City of Gold Coast Planning and Development Hub

Welcome to the City of Gold Coast Planning and Development Hub - an online communication and engagement tool created to provide a secure location to give you access to information on matters relating to planning, building and development, such as:

  • practice notes
  • training videos
  • presentations
  • news.
To stay up to date on planning and development matters, sign up to our Planning and Development alerts.


Welcome to the City of Gold Coast Planning and Development Hub - an online communication and engagement tool created to provide a secure location to give you access to information on matters relating to planning, building and development, such as:

  • practice notes
  • training videos
  • presentations
  • news.
To stay up to date on planning and development matters, sign up to our Planning and Development alerts.


  • Updated flood overlay maps

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    City of Gold Coast recently revised its flood overlay maps, which were today endorsed by Council to commence as part of City Plan Version 6 on 20 September 2018.

    The maps are an update to the existing flood overlay maps and were developed utilising the latest topographic, land use, technological and hydrological data; as well as the latest State Government and Council policies. As a result, Council can provide the community with more informed flood information to help build the city’s resilience.

    The updated mapping considers future changes to climate and incorporates the projected increase in sea level of 0.8m above present-day levels by 2100, established by the State Government in 2015. The updated mapping also includes the State Government's projected 10% storm tide intensity and 10% rainfall intensity, based on advice from industry representatives and recommended by the Australian Rainfall and Runoff Handbook.

    These maps reflect a flood event that has a 1% chance of occurring in any one year, also referred to as a one-in-100-year ARI (Average Recurrence Interval) flood event, and identify properties that may be affected by this designated flood event. They act as a trigger for the development of land identified in the flood overlay map.

    For more information visit www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au

  • Development Assessment team changes in City Development

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    Following recent recruitment activity and internal reviews, there are some changes to key staff and reporting lines within the Planning Assessment and Major Assessment Sections of City Development.

    Major Assessment Section

    • The Central Assessment team will be realigned to report to the Executive Coordinator of Major Assessment, Steve Brett and will now sit within the Major Assessment Section.
    • The Central Assessment team will continue to coordinate the assessment all development applications in Divisions 6, 7, and 10. However, they will now also coordinate the assessment of applications in Division 12.
    • The Major Assessment team will continue to assess major development proposals across the City.
    • The Major Assessment and Central Assessment teams will remain separate teams under the supervision of Phil Zappala (Major Assessment) and Jemma Glover (Central Assessment), with Steve Brett overseeing both teams within the Major Assessment Section.

    Planning Assessment Section

    • As mentioned above, the Central Assessment team will no longer be part of the Planning Assessment Section.
    • Development applications in Division 8 will now be assessed by the South Assessment Team (Adam Brown’s team) in the Planning Assessment Section.
    • The South Assessment team will coordinate all applications in Divisions 8, 9, 11, 13 and 14 under Adam Brown’s Supervision.
    • Andrew Powell and Emma McGregor are the two Supervisors of the North Assessment Team.
    • There are no changes to the Fast Track Team or Planning Enquiries Centre.
    • Roger Sharpe is the Executive Coordinator for all teams within the Planning Assessment Section.

    Current applications that are affected by the changes above will continue to be assessed by the current planning officer and supervisor in most instances. However, Officers will contact applicants to advise if there are any changes to the allocated assessment officer.

    For reference, a list of the Supervisors and contact numbers for each team is provided below:

    Major Assessment Section

    Major Assessment Team – Phil Zappala (5582 8689)

    Central Assessment Team – Divisions 6, 7, 10, 12 – Jemma Glover (5582 9854)

    Planning Assessment Section

    North Assessment Team – Divisions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 – Andrew Powell (5582 8289) & Emma McGregor (5582 9852)

    South Assessment Team – Divisions 8, 9, 11, 13 and 14 – Adam Brown (5582 8737)

    Fast Track Team – Wiremu Cherrington (5582 8694)

    Planning Enquiries Centre – 5582 8708


  • City Building Seminar - July

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    The Enlightened City

    Places are complex and uneven. Every city in the world has a chequered past and a present where great urban experiences contrast against others that are underwhelming. The Gold Coast is no different, but at this very sensitive point in civic growth, the most important question is: what kind of city should the Gold Coast become?

    The Enlightened City is a presentation by Right Angle Studio’s Strategy and Insights Director Barrie Barton. It reflects upon the Gold Coast’s awakening as a city with potential way beyond tourism and what it might mean to be a genuinely competitive metropolis that is firmly part of the Asian Century and seen as more than an outer-lying suburb of Brisbane.

    Based upon Right Angle’s experiences around the world on large city-shaping projects such as Elephant Park and International Quarter London, the transformation of Maboneneng in Johannesburg, One Bangkok, Barangaroo in Sydney and their own developments in Surry Hills, his talk will cover three themes that are essential to the future success of the Gold Coast:

    1. Cross-Sectional Communities
    2. Third Wave Sustainability
    3. Permanent Vacations

    Barrie Barton Bio

    Barrie Barton is a lawyer by qualification, an entrepreneur by nature and an urban strategist by profession. He has spent most of his adult life thinking about the relationship between the places where we choose to live and the sorts of people we become as a result. In 2005, he set up Right Angle Studio: a business dedicated to understanding and improving life in cities.

