and environmental and site-based considerations influencing development potential.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in property and planning contexts, including spatial data, mapping, and basic spatial analysis to examine land use patterns and site constraints.
- Communication of land use analysis, including written and visual representation of property and planning constraints.
Learning Approaches
Learning in this unit adopts a theory-to-practice approach that supports the development of foundational knowledge in property law, land use planning, and spatial analysis. Core concepts are introduced through weekly lectures, which establish the legal and planning frameworks for the unit.
Weekly tutorials support the application of lecture content through guided activities. These include dedicated sessions focused on applying property law concepts to site-based scenarios in support of the first assessment, as well as tutorials that introduce and apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyse land use patterns, planning controls, and site constraints. Tutorials also provide opportunities for formative feedback to support assessment tasks.
Students are expected to engage in directed private study, including prescribed readings and online learning materials, to consolidate understanding of lecture and tutorial content.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Academic feedback is provided through tutorial guidance and formative discussion, and through feedback on submitted assessment work (rubric-based feedback and comments). Students are also supported through guided activities and low-stakes practice tasks in Canvas to help them monitor their understanding.
Assessment
Overview
The assessment in this unit is designed to support your achievement of the unit learning outcomes and to provide opportunities to apply foundational knowledge and skills in property law, land use planning, and spatial analysis. The assessment tasks require you to undertake applied, site-based analysis consistent with property and planning contexts.
The assessment has been designed to allow you to:
- receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, and skills (formative assessment); and
- demonstrate your learning to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).
Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the unit’s attendance mode.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Property case study
In this assessment, you will analyse a hypothetical redevelopment scenario to examine how land tenure, property interests, and land use planning controls influence the potential use and development of a site. You will interpret relevant Queensland legislation, planning instruments, and title information to identify legal and planning constraints affecting redevelopment.
Your analysis will be communicated through a written case study report that demonstrates the application of foundational property law and planning concepts to a defined site-based scenario.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Site Constraint Analysis
Acting as a property or planning professional advising a client, you will individually analyse land use planning controls and site constraints using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). You will source and interpret relevant spatial and planning data to identify and illustrate constraints affecting the potential use and development of a site.
Your analysis will be communicated through a written site constraint analysis report supported by maps, diagrams, and other visual material, demonstrating how legal, planning, and spatial considerations inform land use decisions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
No special requirements
Costs
No additional costs
Resources
Required readings will be available on the Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
All commencing Faculty of Engineering students are required to complete the Mandatory Safety Induction
You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Site Constraint Analysis - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis
UD05 Bachelor of Property Economics
- Identify theoretical and technical knowledge of economic, legal, social, cultural, global, physical, technological and sustainable contexts required to value, manage and develop property assets and investment portfolios
Relates to: ULO1, Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis - Apply theoretical and technical knowledge and skills, methods, calculations, property technologies, and sustainability strategies to evaluate the feasibility of property development opportunities, to identify finance options for property investments, and to enhance the performance of assets or investment portfolios
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis - Think critically and innovatively to solve authentic property problems.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Site Constraint Analysis - Collect and analyse data using industry-standard proprietary software and strategies to evaluate financial and property market trends to inform current and future property decisions.
Relates to: ULO4, Site Constraint Analysis - Communicate and negotiate with diverse, real-world audiences
Relates to: ULO5, Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis - Apply ethical judgement and principles of sustainabilty to make positive global, economic, societal and environmental contributions.
Relates to: ULO3, Property case study, Site Constraint Analysis