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Transport noise 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

Land beside state-controlled roads and railways where traffic noise and air quality are a concern, and where the state road authority has a say.

What it means for you

A new house or extension close to a mapped road or railway may need noise-reducing design (sealed windows, acoustic walls) or a development application, and a new driveway onto a state road needs state approval. Existing homes are not affected until you build.

State and council maps. The free state lookup checks whether a lot is within 100 metres of a state-controlled road or beside a railway corridor; councils add noise corridors to their schemes.

How councils treat it

From the planning scheme tables of assessment of 2 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

    • Transport noise corridor overlay (Table 5.10.23)

      MCU for a dual occupancy, multiple dwelling, residential care/retirement facility or rooming accommodation (6+ people) with new/increased GFA becomes code assessable.

    • Transport air quality corridor overlay (Table 5.10.22)

      MCU for multiple dwelling/residential care/retirement/rooming accommodation (6+ people), childcare centres and certain uses in the corridor sub-categories become code assessable.

  • Gold Coast

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

    • State controlled roads, rail corridor and transport noise corridors overlay (Table 5.10.21 State controlled roads, rail corridor and transport noise corridors overlay)

      For a sensitive land use (with some exclusions) or reconfiguration adjacent to a state-controlled road or within the rail corridor 100m buffer, no change to the category applies but the Regional infrastructure overlay code is an added benchmark. Transport noise corridor categories are dealt with under the Building Act, not City Plan.

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 transport noise and corridors overlay?

Land beside state-controlled roads and railways where traffic noise and air quality are a concern, and where the state road authority has a say.

What does the transport noise and corridors overlay mean if I want to build?

A new house or extension close to a mapped road or railway may need noise-reducing design (sealed windows, acoustic walls) or a development application, and a new driveway onto a state road needs state approval. Existing homes are not affected until you build. Of the councils whose tables of assessment we have read, 2 mention it, and each treats it differently — see the table on this page.

How do I find out if my property is in the transport noise 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 miningRegional infrastructure and corridorsWater resource catchmentsAgricultural landScenic amenity and landscape character

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.