Landscape plan endorsement and practical completion

The Landscape Plan Endorsement Application ( PDF, 0.32 MB ) must be emailed to planningadmin@cairns.qld.gov.au, or it can be submitted online.

The accompanying Landscape Plan Guideline ( PDF, 1.28 MB ) details the requirements for the application.

The Landscape Plan must be designed by a suitable qualified person, in accordance with the Planning Scheme Policy: Landscaping ( PDF, 1.01 MB ) and the relevant conditions of the approvals.

After we review and accept the complete application, we will send an Endorsement.

Landscaping Practical Completion Endorsement

Once the endorsed works are completed and a minimum of 13 weeks prior to Final Works Acceptance, you may contact us to request a Landscaping Practical Completion Inspection. With this request, you must provide your ‘As Constructed’ Landscaping Plans. To expedite the inspection process, be sure to include the file number in your request. Please email inspection requests and ‘As Constructed’ plans to planningadmin@cairns.qld.gov.au

Once we receive your request and ‘As Constructed’ documents, we will send a meeting invitation to you or your representative.

During the inspection, we will inspect the landscaping works to ensure the completed works are consistent with the endorsed plans and that the works meet the requirements of the parent Development Approval and the FNQROC Development Manual Landscaping Guidelines and specific Local Government requirements.

Once the inspection is complete, and we are satisfied the landscaping work can be endorsed, we will issue a Landscaping Practical Completion Endorsement. The Endorsement will have standard requirements for establishment and maintenance and will list any specific items identified that must be rectified prior to the Final Works Acceptance Inspection.

You may request a Final Works Acceptance inspection 13 weeks after the date outlined on the Landscaping Practical Completion Endorsement. The 13-week timeframe is to demonstrate establishment, i.e., street trees and grassing no longer require supplementary watering. It is your responsibility to maintain the landscaping works from the time of Practical Completion until Final Works Acceptance, in accordance with your conditions.

Overview of Process

The following is an overview of the process to receive a Landscape Plan Endorsement, pass a Landscaping Practical Completion Inspection and receive a Landscaping Practical Completion Endorsement.

Step 1 – Application

Download and review the Application Guideline ( PDF, 1.28 MB ) and the Landscape Plan Endorsement Application Form ( PDF, 0.32 MB ). The Guideline is designed to help you achieve Landscape Plan Endorsement in the most efficient manner.

We have processes in place to ensure an efficient turnaround from submission to inspection to endorsement. It is vital that you lodge a complete and compliant Landscape Plan Endorsement Application. An incomplete application will not proceed past an initial assessment.

Step 2 – Assessment

After we receive your application, we will do an initial assessment.  This is to ensure that your application is complete.

The assessment of the Submission is a two-part process.

1. The initial assessment is an administrative check to confirm all documents required for the Landscape Plan Endorsement have been submitted.
2. The technical assessment is a detailed review of the documents undertaken by Council Officers to confirm the content is correct and compliant.

Due to the administrative nature of the initial assessment, your application form must be entirely completed, including the documentation checklist. Our assessment will be carried out based on what has been detailed on the application form, missing information or incomplete sections will result in an application that cannot be assessed, and it will be returned to the you for re-submission.

We will advise you if we identify any errors or omissions in the Submission.

Council’s technical officers will review the Landscape Plan to ensure it meets the standards of the FNQROC Development Manual Landscaping Guidelines and specific Local Government requirements. Landscaping plans and specifications must also meet the requirements of the Landscaping conditions of the parent Development Approval and be designed by a suitably qualified person such as a Landscape Designer or Landscape Architect.

Step 3 – Landscape Plan Endorsement

After we have reviewed the Plan and deemed it acceptable, we will send an Endorsement. Once you receive this, you may then request a Landscaping Practical Completion Inspection. We recommend you check the timing required for inspection as stated on your approvals.

Prior to an inspection taking place, you must send the ‘As Constructed’ Landscaping plans Council. Ensure the applicable file number is clear when sending in order to avoid unnecessary delays. Email the plans to planningadmin@cairns.qld.gov.au.

