Version 2 - Current Planning Scheme

8.2.5 Coastal hazard

8.2.5.1 Application

This code applies to development where the code is identified as applicable in the table of assessment for the Coastal hazard overlay code. When using this code, reference should be made to section 5.3.2 and where applicable, section 5.3.3 located in Part 5.

Note—The Coastal Hazard Overlay mapping utilised for this overlay code reflects the State Planning Policy mapping which was current as at October 2014. This mapping, now retained by Council, includes a 0.8m factor for potential sea level rise.

8.2.5.2 Purpose

The purpose of the Coastal hazard overlay code is to:
1. Protect or enhance naturally occurring coastal processes while still providing opportunities for appropriate coastal–dependant development. [1]
2. Avoid or mitigate the risks to people and property and minimise the socio–economic costs of coastal hazard impacts from permanent and temporary inundation associated with sea level rise, coastal erosion and storm tide [2] inundation.
3. Ensure integration of climate change factors in the assessment of coastal hazard impacts on development and to achieve an acceptable or tolerable level of risk to enhance the community's resilience to present day and future coastal hazards.
4. Ensure public access to and from the use of coastal and riverine foreshores is maintained or enhanced.
The purpose of the code will be achieved through the following overall outcomes:
1. Development maintains the erosion prone area and the foreshore in a natural state allowing for natural coastal processes and fluctuations and, maintains or enhances the protective function of landforms and vegetation that can mitigate the risks of coastal hazard impacts.
2. Development does not occur within the mapped coastal hazard areas unless:
  1. the development cannot be feasibly located elsewhere and it is a coastal–dependent development [1] and is located, designed and constructed to withstand coastal hazard impacts and allowing for a sea level rise factor of 0.80m, or
  2. the development is temporary, readily relocatable or able to be abandoned development. [3]
3. Redevelopment of an existing permanent building in the mapped coastal hazard areas only occurs where:
  1. coastal hazard risks can be avoided, or
  2. risks can be mitigated to achieve an acceptable or tolerable [4] level of risk that maintains the safety of people from present day and future coastal hazard impacts.
4. Sensitive land uses [5] do not occur in the mapped coastal hazard areas or on land identified as a high or medium storm tide inundation area.
5. Development maintains or enhances public access to the foreshore.
6. Development supports, and does not unduly burden, disaster management response or recovery capacity and capabilities.
7. Development directly, indirectly and cumulatively avoids an increase in the severity of coastal hazards and the potential for damage to the site or to other properties.
8. The potential for the release of hazardous materials [6] is avoided.
9. Community infrastructure is located and designed to function effectively during and immediately after a coastal hazard event.

8.2.5.3 Assessment benchmarks

Table 8.2.5.3.1—Accepted development subject to requirements

Performance outcomes	Acceptable outcomes
PO1 Building work is located and designed to protect people and property from coastal hazards and avoids the need for coastal protection works.	AO1.1 All buildings and structures are located landward of the erosion prone area OR Where an extension or redevelopment of an existing building the extension or rebuilding is located landward of the erosion prone area or relocated as far landward as practical.
AO1.2 The floor levels of habitable rooms have a minimum floor level at least 1000mm above the high storm tide level.
AO1.3 Development does not involve the clearing of native coastal vegetation or coastal wetlands, particularly mangroves.

Performance outcomes

Acceptable outcomes

PO1

Building work is located and designed to protect people and property from coastal hazards and avoids the need for coastal protection works.

AO1.1

All buildings and structures are located landward of the erosion prone area

Where an extension or redevelopment of an existing building the extension or rebuilding is located landward of the erosion prone area or relocated as far landward as practical.

AO1.2

The floor levels of habitable rooms have a minimum floor level at least 1000mm above the high storm tide level.

AO1.3

Development does not involve the clearing of native coastal vegetation or coastal wetlands, particularly mangroves.

