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Airport environs overlay in Queensland — what it means if you want to build

An overlay is an extra layer of planning rules that sits on top of a property's zone.

What it is

Land near an airport or defence airfield. It combines noise contours (ANEF, an index of aircraft noise), height limits that keep buildings and cranes out of flight paths, and public safety areas beside runways.

What it means for you

New homes inside the louder noise contours can need noise insulation or may be discouraged altogether, and tall buildings or structures can be limited. Some councils require a development application for homes and subdivision within the contours.

A council overlay. A council scheme overlay, not part of the free state-wide lookup.

How councils treat it

From the planning scheme tables of assessment of 15 councils: what the overlay changes and which projects it touches. Each tag links to that council's page for the project.

  • Brisbane

    Brisbane City Plan 2014

    • Airport environs overlay (Table 5.10.2)

      MCU (other than a dwelling house) in various airport sub-categories becomes accepted subject to requirements or code assessable depending on compliance with the relevant section of the Airport environs overlay code. A new dwelling house outside the ANEF contour is unaffected.

  • Bundaberg

    Bundaberg Regional Council Planning Scheme 2015

    • Airport and aviation facilities overlay (within or under operational airspace) (Table 5.9.1 Airport and aviation facilities overlay – operational airspace)

      A change of use that the zone table makes accepted or accepted subject to requirements becomes code assessable if its buildings or works intrude into operational airspace or it emits gaseous plumes, smoke, dust, ash or steam.

    • Airport and aviation facilities overlay (public safety area) (Table 5.9.1 Airport and aviation facilities overlay – public safety area)

      A change of use the zone table makes accepted subject to requirements becomes code assessable in the public safety area; a dwelling house, animal husbandry, cropping and a home based business (other than a bed and breakfast or farm stay) are excluded.

    • Airport and aviation facilities overlay (aviation facility building restricted area) (Table 5.9.1 Airport and aviation facilities overlay – building restricted area)

      A change of use that would be accepted or accepted subject to requirements becomes code assessable if it builds a temporary or permanent structure that encroaches into a building restricted area (or within 1 km of the Sloping Hummock VHF facility); building work alone is not changed.

  • Central Highlands

    Central Highlands Regional Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Amendment No. 7)

    • Airport environs overlay (Table 5.8.1 Overlays — Airport environs overlay)

      Within the OLS, runway separation distances, ANEF contours or public safety area, a listed material change of use that would otherwise be accepted or accepted subject to requirements becomes code assessable against the Airport environs overlay code. Mainly affects accommodation, business, industry, community and recreation uses; reconfiguring a lot may also be subject to the overlay code.

  • Gold Coast

    Gold Coast City Plan (City Plan) — Part 5 Tables of assessment (v14, 2026-09-29)

    • Airport environs overlay (Table 5.10.2 Airport environs overlay)

      Within mapped ANEF noise contours, PANS-OPS surfaces, OLS surfaces or aviation facility buffers, certain residential/accommodation/office uses, reconfiguration and building work that intrudes into height limits can become code assessable or accepted subject to requirements (Airport environs overlay code).

  • Fraser Coast

    Fraser Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Version 11)

    • Airport and aviation facilities overlay (obstacle limitation surface, runway distances, public safety area, building restricted area Zone A) (Table 5.10.1 Airport and aviation facilities overlay)

      A material change of use that would be accepted or accepted subject to requirements becomes code assessable where it triggers the overlay (e.g. buildings intruding into the obstacle limitation surface, or a new residential or business use in the public safety area).

    • Airport and aviation facilities overlay — 20 ANEF contour or greater (Table 5.10.1 Airport and aviation facilities overlay — ANEF contours)

      No change to the category, but building work for a dwelling house or dual occupancy and subdivision must also meet the Airport and aviation facilities overlay code.

  • Gladstone

    Gladstone Regional Council Planning Scheme (Version 2.1)

  • Ipswich

    Ipswich City Plan 2025

  • Livingstone

    Livingstone Planning Scheme 2018

    • Airport Environs Overlay (Table 5.9.2)

      Within ANEF contours a material change of use for accommodation, centre, community or entertainment uses becomes code assessable, and reconfiguring a lot becomes code assessable. Within the obstacle limitation surface, building work/MCU that enters operational airspace (or emits plumes/particulates/lights) becomes code assessable.

