Private building certifier information

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.


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