Table 8.2.5.3.2—Assessable development

Performance outcomes	Acceptable outcomes
Development within an erosion prone area
PO2 Development maintains or enhances the natural processes of the erosion prone area and the protective function of coastal landforms and vegetation, particularly those features that mitigate risks from coastal hazards.	AO2.1 Development locates landward of the erosion prone area. OR AO2.2 Development is coastal dependant development that cannot be feasibly located elsewhere and it is designed and constructed to withstand coastal erosion impacts. OR AO2.3 Development is temporary, readily relocatable or able to be abandoned development located as far landward or the erosion prone area as practicable.
PO3 Redevelopment of an existing permanent building in an erosion prone area does not increase the exposure of people or property to the risk of coastal hazards and only occurs where: coastal hazard risks can be avoided, or risks can be mitigated to achieve an acceptable or tolerable level of risk to improve resilience against future coastal hazards allowing for 0.80m sea level rise. Note—To demonstrate compliance with this performance outcome, a development application is supported by a report prepared by a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland specialising in coastal engineering and certifying the development achieves an acceptable or tolerable level of risk from present day and future coastal hazard impacts.	No acceptable outcome is nominated
PO4 Development directly, indirectly and cumulatively avoids an unacceptable increase in the severity of coastal erosion and does not significantly increase the potential for damage on the site or to other properties.	No acceptable outcome is nominated.
Development within a high or medium storm tide inundation area
PO5 Development does not locate in a high or medium storm tide inundation area unless: it does not result in an increase in the intensity of development on the site, or it avoids any increase in risk to people or property from coastal hazard impacts, or risks can be mitigated to achieve an acceptable or tolerable level of risk to personal safety and property damage, including impacts from 0.80m sea level rise. Note—The National Construction Code, Building Regulation 2006 and the Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 3.5 may also establish requirements with which development will need to comply.	AO5.1 Sensitive land uses do not locate within the high storm tide inundation area.
AO5.2 Development has direct and safe access to an evacuation route above the high storm tide inundation level. Evacuation routes do not include land in a high storm tide inundation area.
AO5.3 All habitable rooms have a floor level at least 1000mm above the high storm tide event level. OR Where involving an extension to an existing residential use that have habitable rooms below the defined storm tide event level, any extension does not exceed 25m2 GFA.
AO5.4 Floor levels of non–habitable rooms (other than Class 10 buildings) are above the medium storm tide inundation level, or allow for the flow through of coastal waters on the ground floor.
PO6 Essential services infrastructure (e.g. on–site electricity, gas, water supply, sewerage and telecommunications) maintains its function during and immediately after a defined storm tide event.	AO6 Any components of infrastructure that are likely to fail to function or may result in contamination when inundated by coastal waters (e.g. electrical switchgear and motors, water supply pipeline air valves) are: located above the defined storm tide event level, or designed and constructed to prevent coastal water intrusion/infiltration.
PO7 Infrastructure and building foundations are designed and constructed to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces as a result of storm tide inundation. Note—The National Construction Code, Building Regulation 2006 and the Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 3.5 may also establish requirements with which development will need to comply.	No acceptable outcome is nominated.
Reconfiguring a lot in a coastal hazard area
PO8 The siting, layout and design of lot reconfiguration avoids adverse impacts of coastal hazards and does not result in the creation of new lots within a coastal hazard area.	AO8.1 New lots, roads and infrastructure are not located within a coastal hazard area. OR AO8.2 For new lots partly within a coastal hazard area, a building envelope having a minimum area prescribed for that zone is provided landward of the coastal hazard area.
PO9 Reconfiguration of land that is partly or wholly within an erosion prone area surrenders the erosion prone area to the State for public purposes.	No acceptable outcome is nominated.
Public access
PO10 Development (structures, buildings and works) maintains or enhances safe and convenient public access to and along the foreshore, except where restriction of access is for safety reasons or the development is for port infrastructure.	No acceptable outcome is nominated.
PO11 Public access infrastructure is designed and located to: maintain or enhance natural and cultural values of the foreshore avoid areas of significant aquatic or terrestrial habitat values maintain the natural movement of sand and sediment avoid contributing to surface or geological instability or erosion of the foreshore utilise single access points wherever possible direct people away from sensitive areas be compatible with scenic coastal landscape values, and ensure users remain on the footpath and walkways to minimise physical impacts on the local environment through appropriate signage and fencing.	No acceptable outcome is nominated.
Coastal protection work
PO12 Coastal protection works or erosion control structures are: consistent with a shoreline management plan for the area, or constructed only to protect coastal–dependant development or other existing permanent structures from imminent adverse coastal erosion impacts if abandonment or relocation of the structures is not feasible, and a relevant shoreline management plan has not been prepared. Note—Erosion control structures are structures designed to protect land or permanently alter sediment transport processes and include structures such as seawalls or revetments (rock walls), groynes, artificial reefs and breakwaters. Where a shoreline erosion management plan has not been prepared and coastal protection work is required to protect existing structures from coastal erosion threats, beach nourishment is favoured in preference to erosion control structures. The location and materials for beach nourishment works are to ensure the natural characteristics and landform of the beach or foreshore is maintained. Applications demonstrate the consideration of beach nourishment techniques and include a statement of why nourishment (in whole or part) has not been adopted as the preferred means of managing the coastal erosion risk.	No acceptable outcome is nominated.
Hazardous materials
PO13 Public safety and the environment are not adversely affected by the impacts of coastal erosion or storm–tide inundation on hazardous materials manufactured or stored in bulk.	AO13.1 Development does not involve the manufacture or storage of hazardous materials within an erosion prone area or high storm tide inundation area. OR AO13.2 Within the medium storm tide inundation area, the manufacture or storage of hazardous materials takes place above the defined storm tide event level. AND AO13.3 Structures used for the manufacture or storage of hazardous material in bulk are designed to prevent the intrusion of floodwaters. AND AO13.4 The quantity of hazardous chemicals is less than: flammable gases > 5,000L, or toxic gases >500L, or non–toxic, non–flammable gases including oxidising gases >10,000L, or classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9 of packing group I > 500 L or kg of the ADG code, or classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9 of packing group II > 2,500 L or kg of the ADG code, or classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9 of packing group III > 10,000 L or kg of the ADG code.
Community infrastructure
PO14 Community infrastructure is able to function effectively during and immediately after a storm tide inundation event.	AO14 Community infrastructure is located in an area that is above the storm tide event level for that activity in accordance with Table 8.2.5.3.3—Recommended storm–tide event levels for community service infrastructure.

