Policies

Council policy states our intent, commitment or position on strategic issues and assists in informing the community and Council officers on Council's desired outcome.

Policies are approved and adopted by Council.

Council's policies

Please note that the following policies can be found in the 2023/24 Budget and Operational Plan.

• Charitable and Community Organisations Rates and Charges Concession Policy
• City Activation and Jobs Growth Policy
• Concession of Disposal Fees for Charity Bin Waste Policy
• Debt Policy
• Differential Rating Categories
• Differential Rates, Limitations on Increases, Minimum General Rates
• First Home Buyers Concession Policy
• Hardship Concession Policy
• Investment Policy
• Nelly Bay Harbour Development Operational Plan
• Pensioner Rates Concession Policy
• Pre-2016 Pensioner Arrears Concession Policy
• Reduction of Water Consumption Charges Policy
• Revenue Policy
• Revenue Statement
• Rural Fire Levy
• Utility Charges - Water
• Utility Charges – Wastewater and Trade Waste
• Utility Charges – Waste Management and Recycling

If you cannot find what you need, please contact the Customer Service Centre by phoning 13 48 10 or emailing enquiries@townsville.qld.gov.au.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

• Advertising Spending Policy
  Council may place paid advertisements in various media to promote, inform and educate the public about its services and programs. Council must ensure that expenditure on advertising is appropriate and in the interest of the public.
  

• Arts and Exhibition Policy
  Council is a collecting institution of significant cultural resources in the North Queensland region. Art, craft and cultural material may be displayed in the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery and Public spaces. Council must ensure that acquisition and display of art, craft and cultural material is appropriate and in the interest of the public.
  

• Asset Management Policy
  The Townsville City Council will responsibly manage council-owned assets.
  

• Audit and Risk Committee Policy
  The Audit and Risk Committee is established and operated in accordance with the requirements of section 208 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 and section 105(2) of the Local Government Act 2009. To complement the scope areas in the legislation, the Committee objectives will also include risk management and governance.
  

B

• Beneficial Enterprises & Controlling Entities Policy
  Council will ensure all proposed or existing beneficial enterprises are in the best interest of the community and meet the objectives of the Local Government Act 2009, the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act 1982.
  

• Business Continuity Management Policy
  Council recognises the importance of organisational resilience to ensure the uninterrupted availability of all key business resources and critical business functions.
  

C

• Child Safety Policy
  Townsville City Council is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who use its services.
  

• Citylibraries Policy
  Townsville Citylibraries provides access to public computers, internet facilities, meeting rooms and displays to enhance the public’s access to facilities including up-to-date computing facilities, information, ideas, commentary and meeting rooms.
  

• Code of Conduct for Staff
  Townsville City Council aims to conduct its business with integrity, honesty and fairness and to comply with all relevant laws, regulations, codes and corporate standards.
  

• Code of Meeting Practice Policy
  Council will conduct its meetings in accordance with relevant laws and this Code of Meeting Practice.
  

• Common Seal Policy
  To provide guidance for use of council’s common seal for ceremonial documentation.
  

• Community Engagement Policy
  Townsville City Council is committed to ensuring inclusive and effective community engagement to assist in the delivery of high quality local government.
  

• Community Grants and Partnership Policy
  This policy outlines Townsville City Council’s approach to providing community grants to community organisations and represents Council’s policy about grants to community organisations as required by section 195 of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
  

• Competitive Neutrality Complaints Management Procedure
  This procedure applies to all potential or actual competitive neutrality complaints that the Council receives or of which it becomes aware.
  

• Complaints Management Policy
  Council is committed to a complaints management process which ensures the transparent, effective and timely resolution of complaints.
  

• Complaints about Public Official Policy
  Section 48A of the Crime and Corruption Act 2001 (Qld) (CC Act) requires Townsville City Council (TCC), as a unit of public administration, to have a policy for how TCC will deal with a complaint that involves, or may involve, corruption of the public official.
  

• Concession of Water Charges for Home Haemodialysis Patients Policy
  To provide a concession for water service charges incurred in respect of kidney disease patients who are undergoing home haemodialysis treatment.
  

• Confidentiality Policy
  This policy records the council’s commitment to preserving the confidentiality of information held by the council.
  

• Council Advisory Committees Policy
  Advisory Committees are appointed to provide regular advice and information to Council on specific subjects of interest to the community and Council.
  

• Councillor Acceptable Request Guidelines
  The aim of these guidelines is to facilitate a positive working relationship between Councillors as elected representatives of the community and the staff employed to administer the operations of Council.
  

• Councillor contact with Lobbyists, Developers and Submitters - Officers Present
  Lobbyists, developers and submitters seek access to councillors to discuss potential and existing development applications and other projects. The public has a clear expectation that such contact is carried out ethically and transparently.
  

• Councillor Expense Reimbursement Policy
  To provide guidance for reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by councillors in discharging their duties and responsibilities.
  

