Development approval, building approval and everything in between: how getting a warehouse or commercial building approved works in Townsville and Queensland.
Before a commercial or industrial building can go up, it needs approval. In Queensland that usually means more than one approval, from more than one authority, and the order you tackle them in matters. This guide explains how the system works for warehouses, workshops, offices and other commercial buildings in Townsville.
Two kinds of approval
In Queensland, most building projects need to clear two separate hurdles.
Development approval (the planning side)
Development approval is about whether the use and form of the development suits the land. It's governed by the Planning Act 2016 and assessed against the local council's planning scheme, which in Townsville is the Townsville City Plan.
Under the Planning Act, development falls into three broad categories:
- Accepted development, which doesn't need a development approval from council for the planning side (though it may still need building approval).
- Assessable development, which needs approval. It's either code assessable, assessed against the planning scheme's codes, or impact assessable, which is broader and usually involves public notification.
- Prohibited development, which can't be approved.
Common types of development approval include a material change of use (starting a new use on the land, or significantly changing or intensifying an existing one), reconfiguring a lot (subdividing or changing boundaries) and operational work (such as earthworks, stormwater and driveways).
Building approval (the construction side)
Building approval is about whether the building itself is safe and compliant: structure, fire safety, access, energy efficiency and so on. It's governed by the Building Act 1975 and the National Construction Code. In Queensland, building approvals are usually issued by a private building certifier, who also inspects the work at key stages.
There may be other approvals too, such as plumbing and drainage approval, and approvals for works on council roads, like a new driveway crossover.
What decides how long it takes
- Zoning. A warehouse on land zoned for industry is a very different proposition from the same warehouse on land zoned for something else.
- Level of assessment. Code assessable applications are generally quicker and more predictable than impact assessable ones.
- Overlays. Planning scheme overlays, such as flood hazard, bushfire or heritage, can add requirements. Flooding is an important consideration in parts of Townsville.
- Referrals. Some applications must be referred to the state through the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA), for example when a site is next to a state-controlled road.
- Information requests. If the application is missing information, the assessment pauses while it's provided. A complete, well-prepared application avoids most of this.
Before you buy land or commit to a design
Check these early, ideally before you buy:
- the zoning, and whether your intended use is consistent with it
- any overlays affecting the site
- easements, services and access
- likely infrastructure charges, which councils levy on new development
- soil and flood information that will shape the footings and floor levels
Councils generally offer pre-lodgement meetings, and it's worth using one for anything beyond a simple project.
How a design and construct builder helps
On a design and construct project, the builder manages the approvals as part of the job. We prepare the drawings through our in-house drafting team, coordinate the town planner, engineers and building certifier, and design the building so it meets the planning scheme from the start, rather than redesigning after an information request.
If you have a site in mind and want to know what can be built on it, talk to us. We've been building in Townsville since 1988 and know the process well.
Please note, this article is general information about how the system works, not planning or legal advice. Requirements depend on the site, so always confirm the details for your project.