Performance outcomes

Acceptable outcomes

Development within an erosion prone area

PO2

Development maintains or enhances the natural processes of the erosion prone area and the protective function of coastal landforms and vegetation, particularly those features that mitigate risks from coastal hazards.

AO2.1

Development locates landward of the erosion prone area.

AO2.2

Development is coastal dependant development that cannot be feasibly located elsewhere and it is designed and constructed to withstand coastal erosion impacts.

AO2.3

Development is temporary, readily relocatable or able to be abandoned development located as far landward or the erosion prone area as practicable.

PO3

Redevelopment of an existing permanent building in an erosion prone area does not increase the exposure of people or property to the risk of coastal hazards and only occurs where:

coastal hazard risks can be avoided, or
risks can be mitigated to achieve an acceptable or tolerable level of risk to improve resilience against future coastal hazards allowing for 0.80m sea level rise.

Note—To demonstrate compliance with this performance outcome, a development application is supported by a report prepared by a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland specialising in coastal engineering and certifying the development achieves an acceptable or tolerable level of risk from present day and future coastal hazard impacts.

No acceptable outcome is nominated

PO4

Development directly, indirectly and cumulatively avoids an unacceptable increase in the severity of coastal erosion and does not significantly increase the potential for damage on the site or to other properties.

No acceptable outcome is nominated.

Development within a high or medium storm tide inundation area

PO5

Development does not locate in a high or medium storm tide inundation area unless:

it does not result in an increase in the intensity of development on the site, or
it avoids any increase in risk to people or property from coastal hazard impacts, or
risks can be mitigated to achieve an acceptable or tolerable level of risk to personal safety and property damage, including impacts from 0.80m sea level rise.

Note—The National Construction Code, Building Regulation 2006 and the Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 3.5 may also establish requirements with which development will need to comply.

AO5.1

Sensitive land uses do not locate within the high storm tide inundation area.

