Operational Works

Once a Development Permit (for a Material Change of Use and/or Reconfiguring a Lot) has been received, you may be required to lodge a further application for a Development Permit (Operational Works) under the Planning Act 2016.

It is important to read the conditions of approval carefully.  In some instances where works under the approval are internal to the site and can be managed under an associated building approval, no further Operational Works application is required.

Where works are external to the site and impact Council infrastructure or the roadway (including the verge and paths), then a separate Operational Works application must be lodged with Council.

A Development Permit is required for activities that impact Council infrastructure but which are not linked to a Development Permit (for a Material Change of Use and/or Reconfiguring a Lot).  Examples include:

• Any proposed modification of the road reserve;
• Filling and/or excavation activities;
• Stormwater/water/sewer connections;
• First driveway (where it does not conform to the FNQROC Development Manual specifications);
• All second driveways;
• Landscaping;
• Vegetation damage (street trees and trees within the property boundary in some circumstances); and
• Illuminated signs.

The planning scheme CairnsPlan 2016 identifies when Operational Works approvals are required and the corresponding category of assessment.  Refer to the Far North Queensland Regional Organisations Council (FNQROC) for helpful information and checklists.

Additional crossovers and non-compliant crossovers also require Operational Works approval from Council.

Refer to our Driveways and crossovers page for more information including technical standards.

Note: Operational Works approval may trigger infrastructure charges.

Written approvals from referral agencies and other stakeholders are required prior to lodgement. These can include:

• Department of Transport & Main Roads (DTMR);
• Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF);
• Department of Environment and Science (DES);
• Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME);
• Ergon Energy;
• Landowner's consent for works in/on land not owned by the Applicant/Developer; and
• Others as necessary.

Properly made application

For works involving engineering elements such as roads, paths, driveways, sewer/water/stormwater and earthworks, a properly made application should include:

1. Cover letter
2. DA Form 1, obtained from Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDMIP);
3. Statement of Compliance for Operational Works Design, obtained from Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (FNQROC);
4. Plans (to scale) in support of the application, including but not limited to:
   • Plans illustrating the functional layout;
   • Road/stormwater/sewer/water/landscaping works including vegetation protection;
   • Removal/excavation/fill earthworks; and
   • Erosion and sediment control.
5. All supporting information required to assist with the assessment of the development application (such as geotechnical reports, acid sulfate soil reports, engineers' reports, hydraulic reports, arborist reports, traffic management plans/guidance schemes, visual impact assessments, revegetation/remediation plans);
6. An assessment against the planning scheme CairnsPlan 2016;
7. Payment of relevant application fees.  More than one fee may apply for applications that cover multiple application types); and
8. Payment of the relevant bond for works on roads.

Your Operational Works application should include all relevant plans and information; it should not have to rely on other applications already submitted or reports yet to be obtained from other sources.  All engineering drawings and specifications submitted for approval must be checked, approved and signed by a registered professional engineer.

In cases where the proposed works are to commence years after the initial application was made, some specialist reports (such as geotechnical reports) may no longer be relevant due to potential changes in ground conditions and other environmental factors.

Lodging your application

Applications should be lodged electronically, with accompanying plans be submitted in an unlocked and flattened PDF format. Emailed applications will not be accepted.

For applications lodged electronically or by mail, payment must be made over the counter at Customer Service.

Generally, landscaping within private property boundaries does not need approval unless it involves removal of street trees (for example, to construct a crossover or driveway) or the property is covered by specific planning codes.

If your landscaping proposal is not compliant with any of the assessment criteria for Accepted Development, you will need to lodge an Operational Works Application for Landscaping for Council approval.

Landscaping plans must meet the requirements of the Planning Scheme Policy - Landscaping ( PDF, 1.11 MB ) and the FNQROC Regional Development Manual Landscaping Design Guidelines and Specifications in CairnsPlan2016 v1.2.

A professional landscape architect/landscape designer can help to ensure your landscape plan is acceptable to Council and applications lodged by a professional attract a lower overall application fee.

If the plan is not acceptable, we may require you to make amendments to meet the planning scheme performance outcomes and standards of the FNQROC Development Manual, and this may delay assessment of your proposal.  We may request amendments such as incorporating sufficient landscaping area, specifying suitable plant species to the Cairns environment and/or to meet conditions of any related approvals.

Where you engage a professional landscape architect/landscape designer, they are also responsible for:

• undertaking a final inspection
• submitting as-constructed landscaping plans (where required) to Council, and
• ensuring all works have been undertaken in accordance with the approved/endorsed plans and FNQROC Development Manual requirements.