    At the institutional end of town, Right Angle provides strategic advice to governments, large brands and developers who want to understand what city people will need in the future and how to develop property that can realise value by meeting those demands.

    At the fine-grain end of town, Right Angle have started a number of notably successful businesses that they own and operate including Australia’s first ever online city guides, Melbourne’s Rooftop Cinema, Sydney’s Golden Age Cinema & Bar, and most recently The Paramount Recreation Club: a rooftop café and fitness studio that provides busy city people with a beautiful space to improve physical, mental and social health.

    Barrie currently calls Sydney home but is engaged in property projects across Australia, in London and Johannesburg where his casual and intelligent approach to creating valuable property is yielding extraordinary results for the industry and end-users alike.

    Date: Thursday, 26 July 2018

    Time: Midday refreshments, 12.30pm presentation

    Venue: HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise

    RSVP: oca@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
  • About the new My Account system

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    City of Gold Coast is continuing to implement a new information technology system to support major customer, property and revenue functions. As part of this new system, you will soon be able to register for My Account – a secure online portal to access your information, request services, make applications, and manage your accounts from one location.

    You will need to use My Account to lodge applications and manage your account. As a registered user of My Account you will have 24/7 convenience to:

    • lodge and track development applications
    • lodge and track forms for plumbing and drainage
    • pay bills
    • update your details
    • make service requests and track progress
    • perform property searches
    • lodge and track licence and permit applications.

    We anticipate that there may be a few delays during the transition to the new system, including the issuing of invoices and receipts for sundry debtors. Help and support will be available to you and we encourage you provide your feedback once the system is live.

    We appreciate your understanding as we work through the initial implementation of the system.

    Setting up a My Account

    You will need to set up My Account to lodge applications and manage your sundry debtor account.

    Once the site is live, new account holders can do this via the City’s website: cityofgoldcoast.com.au/myaccount

    Existing account holders will be emailed with an Authentication Key and instruction on how to register for My Account.

    Each company can only have one registered account and login per individual debtor account. The Authentication Key for existing account holders will be emailed to the current email address we have on file for your debtor account.

    Lodging an electronic application

    Once the system is live, existing SmartForms will be decommissioned and replaced with the new E-Services Forms.

    These forms will be available via the City’s website, along with guidance material for how to use these forms.

    PD Online

    With the new system will be the implementation of a new PD Online portal.

    The existing PD Online will continue to be available for applications lodged prior to the commencement of the transition period. Applications lodged post this date will need to be accessed via the new PD Online portal. This will be available on the City of Gold Coast website.

    Help and support

    We understand there will be an adjustment period in moving across to the new system.

    We encourage you to contact the relevant area listed below if you experience a system fault, error, or would like further assistance which can be arranged upon request.

    Contact telephone:

    For assistance with My Account please contact the City of Gold Coast, Customer Service Centre:

    1300 465 326

    For development applications enquires please contact the Planning Enquires Centre:

    (07) 5582 8708

    For enquiries relating to plumbing and drainage, please contact:

    (07) 5582 8393

    For enquiries relating to private certification, please contact:

    (07) 5582 8184

  • City Plan Version 5

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    City Plan Version 5 will commence today, 27 June 2018, and will include Major Update to City Plan Policies (Schedule 6), Major Amendment 1 to the Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) and Minor and Administrative Update 4.

    Due to a Ministerial response not being received prior to Council adoption, Major Update 1 & 1B will not form part of City Plan Version 5. City Plan Version 5 cannot be delayed due to the legislative requirements for LGIP.

    The City Plan Team will take an item up to the Economy, Planning and Environment Committee in July 2018 to seek its endorsement for the commencement of Major 1 & 1B. It is anticipated that a new version of City Plan (i.e. Version 6) will commence as soon as practicable.

    Major Update to City Plan Policies (Sch 6) updates three existing policies and introduces two new policies, which are identified below:

    • Bushfire management plans;
    • Land development guidelines;
    • Landscape work;
    • New policy – Environmental management plans; and
    • New policy – Geotechnical stability assessment guideline.

    Bushfire management plans provide guidance on how to prepare a bushfire management plan when it is required as part of a development application. The update to this policy is the inclusion of a practical guide on the construction of functional and sustainable fire trails in our managed natural areas.

    Land development guidelines (LDG) provides guidance on design and delivery of infrastructure necessary to support development within our city. The updates to the LDG will improve user experience, respond to industry feedback and streamline requirements. Some key updates include:

    • Reinstating pavement design standards and industrial collector street width - As a result of industry feedback, it is proposed that the pavement design standards and industrial collector street width will be reverted back to the 2005 standards in the 2003 Our Living City Gold Coast Planning Scheme.
    • Pre-assessment process for plan sealing - The update introduces a pre-assessment process to assist in reducing assessment timeframes for Standard Format Plan subdivision. The pre-assessment process will provide the applicant with as much upfront information as possible for lodging plan sealing applications and gaining compliance with conditions.