AO5.2

Development has direct and safe access to an evacuation route above the high storm tide inundation level. Evacuation routes do not include land in a high storm tide inundation area.

AO5.3

All habitable rooms have a floor level at least 1000mm above the high storm tide event level.

Where involving an extension to an existing residential use that have habitable rooms below the defined storm tide event level, any extension does not exceed 25m2 GFA.

AO5.4

Floor levels of non–habitable rooms (other than Class 10 buildings) are above the medium storm tide inundation level, or allow for the flow through of coastal waters on the ground floor.

PO6

Essential services infrastructure (e.g. on–site electricity, gas, water supply, sewerage and telecommunications) maintains its function during and immediately after a defined storm tide event.

AO6

Any components of infrastructure that are likely to fail to function or may result in contamination when inundated by coastal waters (e.g. electrical switchgear and motors, water supply pipeline air valves) are:

located above the defined storm tide event level, or
designed and constructed to prevent coastal water intrusion/infiltration.

PO7

Infrastructure and building foundations are designed and constructed to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces as a result of storm tide inundation.

Note—The National Construction Code, Building Regulation 2006 and the Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 3.5 may also establish requirements with which development will need to comply.

No acceptable outcome is nominated.

Reconfiguring a lot in a coastal hazard area 

PO8

The siting, layout and design of lot reconfiguration avoids adverse impacts of coastal hazards and does not result in the creation of new lots within a coastal hazard area.

AO8.1

New lots, roads and infrastructure are not located within a coastal hazard area.

AO8.2

For new lots partly within a coastal hazard area, a building envelope having a minimum area prescribed for that zone is provided landward of the coastal hazard area.

PO9

Reconfiguration of land that is partly or wholly within an erosion prone area surrenders the erosion prone area to the State for public purposes.

No acceptable outcome is nominated.

Public access 

PO10

Development (structures, buildings and works) maintains or enhances safe and convenient public access to and along the foreshore, except where restriction of access is for safety reasons or the development is for port infrastructure.

No acceptable outcome is nominated.

PO11

Public access infrastructure is designed and located to:

maintain or enhance natural and cultural values of the foreshore
avoid areas of significant aquatic or terrestrial habitat values
maintain the natural movement of sand and sediment
avoid contributing to surface or geological instability or erosion of the foreshore
utilise single access points wherever possible
direct people away from sensitive areas
be compatible with scenic coastal landscape values, and
ensure users remain on the footpath and walkways to minimise physical impacts on the local environment through appropriate signage and fencing.

No acceptable outcome is nominated.

Coastal protection work

PO12

Coastal protection works or erosion control structures are:

consistent with a shoreline management plan for the area, or
constructed only to protect coastal–dependant development or other existing permanent structures from imminent adverse coastal erosion impacts if abandonment or relocation of the structures is not feasible, and a relevant shoreline management plan has not been prepared.

Note—Erosion control structures are structures designed to protect land or permanently alter sediment transport processes and include structures such as seawalls or revetments (rock walls), groynes, artificial reefs and breakwaters. Where a shoreline erosion management plan has not been prepared and coastal protection work is required to protect existing structures from coastal erosion threats, beach nourishment is favoured in preference to erosion control structures. The location and materials for beach nourishment works are to ensure the natural characteristics and landform of the beach or foreshore is maintained. Applications demonstrate the consideration of beach nourishment techniques and include a statement of why nourishment (in whole or part) has not been adopted as the preferred means of managing the coastal erosion risk.

No acceptable outcome is nominated.

Hazardous materials

PO13

Public safety and the environment are not adversely affected by the impacts of coastal erosion or storm–tide inundation on hazardous materials manufactured or stored in bulk.

AO13.1

Development does not involve the manufacture or storage of hazardous materials within an erosion prone area or high storm tide inundation area.

AO13.2

Within the medium storm tide inundation area, the manufacture or storage of hazardous materials takes place above the defined storm tide event level.

AND

AO13.3

Structures used for the manufacture or storage of hazardous material in bulk are designed to prevent the intrusion of floodwaters.