• Councillor Facilities Policy
  To provide councillors with the facilities necessary to efficiently discharge their duties and responsibilities as councillors.
  

• Councillors' and Officers' Indemnity Policy
  Council will indemnify each councillor and council officer against civil liability and legal expenses arising from any claim concerning the performance of their role as per the policy statement.
  

D

• Delegations Policy
  This policy establishes a framework for delegating authority and the responsible exercise of delegated authority within council.
  

• Disaster Management Policy
  Townsville City Council will support our local community in disaster events (natural and/or non-natural) by providing a framework for effective disaster preparedness and response.
  

• Display of City Flags and Banners Policy
  Council is committed to providing assistance to organisations for the promotion of city events through the use of city flags and banners.
  

• Diversity and Equality in the Workplace Policy
  Council's commitment to encouraging diversity and fair treatment in the workplace.
  

• Domain Name Policy
  Council commits to maintaining a centralised and consistent internet presence by having all Council websites utilise the domain townsville.qld.gov.au.
  

• Drinking Water Quality Policy
  Townsville City Council is committed to promoting and protecting public health by managing its water supply to provide safe, high-quality drinking water.
  

E

• Enterprise Wide Risk Management Policy
  This policy demonstrates that council understands and manages risk and seeks to ensure that there is consistency to the methods used in assessing, monitoring and communicating risks across the organisation.
  

• Entertainment and Hospitality Expenditure Policy
  Council will ensure that public sector standards of accountability in relation to entertainment and hospitality expenditure are maintained and that there is consistency in the way the policy is implemented across council.
  

• Environmental Offsets Land Policy
  Townsville City Council (“Council”) recognises the importance of environmental offsets to protect Matters of National and State Environmental Significance. To assist Townsville City Council’s projects and developments on Council land, Council prioritises the use of suitable Council landholdings for environmental offsets.
  

• Environmental Policy
  Townsville City Council (Council) recognises environmental sustainability as a guiding principle in its Corporate Plan and is committed to either avoiding or minimising and mitigating adverse environmental impacts associated with its operations.
  

I

• Inclusive Community Policy
  Townsville City Council (Council) is committed to facilitating and contributing to creating a welcoming and inclusive community. Council believes in building on existing strengths within the community to enable Townsville to be a city that fosters community inclusion, values diversity and actively contributes to opportunity that increase social, civic and economic participation within the community.
  

• Information Management Policy
  Council values information as a core strategic asset and will govern and manage it accordingly throughout its lifecycle.
  

• Information Privacy Policy
  Townsville City Council is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals. The council will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the collection, use, disclosure and handling of all personal information by council complies with all relevant legislation.
  

• Internal Audit Charter
  The Internal Audit function is an independent and objective review and advisory service, established within Council to provide assurance to the Audit and Risk Committee and management that Council’s controls are designed to manage Council’s risks and achieve objectives by operating in an efficient, effective and ethical manner.
  

• Internal Audit Policy
  Council maintains an efficient and effective internal audit function as required by the Local Government Act 2009 and the Local Government Regulation 2012.
  

• Investigation Policy
  This Investigation Policy sets out how complaints about the inappropriate conduct of Councillors will be dealt with as required by the section 150AE of the Local Government Act 2009 (the LGA). This policy does not relate to more serious Councillor conduct.
  

M

• Maintenance of Sanitary Drainage Policy
  Property Owners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of private sanitary drainage, including any portion of that drainage located outside of their property. Council is not responsible for maintenance or repair (including removing blockages from any cause) of private sanitary drains.
  

• Management, Operation and Use of Close Circuit Televisions and Recording Devices Policy
  The Council installs closed circuit television (CCTV) systems in public areas and council facilities with the objectives of promoting public safety and minimising damage or theft of Council assets.
  

• Management of Fraud and Corruption Policy
  This policy records the Townsville City Council’s commitment to rigorously manage the risk of fraud and corruption, and to investigate and prosecute cases of fraud or corruption affecting the council, to the fullest extent possible under the law.
  

• Mayor's Christmas Appeal Policy
  Council will seek donations in the lead up to Christmas to support selected local community organisations to assist people in financial hardship over the Christmas period.
  

• Memorials and Commemorative Items Policy
  The council will assess requests to establish memorials and accept donated commemorative items under this policy.
  

N

• Naming of Parks, Reserves and Park Facilities
  This policy provides a process for the naming of parks, reserves and park facilities.
  

O

• Outdoor Dining Policy
  Townsville City Council (“Council”) recognises the importance of the city's vibrant and unique outdoor lifestyle. To enhance the amenity and vibrancy of Townsville, the Council encourages the use of Council-controlled outdoor areas by businesses serving food (and/or beverages) to the public.
  

P

• Procurement Policy
  This policy sets out Townsville City Council’s mandatory requirements for selection and engagement of suppliers for goods and services.
  

