Strategic airports and aviation facilities state interest—supporting information
This information provides support for the State Planning Policy interactive mapping system to ensure the quality and accuracy of the data used for strategic airport and aviation facility state interest mapping.
On this page:
- Strategic airports and aviation facilities mapping data
- Roles and responsibilities
- Identification of aviation facilities
- Further information
Strategic airports and aviation facilities mapping data
The State Planning Policy establishes the state's interests in land use planning and development that apply to local government plan making, and that should be given effect through each local government planning scheme.
The State Planning Policy establishes the state's interest for strategic airports and aviation facilities as:
The operation of strategic airports and aviation facilities is protected, and the growth and development of Queensland's aviation industry is supported.
Strategic airports have been identified by the state as essential to the national and state air transport network or the national defence system. The State Planning Policy seeks to ensure that local planning instruments identify strategic airports and aviation facilities, and protect their ongoing operation from inappropriate development.
The State Planning Policy interactive mapping system spatially identifies strategic airports and aviation facilities—including communication, navigation and surveillance facilities.
Mapping data used in the State Planning Policy interactive mapping system
Strategic airports and aviation facilities mapping data is sourced from:
- airport operators
- the Department of Defence
- Airservices Australia
- generated by the Department of Transport and Main Roads based on guidance in the National Airports Safeguarding Framework.
The mapping layers used are:
- strategic airports
- Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) contours
- obstacle limitation surface area and contours (for leased federal and regional airports)
- height restriction zones (for Department of Defence or joint-user airports)
- public safety areas
- lighting area buffer and light restriction zones
- wildlife hazard buffer zones
- aviation facilities
- building restricted areas.
How to access the mapping data
Strategic airports and aviation facilities mapping is published by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning on the State Planning Policy interactive mapping system.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads is the mapping data custodian for the strategic airports and aviation facilities state interest. To access mapping data, email PPB_GIS@tmr.qld.gov.au and specify the data format required (e.g. MapInfo, ESRI etc).
Identification of aviation facilities has the latest Airservices Australia metadata on the aviation facilities mapped in the interactive mapping system.
Local governments are responsible for ensuring the mapping layers in a local government planning scheme reflect the interactive mapping system. The State Planning Policy interactive mapping system prevails where there is an inconsistency with a planning instrument.
Read more about integrating state interests in planning schemes—guidance for local government.
Roles and responsibilities
Mapping update policy and data responsibilities
Updates to mapping layers occur from time to time. The methodologies for developing mapping layers may also change over time. The Department of Transport and Main Roads will make updates to the State Planning Policy interactive mapping system when required.
We only accept mapping data updates from airport operators, the Department of Defence or Airservices Australia. We will periodically liaise with these data providers to source the most up-to-date data for each strategic airport. Additionally, Airservices Australia or the Department of Defence may add, delete or amend aviation facility specifications due to changes in technology.
Airport operators' responsibilities
Changes to mapping data
Airport operators are responsible for:
- notifying the Department of Transport and Main Roads in writing of any mapping data changes
- supplying the updated data files by email to PPB_GIS@tmr.qld.gov.au.
This must be done within 4 weeks of Australian Government endorsement.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has executed individual Deeds of Agreement for data supply and use with airport operators, to support the protection of strategic airports under the State Planning Policy. Under the Deed of Agreement, the airport operator is responsible for providing us with the mapping data listed below.
Data and mapping to be provided by strategic airport operators
| Data type | Applicable standard | Supply format |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Noise Exposure Forecast contours | Airport masterplan or other documentation endorsed by Airservices Australia |
Spatial data/mapping supplied digitally in one of the following file formats referenced in the WGS 84 (preferred) or Map Grid of Australia (MGA) system – MGA 94, Zone 54, 55 or 56 (depending on location of area) and specifying the coordinate system/projection:
|
| Obstacle limitation surfaces | Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 | |
| Aerodrome reference point | En route Supplement Australia geo-referenced coordinates | |
| Runway dimensions (including runway centreline, ends, threshold markings and constructed widths) |
Geo-referenced as constructed plans |
Airport operators must also provide the following within 4 weeks of Australian Government endorsement:
- ANEF mapping update—the endorsed ANEF contour data and evidence of Airservices Australia or Department of Defence approval (ANEF contour information should be prepared in accordance with the Australian Standard AS 2021–2015: Acoustics – Aircraft noise intrusion – Building siting and construction (AS 2021) as adopted 12 February 2015)
- obstacle limitation surface (OLS) or height restriction zone mapping update—the Australian Government endorsed OLS or height restriction zone data and evidence of the relevant endorsement.
