Information Sheets
Council have prepared a range of information sheets based on common queries from the community.
Strategic intent of the Townsville City Plan
Townsville City Plan user guide (PDF 356.2 KB)
Explains the purpose, main uses and structure of the Townsville City Plan.
Understanding the Townsville City Plan (PDF 420.6 KB)
A brief history of the Townsville City Plan, with an explanation of the purpose of planning schemes.
Strategic overview (PDF 4.5 MB)
Gives an overview of the key aims and strategies of the Townsville City Plan.
Development codes (PDF 373.2 KB)
Explains the intent of Development Codes, the codes in the Townsville City Plan which deal with specific types of developments and activities.
Parking (PDF 456.2 KB)
Explains the intent of the Parking Rates planning scheme policy within the Townsville City Plan.
Townsville's CBD (PDF 937.6 KB)
Information on the proposed land use for Townsville's CBD.
Key road corridors (PDF 970.4 KB)
Sets out plans for existing key road corridors under the Townsville City Plan.
Aitkenvale local area (PDF 945.8 KB)
Find out how the Townsville City Plan will affect the Aitkenvale local area.
Bayswater Road Medical local area (PDF 496.0 KB)
Find out how the Townsville City Plan affects the Bayswater Road and Fulham Road medical precincts.
Bohle local area (PDF 393.1 KB)
Find out how the Townsville City Plan will affect the Bohle local area.
Calcium (Lansdown) local area (PDF 729.4 KB)
Find out how the Townsville City Plan will affect the Calcium local area.
Hyde Park local area (PDF 774.3 KB)
Find out how the Townsville City Plan will affect the Hyde Park local area.
JCU and Townsville Hospital local area (PDF 929.8 KB)
Find out how the Townsville City Plan will affect the JCU and Townsville Hospital local area.
Magnetic Island local area (PDF 1.1 MB)
Find out how the Townsville City Plan will affect the Magnetic Island local area.
North Ward local area (PDF 912.0 KB)
Find out how the Townsville City Plan will affect the North Ward local area.
Roseneath Industry Precinct local area (PDF 495.8 KB)
Find out how the Townsville City Plan will affect the Roseneath Industry Precinct local area.
Thuringowa Central local area (PDF 729.0 KB)
Find out how the Townsville City Plan will affect the Thuringowa Central local area.
Overlays
Overlays (PDF 353.5 KB)
Overlays identify areas that have unique characteristics, such as a natural hazard or close proximity to an airport.
Flood hazard overlay (PDF 358.0 KB)
The flood hazard overlay ensures risk to life and property is minimised during future flood events.
Coastal environment overlay (PDF 373.8 KB)
Coastal environment overlay codes ensure development in the coastal zone complies with measures to avoid risk to people and property from coastal hazards.
Coastal Protection Overlay Practice Note 1 (PDF 392.1 KB)
An information source to assist with the interpretation and application of the Coastal protection overlay code.
Bushfire Hazards - Practice Note 2 (PDF 352.6 KB)
An information source to assist with the interpretation and application of the Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code.
Zones
Community facilities and open space zone (PDF 364.4 KB)
The community facilities and open space zones represent a diverse range of land uses, which are in private and public ownership.
Industrial zone (PDF 239.5 KB)
Industrial zones are areas of Townsville that have an existing relationship with industry.
Residential zone (PDF 269.3 KB)
Residential zones outline where different types of housing can occur in Townsville.
Rural residential zone (PDF 385.5 KB)
The rural residential zone is to provide for residential development on large lots where the intensity of residential development is dispersed.
Rural zone (PDF 351.4 KB)
The rural zone is to protect Townsville's most productive land and preserve its rural character.
Character residential zone (PDF 641.5 KB)
The character residential zone identifies and defines parts of the city with a unique mixture of architecture and overall streetscape.
Centre and mixed use zone (PDF 352.3 KB)
A range of development is promoted in centre and mixed use zones to encourage multi-functional and high density activity centres.
Heritage properties
Heritage and character housing guide (PDF 2.6 MB)
If you own or are renovating a traditional Townsville house, this guide provides information to help you retain its character and heritage.
Heritage Exemption Certificates Info sheet (PDF 644.3 KB)
Local exemption certificates are a way for owners of heritage listed properties to commence building work without development approval from council, depending on what the development proposes.
Nominating a local heritage place (PDF 597.5 KB)
Places in Townsville that have been identified as having cultural significance are contained within Schedule 7 Places of Cultural Heritage Value. You can apply to have a place added to Schedule 7.
Removing a place from the local heritage register (PDF 591.6 KB)
Places in Townsville that have been identified as having cultural heritage significance are contained within Schedule 7 Places of Cultural Heritage Value of the Townsville City Plan.