• Prosecutions Policy
  The Council’s enforcement of a range of State and Local laws requires that some offenders be prosecuted through the Courts. The Council will commence prosecutions when that is in the community interest, and will conduct prosecutions impartially, fairly and in a manner that demonstrates the Council’s commitment to acting as a model litigant.
  

• Public Facing Internet Policy
  This policy outlines council’s minimum requirements for the creation, implementation and management of council’s websites for the delivery of information and services to the community.
  

• Public Graffiti Management Policy
  Council will ensure a managed response for the removal and reporting of graffiti on Council assets and other places where graffiti can be readily seen from a public place and will promote preventative strategies to minimise graffiti throughout Townsville City.
  

• Public Interest Disclosure Policy
  Townsville City Council is committed to the promotion of the public interest and encourages and supports public interest disclosures of wrongdoing in council. Council will ensure that public interest disclosures are assessed and investigated properly.
  

R

• Rates Discount Policy
  Council may consider granting discounts as specified in Council’s budget resolution and Revenue Policy/Statement to ratepayers that have been prevented by circumstances beyond their control from paying their rates on time, in accordance with the Local Government Regulation 2012.
  

• Rates and Charges Debtor Management Policy
  This policy provides the framework that will be used in the collection of rates and charges payable to Townsville City Council.
  

• Recycled Water Re-Use Policy
  Townsville City Council is committed to promoting and protecting public health by managing its recycled water supply to provide safe, high-quality recycled water for irrigation and industrial purposes only.
  

• Related Party Disclosure Policy
  • The objective of this policy is to ensure related party relationships and transactions are adequately identified and disclosed in order to meet the objectives of the Australian Accounting Standards, whilst also considering the Information Privacy Act 2009 and Right to Information Act 2009.
  

• Residential Pool Wastewater Disposal Policy
  Townsville City Council wishes to encourage and assist pool owners in the environmentally responsible enjoyment of the residential swimming pool.
  

• Right to Information Policy
  The Right to Information Act 2009 extends the right of the community to have access to information held by State Government departments, local and public authorities with a view to achieving more open, accountable and transparent government.
  

• Rural Roads Management Policy
  Townsville City Council will prioritise expenditure on the maintenance of rural roads having regard to the level of public use and function of each road.
  

T

• Townsville Water Quality Systems Policy
  It is the policy of Townsville Water to operate our business in a manner that consistently meets or exceeds the quality standards set by our stakeholders – being our customers, industry regulators, and the community within which our operations and activities are conducted.
  

• Trade Waste Policy
  Townsville City Council recognises that allowing the discharge of trade waste to sewer provides benefits to the economy of Townsville, and potentially to the natural environment, yet poses a risk to the sewerage system and safety of workers and the community.
  

• Tree Management Guidelines
  The purpose of these Guidelines is to support implementation of Townsville City Council’s Public Tree Management Policy.
  

• Tree Management Policy
  In managing the City’s Public Tree Network, Council must balance various risks against the social, economic, and environmental benefits Public Trees can provide.
  

U

• Unauthorised Works in Road Reserves Policy
  Townsville City Council recognises that there are a number of unauthorised works carried out in road reserves across the local government area. Only a limited number of these unauthorised works cause concerns.
  

• Use of Open Space Policy
  Council recognises its responsibility to facilitate the use of council controlled open space, including the future provision, role, use, development, management and maintenance of the open space facilities within the Townsville local government area.
  

• Use of Recreational Vehicles on Local Roads Policy
  Council is committed to minimising the risks and maximising the safety of all road users on the local road network and recognises that some residents seek to operate recreational vehicles (eligible for conditional registration) on or across roads in the local government area.
  

V

• Volunteers Policy
  Council is committed to supporting individual members of the public and community groups who choose to volunteer their time to enhance the provision of services to the community.
  

W

• Water Restriction Policy
  Council will apply water restrictions equitably across the community while recognising the importance of public facilities and the needs of businesses that rely upon water for their trade.
  

• Work Health and Safety Policy Statement
  Townsville City Council is committed to meeting its duties under the Work health & safety Legislation to ensure the health and safety of its staff while they are at work, and to any other people whose health and safety may be affected by council’s undertakings.
  

• Work Health and Safety Policy
  Townsville City Council recognises its duty to ensure the health and safety of its workers, as far as is reasonably practicable while they are at work and to any other person whose health and safety may be affected by Council’s undertakings. Council is committed to minimising the risk which its workers, assets, third party property and any other persons may be exposed to as a result of Council operations. Council recognises the requirements to ensure ongoing compliance with its Self-Insurance obligations and this policy and the associated WHS Policy Statement reinforce this obligation.
  

• Works Zone Parking Permits Policy
  The creation of works zone parking areas impacts upon the general availability of parking, and will occur only when necessary.