Planning and development assessment under the Planning Act

The Department of Transport and Main Roads plays a key role with planning and assessment of development through input into state planning instruments such as the State Planning Policy and regional plans, reviewing local planning instruments, and providing advice on development applications impacting state transport interests through the State Assessment and Referral Agency. State transport interests include: protection of state transport infrastructure such as state-controlled roads, rail, busway, light rail, strategic ports, strategic airports and aviation facilities transport network connectivity, accessibility and operational efficiency; and maritime safety.

Further information relevant to each of these functions is outlined below.

Development assessment under the Planning Act

Development is referred to the State for assessment of the impacts of development on state transport interests under state transport referral triggers in the Planning Regulation 2017. This includes development impacting on existing and future state transport corridors, state-controlled transport tunnels, state transport networks, strategic ports and maritime safety. 

Development referred to the State is assessed by the State Assessment and Referral Agency with Transport and Main Roads providing technical advice regarding the impacts of development on state transport interests. When assessing applications, State Assessment and Referral Agency has regard to the State Development Assessment Provisions.

Changing a Department of Transport and Main Roads approved driveway location (Permitted Road Access Location) given in conjunction with a development application

A decision about a driveway location on a state-controlled road, also known as a permitted road access location, is a decision made by Transport and Main Roads under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 (TIA). This decision can be made in conjunction with a development application but is a separate statutory approval to the referral agency response given by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning under the Planning Act 2016 (PA).

To make changes to any aspect of an approved Permitted Road Access Location (section 62 TIA decision) you must contact TMR directly. Contact details will be provided in your Decision Notice. 

Where a Permitted Road Access Location decision is made in conjunction with a development application you will need to contact Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning directly to request changes to the referral agency response.

Further information on development assessment is provided on the assessable development under the Planning Act page.

Planning schemes and State Planning Policy

The State Planning Policy provides a single consolidated policy document that articulates all state interests in land use planning and development that are to be reflected in local government planning schemes. The State Planning Policy includes interests in relation to infrastructure integration, transport infrastructure and networks, strategic airports and aviation facilities, and strategic ports. Assessment of development applications impacting some state transport interests such as development within the vicinity of strategic airports and aviation facilities is devolved to local government.

Further information on the State Planning Policy and planning schemes is provided in the department's interest in planning schemes.

State Planning Policy—strategic airports and aviation facilities state interest

The Department of Transport and Main Roads is the mapping data custodian for transport infrastructure state interests in the State Planning Policy interactive mapping system.

Information for the strategic airports and aviation facilities state interest supports the ongoing review and management of strategic airports and aviation facility state interest mapping within the State Planning Policy interactive mapping system. It includes information to support stakeholders, such as:

• how to access the mapping data
• mapping update policy and data responsibilities
• identification of aviation facilities—location information and metadata.

Regional plans

Regional plans outline desired regional outcomes for each region and include future land use patterns and provisions for regional infrastructure (such as state transport corridors) to service future regional land use patterns.

Transport and Main Roads provides input into the preparation of regional plans to ensure the plans:

• integrate current and future state transport networks
• reflect principles and policies to protect the operational integrity of Queensland’s transport system.

Current regional plans can be located on the Queensland's planning framework website.