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Regional infrastructure and corridors 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

Corridors and buffers for big infrastructure: high-voltage power lines, gas and water pipelines, major roads and railways, treatment plants, and facilities that handle hazardous materials.

What it means for you

Building within or beside a corridor can need a development application, written agreement from the owner of the pipeline or line, and setbacks from the infrastructure. A transmission line easement can rule out building under the wires altogether.

A council overlay. A council scheme overlay, not part of the free state-wide lookup. Easements on a title are a separate check in the full report.

How councils treat it

From the planning scheme tables of assessment of 11 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

    • Critical infrastructure and movement network overlay (Table 5.10.8)

      Listed infrastructure/industry MCUs become code assessable.

    • Regional infrastructure corridors and substations overlay (Table 5.10.17)

      MCU/ROL/operational work near gas/oil pipelines, powerlines or transport infrastructure becomes accepted subject to requirements or code assessable depending on the relevant section.

  • Bundaberg

    Bundaberg Regional Council Planning Scheme 2015

    • Infrastructure overlay (wastewater treatment plant buffer or waste management facility buffer) (Table 5.9.1 Infrastructure overlay – wastewater treatment plant / waste management facility buffers)

      In the Rural zone, a sensitive land use such as a dwelling house that would be accepted or accepted subject to requirements becomes code assessable inside the buffer.

    • Infrastructure overlay (State-controlled road, railway and cane railway corridors) (Table 5.9.1 Infrastructure overlay – State controlled road, railway and cane railway corridors)

      A sensitive land use (such as a dwelling house or dual occupancy) that would be accepted or accepted subject to requirements becomes code assessable within 25 m of a State-controlled road or railway (unless QDC MP4.4 applies) or within a cane railway corridor buffer.

  • Cairns

    CairnsPlan 2016

    • Hazardous and explosive facilities overlay (Tables 5.5.d, i, j, r, s)

      A home based business (Emerging community, Low impact industry, Rural residential and Rural zones) or a dual occupancy (Low-medium density residential zone) becomes code assessable.

  • Central Highlands

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

    • Regional infrastructure overlay (Table 5.8.1 Overlays — Regional infrastructure overlay)

      No change to category, but within electricity infrastructure, wastewater/waste/road/rail/gas buffers or stock routes, listed material changes of use and reconfiguring a lot (often increasing lot numbers or involving sensitive land uses) must be assessed against the Regional infrastructure overlay code (home-based business generally exempt).

  • Gladstone

    Gladstone Regional Council Planning Scheme (Version 2.1)

    • Regional infrastructure overlay (Table 5.10.1 Regional infrastructure overlay code)

      Any change of use that would be accepted subject to requirements becomes code assessable; operational work within 20 m of identified regional electricity or water infrastructure is code assessable.

  • Ipswich

    Ipswich City Plan 2025

    • Regional Infrastructure Overlay (Gas/Oil corridor, Major Electricity or Major Transport Corridor) (Table 5.9.11)

      A dwelling house, dual occupancy or home-based business, and building work for a dwelling/dual occupancy, a class 10 building or minor building work, is accepted subject to requirements against the Regional Infrastructure Overlay Code; other building work is code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot that increases lot numbers or realigns boundaries is code assessable.

    • Regional Infrastructure Overlay (wastewater treatment buffer / bulk water supply) (Table 5.9.11)

      A class 10 building or minor building work is accepted subject to requirements; other building work is code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot increasing lots or realigning boundaries is code assessable.

  • Mackay

    Mackay Region Planning Scheme 2017

    • Regional infrastructure overlay (Table 5.10.12)

      On land identified as regional electricity infrastructure, a substation or railway infrastructure, any material change of use (including a dwelling house and home-based business) and any reconfiguring a lot become code assessable against the Regional infrastructure overlay code.

    • Regional infrastructure overlay (Table 5.10.12)

      On land proximate to regional electricity infrastructure, a substation or railway infrastructure, or in a regional irrigation area, a material change of use (other than a dwelling house, home-based business and some rural uses) and any reconfiguring a lot become code assessable.