Infrastructure
Local government infrastructure plan technical information sheet (PDF 503.9 KB)
Find out what a local government infrastructure plan is, and why we need trunk infrastructure to build a city.
Navigating Townsville’s Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) (PDF 613.8 KB)
An introduction and walk-through of the LGIP and where it sits in the Townsville City Plan.
Non-trunk, necessary trunk and additional trunk infrastructure costs (PDF 585.3 KB)
Development may involve non-trunk infrastructure, necessary trunk infrastructure and/or additional trunk infrastructure costs.
Infrastructure Charges (PDF 749.9 KB)
Explore details about fees applied to developments within the region, aimed at supporting necessary infrastructure.
Building and renovating
Building FAQs (PDF 623.0 KB)
Find out if you need a building permit, how to obtain plumbing and drainage plans and other building information before you begin work.
The development assessment process (PDF 601.3 KB)
Once a development application has been lodged to council, a legislatively required assessment process must be undertaken before a decision can be made.
Pre-lodgment meetings (PDF 589.5 KB)
Find out the advantages to booking a pre-lodgement meeting, and the different types of meeting available to discuss a proposed development.
Townsville online lodgement system (TOLS) (PDF 578.4 KB)
How to register and use TOLS to lodge development applications electronically.
Development Applications for Community Uses (PDF 395.4 KB)
A guideline for applying an application fee discount if your development application has uses that provide a community service.
Planning and development certificates (PDF 585.8 KB)
Planning and development certificates provide comprehensive information about a premises. There are three levels of certificate you can request.
Requirements for work zones, scaffolding and gantries (PDF 221.7 KB)
Before beginning work, it is important to understand Council's requirements for work zones.
Driveways and other works in the road (PDF 573.9 KB)
Building and other works in the road reserve, including driveways, must be approved by Council before work commences.
Material Change of Use (PDF 306.5 KB)
Learn about the necessary steps and considerations when seeking a change in the use of your property.
Operational Works (PDF 450.3 KB)
Explore information beyond building, plumbing, or drainage work that can impact premises or its usage.
Reconfiguring a Lot (PDF 1.1 MB)
Obtain insights into the requirements for gaining approval to subdivide or realign property boundaries.
Siting Relaxation (PDF 306.6 KB)
Familiarise yourself with Queensland Building Code requirements for constructing structures on residential properties.
Residential Driveways and Residential Work Permit (PDF 273.7 KB)
Get information on the process and requirements for obtaining a permit to construct a residential driveway.
Development Permit (PDF 276.4 KB)
Understand the diverse types of development that necessitate approval in the form of a Development Permit.
Plumbing and drainage
Plumbing and drainage frequently asked questions (PDF 706.2 KB)
Find out what plumbing or drainage work requires Council approval, and the types of plumbing work categorised by Queensland legislation.
Backflow prevention devices (PDF 562.0 KB)
To prevent backflow of water that may contaminate the community’s water supply, Council maintains a program for the registration, maintenance and testing of testable backflow prevention devices.
Drainage plan requirements (PDF 604.9 KB)
If your application meets certain criteria, you will need to provide a drainage plan to Council.
As constructed drainage plans (PDF 635.6 KB)
An as constructed drainage plan shows the connection point from Council's sewer system to the dwelling, and usually also connections to the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet, etc.
On-site sewerage treatment and grey water (PDF 595.2 KB)
The disposal of wastewater generated on a property that is not connected to a sewerage system network must have Council approval.
On-site sewerage facilities for non-sewered properties application guidelines (PDF 721.6 KB)
These guidelines provide information about Council's role in the approval and installation stages of an on-site sewerage facility.
Submetering of multi unit properties (PDF 95.9 KB)
Guidelines and technical information for the individual sub-metering of multi-unit residential and commercial properties.
Businesses
Large scale solar farms (PDF 607.8 KB)
Council encourages the growth of solar farms in Townsville. Find out how to select an appropriate location and prepare an application for a large scale solar farm.
Home Based Business (PDF 582.1 KB)
Detailed guidelines to assess if your proposed home-based business aligns with Townsville City Plan requirements.
Secondary dwelling
Secondary dwelling (PDF 640.3 KB)
When it comes to Secondary dwellings, it is important to know and understand the legislation that is applicable. The information sheet aims to assist people that are proposing to establish a new Secondary Dwelling or looking to purchase or live in a property with a Secondary dwelling.
Accessing a Council Record
Council Records (PDF 308.3 KB)
Learn about property searches commonly requested during property transactions or renovations.
Planning Act 2016
The Planning Act 2016 came into effect on 3 July 2017, replacing the Sustainable Planning Act 2009. More information on the legislation and other Information about Queensland’s planning system is on the Queensland Government website.
