City of Gold Coast Planning and Development Hub

Maintenance Management Plans

As of 17 February 2025, Maintenance Management Plans associated with stormwater quality treatment are not required to be submitted for approval to the City. Instead, Maintenance Management Plans must be prepared by a qualified Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) and implemented for the life of the development. Certification by an RPEQ indicating that this has occurred is now considered acceptable to satisfy conditions of approval related to maintenance management plans.

Requirement for Performance bonds on Operational Works approvals

As of 17 February 2025, the City will no longer impose performance bonds on Operational Works applications, except where sediment control for major earthworks or unique conditions (e.g., asset reinstatement) are involved. Bonds conditioned on existing applications will also be waived if they meet these criteria.

Version 3.0 of the City’s Metering Technical Specifications has been released. The update introduces additional requirements for submeters and submeter cupboards within buildings. Developers are encouraged to review this document to ensure compliance with the updated specifications when designing developments with submeters.

• Water Meter Specifications.

As of December 2024 the SEQ Code Civil Infrastructure Products and Materials list (IPAM) has been updated to reflect the use of PE (polyethylene) pipework and fittings for the City’s water supply network (previously only approved for use when directional drilling). Developers are encouraged to consider this pipe material for use in new subdivisions and for connections in brownfield/infill areas within the City.

Key Information

• PE pipework is the City’s preference for extensions (such as subdivisions) or new connections to our water network.
• The latest version of the IPAM list is available on the SEQ Code website - SEQ Code Products List.
• For PE water mains or connections on the Gold Coast, refer to the SEQ Code Water Supply Standard drawings endorsed by the City (CoGC).
• The City prefers butt welded joints for PE construction, minimising the use of electrofusion (EF) couplings. Where EF couplings are necessary (e.g., for live connections after pressure testing), they should be placed in accessible verge areas, not under road pavements. EF coupling locations need not be specified in designs, as the City’s Contributed Assets team will coordinate with engineering consultants on-site.
• All valves installed on PE water mains are to be restrained as per SEQ Code requirements.
• PE pipework is permitted for watermains in carriageways, and for industrial and commercial areas. SDR11 pipework will typically be acceptable for these use cases.

A new guideline has been prepared outlining the City’s expectations for development designs which require an existing gravity sewer to pass through a proposed basement, noting the City’s preference is that sewers within basements are avoided where possible.

• Water & sewerage design & construction resources | City of Gold Coast

The Council of the City of Gold Coast (the City) standard water meter drawing set for DN50 and larger water meters has recently been replaced by the (South East Queensland) SEQ Water Supply Code ’Large Meter Arrangement Drawings’ set.

We acknowledge that there is some confusion with the new drawing set and is making the clarifications outlined below.

Our drawing set now only includes specifications for meters sizes DN20, DN25 and DN40 in ground (in verge) whilst the SEQ Code drawings provide the specifications for DN40 above ground on lot meters and all water meters DN50 and larger (above ground on lot). Any water meter design submitted to the City for assessment must reflect the current version of the applicable drawings.

The City permits a maximum of two (2) meters to be vertically stacked with the upper pipe as the dedicated fire meter (where a fire meter is required) – design of this outcome would be based on the withdrawn City drawing 11-154 for this arrangement until the SEQ drawing set is updated.

Additionally, until the SEQ Code drawing set is updated to include further information, the lengths of the assemblies are detailed below. These lengths are provided to assist designers to incorporate the meters into the layout of the development.

We strongly recommend these spatial requirements are demonstrated (via scaled dimensions) in development applications (i.e. proposed plans) to ensure the meters are suitably accommodated in the development design. Consideration will need to be given to the pipe/fittings beyond the Council meter assembly and how that private infrastructure will interface with the built form of the development.

Design considerations

• Easements to encompass water meter assemblies are no longer required.
• The meter assemblies are permitted to be parallel to the front property boundary.
• Council does not provide advice on the size of a water meter required for a development - the developer is responsible for installing an appropriately sized water meter.
• The SEQ Code drawings include several notes throughout the drawing set – it is important to read all notes and ensure the correct water meter type / sizes are included for the development.
• The lengths above are based on a water meter assembly for a development site with a built to boundary basement.
• The City does not permit water meters installed within basements.
• If a development is approved for a built to boundary basement, the development permit conditions will include that a flange is installed at ~300mm off the property boundary (verge side) and the pipe from this flange to the first valve above ground is private infrastructure. The City will then own the valve to the downstream short pipe.
• The civil consultant must ensure to provide details for the fittings for the transition between material types before the pipes go above ground. For example, if a PE road crossing service is proposed, details of all fittings required for the change in material must be nominated on the design drawings.
• The City requires a minimum of 2.4m vertical clearance from the finished surface level to the underside of any cabinet/built from above the meter assembly. Alternatively, a hinged lid (minimum 300mm above the meter assembly) is permitted, however the lid must be light enough to be lifted by a single person and able to be secured open.
• Removable bollards may be required for any water meter assemblies adjacent to a driveway to prevent vehicle strikes.

References

1. Meter size DN40 (above ground) and all water meters DN50 and larger

2. SEQ Water Supply Code – Large Meter Arrangement Drawings

The City has been observing a trend within the development industry where the design and construction of external infrastructure works and connections (water supply, sewerage, electricity) is being deferred until the later stages of development construction programs. The design and construction of external infrastructure works and connections is often complicated and can be impacted by unforeseen circumstances such as third party works and unknown construction constraints. The deferral of external infrastructure works and connections is in some developments leading to the delay of critical project milestones such as plan sealing or commencement of use, resulting in significant financial stress.