  • Noosa

    Noosa Plan 2020

    • Regional Infrastructure Overlay (Table 5.9.9 Regional Infrastructure Overlay)

      In a water resource catchment and water supply buffer area, a change of use (other than a dwelling house or community residence) that adds an on-site wastewater system or more people living, staying or working on site becomes code assessable; near a gas pipeline or major electricity infrastructure most changes of use other than a dwelling house are code assessable; reconfiguring a lot is code assessable against the Regional Infrastructure Overlay Code.

  • Scenic Rim

    Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020

    • Regional Infrastructure Overlay (OM-09-A/OM-09-B) (5.10 Regional Infrastructure Overlay Map OM-09-B)

      Animal husbandry and cropping stay accepted in the buffer areas/corridors; any other use becomes Accepted subject to requirements against the Regional Infrastructure Overlay Code, and reconfiguring a lot becomes code assessable.

  • Toowoomba

    Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme 2012 (Version 29)

    • Regional Infrastructure Corridors and Substations Overlay (Table 5.7:1)

      Building work (other than minor building work) that increases gross floor area on the part of the site in the overlay is code assessable against the Regional Infrastructure Corridors and Substations Overlay Code.

  • Townsville

    Townsville City Plan

    • Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay — high pressure gas pipeline buffer (100 m) (Table 5.9.1 Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay)

      A dwelling house becomes impact assessable unless in the Low density or Character residential zone; any other change of use becomes impact assessable.

    • Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay — high pressure gas pipeline buffer (100–500 m) (Table 5.9.1 Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay)

      A multiple dwelling (and other sensitive uses such as a shopping centre) becomes impact assessable.

    • Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay — electricity transmission line easement (Table 5.9.1 Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay)

      A dwelling house becomes impact assessable unless in the Low density or Character residential zone; a dual occupancy, and any change of use within the mapped buffer (OM-08.3), becomes code assessable.

    • Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay — water supply pipeline buffer (Table 5.9.1 Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay)

      A dwelling house becomes code assessable unless in the Low density or Character residential zone; a dual occupancy, and any change of use within the mapped buffer, becomes code assessable.

    • Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay — water treatment and wastewater treatment facility buffers (Table 5.9.1 Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay)

      A dwelling house becomes impact assessable unless in the Low density or Character residential zone; a dual occupancy becomes impact assessable; any other change of use within the mapped buffer becomes code assessable.

    • Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay — waste management facility buffer (Table 5.9.1 Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay)

      A dwelling house becomes code assessable unless in the Low density or Character residential zone; a dual occupancy, and any change of use within the mapped buffer, becomes code assessable.

    • Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay — explosive reserve buffer area (Table 5.9.1 Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay)

      A multiple dwelling, office, shopping centre or home based child care business becomes impact assessable.

    • Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay — stock route network (Table 5.9.1 Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay)

      A dwelling house becomes code assessable unless in the Low density or Character residential zone; any other change of use, reconfiguring a lot and operational work become code assessable.

    • Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay — shooting range impact area buffers (Table 5.9.1 Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay)

      A dwelling house becomes code assessable unless in the Low density or Character residential zone; any change of use within the mapped shooting range impact area becomes code assessable.

    • Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay — hazardous chemical facility buffer (Table 5.9.1 Major infrastructure and hazardous facilities overlay)

      A dwelling house becomes impact assessable unless in the Low density or Character residential zone; a dual occupancy, multiple dwelling, office, shopping centre or home based child care becomes impact assessable.

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. For this overlay specifically, see Find easements on a property.

Common questions

What is the regional infrastructure and corridors overlay?

Corridors and buffers for big infrastructure: high-voltage power lines, gas and water pipelines, major roads and railways, treatment plants, and facilities that handle hazardous materials.

What does the regional infrastructure and corridors overlay mean if I want to build?

Building within or beside a corridor can need a development application, written agreement from the owner of the pipeline or line, and setbacks from the infrastructure. A transmission line easement can rule out building under the wires altogether. Of the councils whose tables of assessment we have read, 11 mention it, and each treats it differently — see the table on this page.

How do I find out if my property is in the regional infrastructure and corridors 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 characterAirport environsExtractive resources and miningWater 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.