Clearing trees in Gladstone — do you need approval?
Gladstone Regional Council's planning scheme — the Gladstone Regional Council Planning Scheme (Version 2.1) — decides whether tree clearing needs a development application, and the answer depends on the zone your property is in. Below is what its table of assessment says for each zone; or check your own address.
In a low density residential zone
No planning approval needed. Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Low density residential zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately.
I don't know my zone — choose my council instead
The zone is on your rates notice, or a Landbrief site report will find it for you.
Zone by zone
Operational work (vegetation clearing). Residential zones first.
| Zone | What the table says | Conditions | What you'll need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low density residential zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Low density residential zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Low–medium density residential zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Low–medium density residential zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Medium density residential zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Medium density residential zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Character residential zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Character residential zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Rural residential zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Rural residential zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Emerging community zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Emerging community zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Township zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Township zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Centre zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Centre zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Community facilities zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Community facilities zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Conservation zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Conservation zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Environmental management zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Environmental management zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Industry investigation zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Industry investigation zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Limited development zone (constrained land) | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Limited development zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Low impact industry zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Low impact industry zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Major tourism zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Major tourism zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Medium impact industry zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Medium impact industry zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Minor tourism zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Minor tourism zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Mixed use zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Mixed use zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Neighbourhood centre zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Open space zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Open space zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Principal centre zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Principal centre zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Rural zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Rural zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Special industry zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Special industry zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Special purpose zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Special purpose zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Specialised centre zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Specialised centre zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Sport and recreation zone | No planning approval needed Section 5.3.2; Table 5.8.1 | Gladstone's scheme doesn't regulate clearing vegetation in the Sport and recreation zone (its operational work table covers earthworks only), so no planning development application is needed unless it changes natural features named in a local heritage place citation; state Vegetation Management Act rules and any council local law apply separately. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
Overlays that change the answer
- Heritage overlay (local heritage place). On a local heritage place: a change of use that would be accepted subject to requirements and involves building work becomes code assessable; any building work not associated with a change of use (including minor work) is code assessable; demolition, partial demolition or removal is impact assessable; operational work changing landscaping, fencing or natural features named in the citation is code assessable. Work under a Queensland Heritage Act exemption certificate is accepted. (Table 5.10.1 Heritage overlay code)
Worth knowing in Gladstone
Gladstone Regional Council Planning Scheme (Version 2.1), Part 5, converted from the council's PDF (not an official copy). A material change of use is impact assessable unless the table says otherwise or the use isn't listed; reconfiguring a lot is code assessable unless Table 5.6.1 says otherwise; building work and operational work are accepted unless the tables say otherwise (section 5.3.2). Building work (section 5.7): for a dwelling house there is 'no change to assessment category' against the relevant zone code, and no other building work is regulated unless an overlay table says so — so sheds, extensions, pools, fences and demolition need no planning development application outside overlays (mainly the Heritage overlay); a building approval under the Building Act is still needed. Accepted development subject to requirements that doesn't meet the listed acceptable outcomes becomes code assessable (section 5.3.3). Schedule 6 of the Planning Regulation (Table 5.4.1) can make a dwelling house or community residence accepted development regardless of the zone tables; Table 5.4.2 lets a one-into-two-lot subdivision in a residential or industry zone (not rural residential) be code assessable under schedule 10, part 12 of the Regulation against schedule 12 benchmarks. Precincts: Medium density residential — Beaches Village Circuit (dwelling house and dual occupancy impact assessable; 1,000 m² lots) and Gladstone West Hospital (shop/office/café code); Low density residential — Calliope neighbourhood (800 m² lots); Mixed use — Jeffery Court (office and some other uses lose their code/accepted pathway); Specialised centre — Clinton and Central Gladstone / Toolooa Street east (the only places retail/office uses are listed); Low impact industry — Hanson Road (showrooms, hardware); Medium impact industry — Red Rover Road (structure-plan pathway); Rural residential — Bicentennial Drive Enterprise; Sport and recreation — Benaraby Motor Sport; Special purpose — Gladstone Airport; Limited development — Flood affected lands (dwelling house code assessable, home based business accepted subject to requirements) and Major industry buffer. There are no local plans (section 5.9). Operational work: earthworks of 100 m³ or more are code assessable in all zones (Rural zone: 500 m³ for water retention, 100 m³ otherwise, accepted subject to requirements); the Coastal hazard and Flood hazard overlays make filling or excavation over 50 m³ code assessable. The Coastal hazard, Hazardous activities, Steep land, Scenic amenity and Water resource catchment overlays don't change the category but add their own acceptable outcomes to accepted development subject to requirements (code assessable if not met). Where land is in more than one zone or overlay, the highest category applies, and an overlay's category overrides the zone's (section 5.3.2).
What else you'll need
- State vegetation check (not the council)
More about Gladstone
- What can you build in Gladstone? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Gladstone Regional Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Gladstone address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Clinton
- Development applications in Agnes Water
- Development applications in Boyne Island
- Development applications in Tannum Sands
- Development applications in Gladstone Central
- Development applications in Calliope
- Development applications in New Auckland
- Development applications in West Gladstone
Other projects in Gladstone
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Clear trees in Queensland.
Read from the Gladstone Regional Council Planning Scheme (Version 2.1) tables of assessment. General information, not advice. The council's planning scheme and the Planning Act 2016 decide — confirm with the council or a town planner before you build.