Works within the Council Footpath
Whether you're building a driveway on your property or looking to make your business more attractive by adding fairy lights to a nearby tree, you may require Council approval.
Driveways and other works in the road reserve
The road reserve is the public land outside your property boundary, including the footpath and nature strip. To ensure a reasonable level of safety for road users and pedestrians, protect existing infrastructure, and monitor design standards, you must get approval from Council for any works you undertake within the road reserve. This is a requirement of Subordinate Local Law 1.15 (Carrying out works on a road or interfering with a road or its operation) 2011.
Driveways
Property owners must construct and maintain the access driveway to their property (including the section crossing the road reserve). To apply for Council approval for proposed work in the road reserve, you must submit an Application for a Road Work Permit, inclusive of a site plan showing the location of the proposed works, services and trees.
You will need to abide by the minimum standards as shown in Council's standard drawings and the Townsville City Plan planning scheme policy SC6.4 Development Manual (in particular SC6.4.3.17 Driveways). These standards include acceptable construction materials, the required distances from services and assets such as electricity poles, communication pits, stormwater drains and trees, and acceptable dimensions.
Self-assessable driveway applications
A road work permit for certain residential driveways may be applied for through a self-assessable application process. For information on what types of driveways are eligible, review the Self-assessable road work permit application process information sheet. Self-assessable driveway applications incur a reduced fee, and no inspections are required. These applications are online only.
Traffic management plans
If the work you are undertaking blocks or impacts on pedestrian or vehicular traffic (including within the parking zone), you may need to develop and submit a traffic management plan to Council. A traffic management plan delivers the method for directing the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic while the work is in progress. If you are unsure whether you should prepare a traffic management plan, please contact Council.
Gantries, hoarding and scaffolding
You must talk to a Council officer directly if your works involve gantries, hoarding and scaffolding. For more information, view the Requirements for works zones, gantries, scaffolding and hoarding guidelines.
To find out more about works in the road reserve, read the Driveways and other works in the road reserve information sheet.
Bud (fairy) lighting in Council trees
Council encourages business owners to consider installing bud lighting (fairy lights) in Council's street trees, adjacent to their business. Business owners can use this bud lighting application form and information sheet to apply to install bud lighting on nearby Council trees. Council does not charge an application fee or a fee for having your bud lights in Council trees.