Delays caused because of development programming or third parties, are beyond the City’s control limiting its ability to assist developers in overcoming delays related to infrastructure delivery. It is important to consider:

• Tankering as a temporary sewer “connection” is not supported by the City.
• Infrastructure agreements involving progress payments may be considered for developments delivering trunk infrastructure.

The City recommends:

• Prioritisation of the design and construction of external infrastructure works and connections, early in development schedules.
• Early ground truthing and service investigation, such as potholing, to better understand constraints and associated construction challenges and risks.
• Where applicable, early consultation with the City and third parties, such as other service providers or road network custodians.
• Developing project programs which provide reasonable contingency enabling external infrastructure works and connections to be completed ahead of critical project milestones and in accordance with conditions of approval.

Engineering self-certification of stormwater and flood assessment for small scale development

Commencing 3 June 2024, the City will be offering an option for suitably qualified Registered Professional Engineers of Queensland (RPEQ) to self-certify stormwater and flood design requirements on small scale developments. This initiative empowers industry to undertake this low-risk work ensuring compliance with City Plan assessment benchmarks. The scope of the developments included in this concept are for developments which require assessment against the City Plan where State Planning Policy (SPP) thresholds are not exceeded.

The design and certification will need to be undertaken by appropriately qualified and experienced RPEQs . For applications which meet the parameters outlined below, officers will verify that the required reporting has been submitted and a certification condition will be included within the conditions of approval. The condition will require certification that designs were constructed correctly to be submitted to Council prior to issue of a building final.

Periodic audits will be undertaken by City officers to ensure that proposed designs meet City Plan requirements. Self-certification not meeting requirements will be issued with information requests per standard procedure.

Parameters for self-certification – stormwater quality and quantity

Zone: Rural, Rural-residential, low, medium and high-density residential zones only.

Land use: Dwelling house, dual occupancy, secondary dwelling, multiple dwelling (up to and including 6).

Geographic exceptions: Jefferson Lane (Palm Beach) and parts of Southport outlined in the polygons on the following map (Graphic 1).

Encumbrances: All works to remain outside of existing City stormwater infrastructure and designated easements.

External catchment management: Sites that do not require conveyance of concentrated runoff from an upstream external catchment, through to a Lawful Point of Discharge (LPD) as defined by the current version of Land Development Guidelines.

Design: LPD (as defined by the current version of QUDM) is achievable via gravity to street and/or gully pit only. No sump or pump systems can be used.

Proprietary devices: Only SQIDEP approved devices can be proposed and installed.

Tenure: Applies to private assets only.

Parameters for self-certification – flood parameters

Zone, Land Use and Geographic Exceptions: Zone, land use and geographic exceptions same as above, but adding: “Woongoolba flood mitigation scheme catchment area”.

Risk: Up to and including medium degree of flood hazard as defined by Flood overlay code for subject site only.

Design: Must be able to demonstrate shelter in place in accordance with Interim approach for Small scale developments guideline and no loss of flood plain storage without the use of storage tanks.

The City has developed a template form (the “Self-Certification Stormwater & Flood Management Plan – Template") to populate for submission with development applications. It can also be found here https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Planning-building/Building-applications/Private-building-certifier-information. This template may also be used as a guide for submitting technical reporting for regular development applications not meeting the self-certification criteria.

City Plan Version 11 commences today (6 February 2024) and incorporates two amendments:

• Minor and Administrative Amendment 10
• Local Government Infrastructure Plan Administrative Amendment

Minor Amendment 10 changes the zoning of three (3) properties following acquisition of land under the Voluntary Home Buy Back Program (VHBB) for the purpose of disaster recovery or disaster resilience and makes consequential changes to mapping layers to ensure consistency throughout the City Plan.

The Local Government Infrastructure Plan Administrative Amendment rectifies a drafting error in existing and projected residential dwellings in Schedule 3.

City Plan Version 11, as well as superseded and historic versions of City Plan, are available via ePlan - cityplan.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/eplan/

City Plan Version 10 display anomalies

The City recently became aware of transcription anomalies in the online City Plan Version 10 which have now been rectified. These anomalies occurred in the online version only and were as a result of content migration issues and were not present in the endorsed master documents or in the Code Templates.

The majority of these anomalies were grammatical or typographical and have not impacted the implementation or interpretation of the provision.

A minor anomaly in both Table 9.4.5-6 Stormwater Quality Deemed to Comply Solutions and Table 9.4.5-8 Maintenance Access requirements of the Healthy Waters Code have been resolved to identify the treatment train and (bioretention) maintenance access outcomes approved by the Ministers Notice of Decision and subsequently adopted and commenced by Council.

For further information please contact the City Plan Hotline on 1300 151 267 or cityplan@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

The Queensland Government has updated a statutory form created under the Planning Act 2016 to accommodate legislative changes pertaining to the SEQ region. The following form has been amended:

• DA Form 1 – Development Application Details (version 1.4 effective 15 December 2023)

We will continue to accept development applications using the previous version of Form 1 (version 1.3 effective 22 September 2020) until the close of business on Friday 22 December 2023. After this date, applicants are advised to ensure they use the most up-to-date form versions (version 1.4 effective 15 December 2023) before submitting a development application.

For the latest forms, please visit the Queensland Government website.

From 15 January 2024, we will no longer provide details for adjoining landowners for development applications.

For quality and assurance purposes, we will be directing consultants to contact the Titles Queensland office to acquire this information.

If you have any specific questions or need further clarification, it's recommended to reach out to us on (07) 55 82 8866 or the Titles Queensland office for more detailed information on how this process will work.