  • Mackay

    Mackay Region Planning Scheme 2017

    • Airport environs overlay (Table 5.10.3)

      A dwelling house, dual occupancy, multiple dwelling, office and other sensitive uses (not outbuildings, verandahs/patios or other non-habitable structures) are accepted subject to requirements between the 20 and 25 ANEF noise contours and code assessable within the 25 ANEF contour or greater.

    • Airport environs overlay (Table 5.10.3)

      A material change of use or reconfiguring a lot becomes code assessable within building restriction area zone A, a public safety area, or the lighting management area where involving certain lighting, flare plumes or reflective cladding; subdivision with a straight lit street of 500–1,000 m in the lighting management area is impact assessable.

    • Airport environs overlay (Table 5.10.3; section 5.7)

      Building work or a material change of use becomes code assessable if a building or structure (including cranes and other temporary structures) exceeds the obstacle limitation surface.

  • Redland

    Redland City Plan 2018

  • Rockhampton

    Rockhampton Region Planning Scheme 2015 (Version 5, 2025-03-28)

    • Airport environs overlay (Table 5.9.2)

      A new building or expansion that exceeds the airport obstacle limitation surface (OM-2A) and would otherwise be accepted becomes accepted subject to requirements (Airport environs overlay code applies).

  • Scenic Rim

    Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020

    • Airport Environs and Defence Land Overlay (OM-02) (5.10 Airport Environs and Defence Land Overlay Map OM-02)

      Building work and material change of use in the Height Restriction Zone, Wildlife Buffer Area or Building Restricted Area become Accepted subject to requirements against the Airport Environs and Defence Land Overlay Code; other uses in the Defence Land Buffer Area and reconfiguring a lot become code assessable.

  • Sunshine Coast

    Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Amendment 27)

    • Airport environs overlay (public safety area) (Table 5.10.1)

      A material change of use for a residential, business, industrial, community or sport and recreation use, other than in an existing building, that would otherwise be accepted becomes code assessable.

    • Airport environs overlay (ANEF contours) (Table 5.10.1)

      Within 25 ANEF or greater, an office (and within 20 ANEF certain residential and health uses, but not a dwelling house or dual occupancy) that would otherwise be accepted becomes code assessable.

    • Airport environs overlay (obstacle limitation surface) (Table 5.10.1)

      A material change of use involving buildings or structures over 12 m high (or plumes, certain lighting) that would otherwise be accepted becomes code assessable.

  • Toowoomba

    Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme 2012 (Version 29)

    • Airport Environs Overlay (Table 5.10:1)

      Within the ANEF 20 contour and above, a dwelling house, dual occupancy or multiple dwelling that would be accepted (or accepted subject to requirements) in the zone becomes code assessable against the Airport Environs Overlay Code.

  • Townsville

    Townsville City Plan

    • Airport environs overlay (above the 20 ANEF contour) (Table 5.9.1 Airport environs overlay)

      A dwelling house (including a granny flat) or dual occupancy above the 20 ANEF contour becomes accepted subject to requirements under the Airport environs overlay code.

Is my property in it?

Search your address in Landbrief's free check: it shows the zone and which planning layers apply to the lot.

Common questions

What is the airport environs overlay?

Land near an airport or defence airfield. It combines noise contours (ANEF, an index of aircraft noise), height limits that keep buildings and cranes out of flight paths, and public safety areas beside runways.

What does the airport environs overlay mean if I want to build?

New homes inside the louder noise contours can need noise insulation or may be discouraged altogether, and tall buildings or structures can be limited. Some councils require a development application for homes and subdivision within the contours. Of the councils whose tables of assessment we have read, 15 mention it, and each treats it differently — see the table on this page.

How do I find out if my property is in the airport environs overlay?

Search your address in Landbrief's free check, which shows the state layers that apply to the lot and, for councils whose overlays we read directly, the council layers too. For the council's own mapping, the planning scheme maps and the council's online property report are the official source. Confirm with the council or a town planner before you buy or build.

Other overlays

Bushfire hazardLandslide hazard and steep landAcid sulfate soilsFlood hazardCoastal hazard (storm tide and erosion)Vegetation managementBiodiversity, waterways and wetlandsHeritageNeighbourhood characterExtractive resources and miningRegional infrastructure and corridorsWater resource catchmentsAgricultural landScenic amenity and landscape characterTransport noise and corridors

Read from each council's planning scheme 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.