Any variations to ‘As Constructed’ plans must be submitted and approved prior to requesting an inspection. Variations must be justified and sufficient alternatives implemented. We understand nursery stock availability impacts the ability to plant planned trees; in such cases, you should use suitable replacement species . Where infrastructure blocks the planting of street trees, it is expected the trees be planted elsewhere nearby.

Step 4 – Inspection

After technical assessment of the application, and an Endorsement has been sent, you may request a Landscaping Practical Completion Inspection, please send your request to planningadmin@cairns.qld.gov.au. After we receive this request, we will send a calendar invitation to all relevant parties for the Landscaping Practical Completion Inspection.

The inspection will take place on-site, with Council representatives to ensure the works completed are compliant with the Landscape Plan Endorsement.

Your representative is required to attend the inspection.

If the inspection outcome is determined to be a pass, we will issue a Landscaping Practical Completion Endorsement shortly after the inspection.

If we identify any areas of concern, we will communicate this at the inspection and detail the issues in the Landscaping Practical Completion Failure Notice. This outcome will require a re-inspection after the issues have been addressed. You must pay the Re-Inspection fee before the Re-Inspection can be booked.

Step 5 – Landscaping Practical Completion Endorsement

Landscaping Practical Completion Endorsement precedes the ability to apply for Final Works Acceptance. A Final Works Acceptance Inspection may only take place 13 weeks from the date outlined within the Landscaping Practical Completion Endorsement.

There are standard elements required for Landscaping Practical Completion and Final Works Acceptance, in addition to the conditions included in the parent Operational Works or Planning Approval.

At Landscape Practical Completion we expect:

• Landscaping works must be completed within the conditions of the relevant approvals and endorsements
• Grassing of verges may be achieved with grass seeding, turf or hydromulching. Whichever method is employed a minimum established cover of 80% of well rooted, vigorous, and healthy level grass, free of weeds of the whole area, trimmed to flush to the kerb is the accepted standard. Street trees planted in accordance with the FNQROC street tree planting standard drawing (S4210)

A detailed list of expectations is provided in the Guidelines.

We understand it can be difficult to maintain these standards on verges fronting active build sites. These expectations are for areas not fronted by active building works.

The image below is an an example of the expected landscaping works to be maintained until Final Works Acceptance. The verge areas without active building works have been maintained with the correct level of coverage, there are no weeds and the areas have been mowed. The street trees are healthy, well-formed and secured.

We suggest that you contact a Landscape Designer or Landscape Architect to help you prepare a Landscape Plan Endorsement Application. Please see our register of Landscape Architects/Designers ( PDF, 0.71 MB ) for reference.

A charge is payable for Landscape Plan Endorsement as per the current Fees and Charges Schedule ( PDF, 0.04 MB ). Payment is due at the time of application.  If the initial inspection does not pass, a re-inspection fee will be due before a re-inspection can be booked.

Development & Planning is committed to our Service Charter and we aim to uphold our service operating principles.

The Landscape Plan Endorsement and Landscaping Practical Completion Guideline and Application Form are designed to facilitate the process and ensure consistent, efficient and effective outcomes for all parties.

Our goal is to have the Landscape Plan Endorsed within 20 business days of receiving a properly made application and the Landscape Practical Completion Inspection within 2 weeks of the request for an inspection. Timeframes will be impacted   where submissions are incomplete or inspections identify unresolved issues.

We welcome feedback on this process to ensure that it continually responds to the needs of customers. You can submit written feedback via email where it will be collected, reviewed and where necessary, actioned.

For assistance or questions, you can contact us via the following methods:

Phone

Call 1300 69 2247. Our Customer Service team will create a Customer Enquiry and you will receive a call back from a Council officer within 2 business days.

In person

Our Customer Service Centre at 119-145 Spence Street, Cairns is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm weekdays (excluding public holidays). Customer Service can create a Customer Enquiry and you will receive a call back from a Council officer within 2 business days.

Email

You can email a written enquiry.