AND

AO13.4

The quantity of hazardous chemicals is less than:

flammable gases > 5,000L, or
toxic gases >500L, or
non–toxic, non–flammable gases including oxidising gases >10,000L, or
classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9 of packing group I > 500 L or kg of the ADG code, or
classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9 of packing group II > 2,500 L or kg of the ADG code, or
classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9 of packing group III > 10,000 L or kg of the ADG code.

Community infrastructure

PO14

Community infrastructure is able to function effectively during and immediately after a storm tide inundation event.

AO14

Community infrastructure is located in an area that is above the storm tide event level for that activity in accordance with Table 8.2.5.3.3—Recommended storm–tide event levels for community service infrastructure.

Table 8.2.5.3.3—Recommended storm–tide event levels for community service infrastructure

Type of community service infrastructure	Recommended storm–tide event level (RSTEL)
Emergency services facilities*	0.2% annual exceedance probability (AEP)
Emergency shelters	See reference **
Hospitals and associated facilities	0.2% AEP
Major switch yards and substations*	0.5% AEP
Police facilities*	0.2% AEP
Power stations	0.2% AEP
Sewerage treatment plants*	0.01% AEP
School facilities	0.55% AEP
Stores of valuable records or items of historic or cultural significance (e.g. galleries and libraries)	0.5% AEP
Water treatment plants*	0.5% AEP
works of an electricity entity not otherwise listed in this table communication network facilities.	No specific recommended storm–tide event level but development proponents should ensure that the infrastructure is optimally located and designed to achieve suitable levels of service, having regard to the processes and policies of the administrating government agency.

* The RSTEL applies only to electrical and other equipment that, if damaged by floodwater or debris, would prevent the infrastructure from functioning. This equipment should either be protected from damage or designed to withstand inundation. Also some police and emergency service facilities (e.g. water police and search and rescue operations) are dependent on direct water access. RSTELs do not apply to these aspects but other operational areas should be located above the RSTEL to the greatest extent possible.

** Design Guidelines for Queensland Public Cyclone Shelters is available at Department of Housing and Public Works.

[1] The term 'coastal–dependant development' is defined in the glossary of the relevant State Planning Policy.

[2] The term 'storm tide' is used to describe the temporary inundation of land by abnormally high ocean levels caused by cyclones and severe storms and 'AEP' means annual exceedance probability. The defined high storm tide level is 2m above the highest astronomical tide and includes a sea level rise allowance of 0.8m. The medium storm tide level is 1m above the highest astronomical tide level.

[3] The term 'temporary, readily relocatable or able to be abandoned development' includes, but is not limited to, temporary accommodation such as tents or demountable buildings, picnic areas and associated picnic tables and barbeques, market stalls or stall venues, surf life–saving observation towers, equipment sheds, recreation reserves or walking and biking trails.

[4] The terms 'acceptable risk' and 'tolerable risk' are defined in the relevant State Planning Policy Guideline – Guidance on flood, bushfire and landslide hazards.

[5] The term 'sensitive land use' is defined in the glossary of the relevant State Planning Policy.

[6] The term 'hazardous material' is defined in the glossary of the relevant State Planning Policy.

8.2.5 Coastal hazard

8.2.5.1 Application

8.2.5.2 Purpose

8.2.5.3 Assessment benchmarks

Table 8.2.5.3.1—Accepted development subject to requirements

Table 8.2.5.3.2—Assessable development

Table 8.2.5.3.3—Recommended storm–tide event levels for community service infrastructure

Version 2 - Current Planning Scheme

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Version 2 - Current Planning Scheme

8.2.5 Coastal hazard

8.2.5.1 Application

8.2.5.2 Purpose

8.2.5.3 Assessment benchmarks

Table 8.2.5.3.1—Accepted development subject to requirements

Table 8.2.5.3.2—Assessable development

Table 8.2.5.3.3—Recommended storm–tide event levels for community service infrastructure

Version 2 - Current Planning Scheme

Gladstone Regional Council

Connect. Innovate. Diversify.

Get in Touch

Phone

Opening Hours

Social media

Postal Address

Council Offices

Rural Transaction Centres

Footer Image Links

Footer Acknowledgement

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