    Landscape work provides guidance for all landscape works on public and private land. The update to this policy removes duplication and conflicting guidance material between the Land development guidelines and this policy document. Further clarification has also been provided to identify when a particular standard or guidance material applies to either private or public landscape works.

    Environmental management plans (EMP) is a new City Plan policy to provide guidance on how to prepare an EMP, having regard to the land development process.

    Environmental management plans include the following:

    • Covenant management plans;
    • Fauna management plans;
    • Rehabilitation management plans; and
    • Vegetation management plans.

    EMPs are intended to describe how a proposed development will impact on the ecological features of a site and identify how impacts will be avoided, minimised and managed in order to satisfy the relevant City Plan codes.

    Geotechnical stability assessment guidelines is a new policy to provide guidance on how to prepare a Geotechnical stability assessment report as part of a development application. A geotechnical stability assessment report may be required when development is located on any lot partially or completely subject to:

    • the Landslide hazard overlay map; and/or
    • proposes the use of batters and/or retaining structures.

    Major Amendment 1 to the Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) includes the water supply, sewerage, transport and public parks and land for community facilities networks. The stormwater networks are progressing as separate amendments and the stormwater quality network is currently with the State Government for review.

    Minor and Administrative Update 4 addresses errors in spelling, grammar, numbering and cross references to improve clarity, interpretation and workability of City Plan.

  • Interactive mapping for City Plan Version 5

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    Interactive Mapping has been updated for City Plan Version 5 to include new LGIP mapping. Soon after commencement, this information will be made available as part of the City Plan Property Reports.

    Version 4 content can be located in the Draft and historic content menu (this menu will contain mapping for V1-4).

  • Updates to ANEF and PANS-OPS Mapping

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    Interactive Mapping has been updated to include new airport mapping (ANEF and PANS-OPS).

    The Gold Coast Airport 2017 Master Plan includes updated mapping for the Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) and Procedures for Air Navigation Services – Aircraft Operational (PANS-OPS) surfaces. This mapping effectively overrides the following equivalent mapping in the City Plan:

    • Airport environs – Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) contour overlay map, which seeks to ensure impacts of aircraft noise on residential and noise-sensitive development are minimised; and
    • Airport environs – Procedures for Air Navigation Services - Aircraft Operational (PANS-OPS) surfaces overlay map, which seeks to control building and structure heights to maintain the current or future operational efficiency of the airport, or prevent hazards to the safe navigation of aircraft using the airport’s prescribed airspace.

    Updated ANEF and PANS-OPS layers have now been published to City Plan Interactive Mapping.

  • Local Government Infrastructure Plan update

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    In accordance with the Planning Act 2016, the City of Gold Coast has prepared a Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) which outlines the City’s vision for trunk infrastructure over the next 15 years. The LGIP has now been approved by State and adopted by Council and will be implemented on 27 June 2018. All LGIP artefacts will be available on the City’s website from that date.

    The new LGIP includes the water supply, sewerage, transport and public parks and land for community facilities networks. The stormwater networks are progressing as separate amendments and the stormwater quality network is currently with the State Government for review.

    Council resolved yesterday to temporarily charge for only the four networks, which means the City will remove the impervious area charges for the stormwater network for non-residential uses. Council will also charge 99.5% of the capped charges for residential uses to recover the cost of providing the water supply, sewerage, transport and public parks and land for community facilities networks.

    The 0.5% reduction is not the cost of supplying the trunk stormwater infrastructure network, nor is it a reduction from the actual cost of supplying five infrastructure networks.

    When the stormwater quality component of the LGIP is complete, City Officers will present updated charge rates for Council’s consideration. Council is continuing to formulate plans for stormwater quantity infrastructure across the City.

    For more information on the LGIP, please email strategicinfrastructure@goldcoast.qld.gov.au


  • New Local Buy arrangement for procurement

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    Local Buy is establishing a Register of Pre-Qualified Suppliers (RPQS) LGA Arrangement for the Supply of Planning, Surveying, Design and Architectural Services - BUS265.

    This arrangement will replace Local Buy’s current arrangement BUS245-0314, when it expires on 13 October 2018.

    To view Tender documents and complete the RFT, please click here and register. (Please note: your LGTender box registration is not valid for APET360).

    Tender closes at 2:00 PM Brisbane time 17 July 2018

    For more information about Local Buy, visit www.localbuy.net.au/about-local-buy
  • Transfer to the City under the Planning Act

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    As a result of the introduction of the Planning Act the Form 1 Transfer and the Form 20 Schedule (for the Trust) associated with the transfer of land to the City have been changed to comply with the legislation. Wording changes have been made to the Consideration in section 4 of Form 1 and the Trust Schedule in Form 20.

    When preparing documents for endorsement by the City under PA2016 please ensure this wording is referenced on the document. Prior documents will still be used for planning approvals under SPA2009. Examples can be found on the plan sealing webpage under plan sealing resources.

    If you have any further questions please contact plansealing@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
Page last updated: 07 Feb 2024, 11:16 AM