Once processed, data will be quality assured by the data provider before we update the State Planning Policy interactive mapping system.
ANEF consultation
As part of the ANEF endorsement process, Airservices Australia requires airport operators to:
- provide evidence of consultation with state and local authorities
- demonstrate that due regard has been given to the concerns raised.
This also applies to the Department of Defence for defence airfields and joint-user airports.
For consultation with the Queensland Government, airport operators should submit these items to the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning:
- a letter advising of the intention to submit draft ANEF contours to Airservices Australia or Department of Defence for endorsement and outlining the extent of consultation with the relevant local government(s) and the public
- a spatial data file showing the existing and revised ANEF contours for the airport—individual land parcels should be identifiable.
Once the Department of Transport and Main Roads has reviewed the submission, we will provide a letter to the airport operator advising of any issues of concern and confirming that consultation has occurred. The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning will manage its own response to the airport operator.
Contacts for ANEF consultation with the Queensland Government:
- Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning:
- BestPlanning@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au and EDQ@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au—please add both email addresses to your email.
Our responsibilities
The Department of Transport and Main Roads is the mapping data custodian for State Planning Policy interactive mapping system transport infrastructure state interests, including the strategic airports and aviation facilities state interest.
In this role, we will:
- return processed mapping updates to the data provider for quality assurance and approval, allowing 10 business days for comment
- use the quality assured data to generate the spatial data and mapping layers for inclusion in the State Planning Policy interactive mapping system
- supply the spatial data and mapping layers to local governments for inclusion in local government planning schemes (on request)
- periodically contact the airport operator to confirm that the spatial data/mapping for the airport in the mapping system is up to date.
Local government responsibilities
Local governments are responsible for ensuring the mapping layers for strategic airports and aviation facilities in a local government planning scheme align with the State Planning Policy interactive mapping system. The spatial data/mapping layers for an airport can be requested. The State Planning Policy interactive mapping system prevails where there is an inconsistency with a planning instrument.
Data inconsistencies
For any data or mapping inconsistencies, please email the Department of Transport and Main Roads (the data custodian) on PPB_GIS@tmr.qld.gov.au. We will follow up with the relevant data owner.
Identification of aviation facilities
An aviation facility is a communication, navigation or surveillance facility that allows:
- pilots to navigate while en route between airports
- pilots to utilise navigation aids to conduct instrument approach procedures
- dialogue between pilots and air traffic control
- air traffic control to monitor and confirm an aircraft location (see types of aviation facilities).
The State Planning Policy supports the protection of aviation facilities and their associated systems and processes that safely manage the flow of aircraft into, out of and across Australian unified airspace. Aviation facilities are crucial to the safety and operation of aircraft across Australia. Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence rely on them to ensure the safety of civilian and military aircraft operations.
Location of aviation facilities lists the aviation facilities identified by Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence for protection under the State Planning Policy and identification in the State Planning Policy interactive mapping system. Specific location information and types of aviation facilities are provided. Changes in technology may result in facilities being added, deleted or specifications being amended. The Department of Transport and Main Roads will facilitate an update when changes occur.
Types of aviation facilities
Communication facilities
Communication facilities enable air-to-ground communications between pilots and air traffic control or communications between air traffic control and other aviation facilities.
Communication facilities used in Queensland are:
- very high frequency (VHF) radio transmitters and receivers
- high frequency (HF) radio transmitters and receivers
- satellite ground station (SGS) antennas.
Signal reception between aircraft and ground facilities is by line-of-sight or satellite link.
Navigation facilities
A network of ground-based navigation aids is used for instrument navigation by pilots. These navigation aids are located at airports or at key points on air routes. Navigation aids used in Queensland include:
- instrument landing system (ILS), including associated localisers, glide paths and marker beacons
- non-directional beacon (NDB)
- VHF omnidirectional range (VOR), conventional VHF omni-directional range (CVOR) and doppler VHF omni-directional range antennas (DVOR)
- distance measuring equipment (DME).
Surveillance facilities
Surveillance facilities monitor air routes and aircraft movements to assist air traffic control with more accurate information on aircraft position. This reduces the need for voice communications between air traffic control and the pilot. Surveillance facilities used in Queensland are:
- primary surveillance radar (PSR)
- secondary surveillance radar (SSR)
- automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance system
- advanced surface movement guidance and control system (A-SMGCS).
Location of aviation facilities
View location and metadata for aviation facilities protected under the State Planning Policy.
Further information
For further information please email the Director (Corridor Management and Protection Unit, Transport Strategy and Planning Branch) at PlanningPolicy@tmr.qld.gov.au.
- Last updated 10 June 2022