Engineering, Health and Environment

Information Index

Book a Pre-lodgement Meeting for Operational Works Applications

Engineering, Health and Environment Branch now offer pre-lodgement meetings and are intended to discuss a particular operational works proposal for a specific site in detail. The purpose is to reduce the assessment timeframes by identifying likely ‘information request’ items, which can be addressed prior to application lodgement or resolve complex or non-standard engineering design.  Pre-lodgement meetings should be held once you have formulated an operational works proposal which you feel is compliant with the conditions of approval, Council policies and standards.  Proposal details, including proposal plans, should be sent to the officer holding the pre lodgement meeting a week before the meeting to give the officer a chance to adequately prepare for the meeting.  If there are particular issues you wish to discuss in the meeting ensure you make these clear to the engineering officer prior to the meeting.  It should be noted that a number of Council officers from different branches or departments may be required to provide information for the meeting, so the earlier the proposal details are provided, the more beneficial the meeting will me.  Again, pre lodgement meeting should not be substituted for independent professional advice or a comprehensive due diligence process.

Council is contactable in a number of ways:

Email: plandev@ipswich.qld.gov.au

Correspondence addressed to:

Ipswich City Council
(Attn: Planning and Regulatory Services Department)
PO Box 191
IPSWICH QLD 4305

Telephone: (07) 3810 6888
Meeting: To request a pre-lodgement meeting, call (07) 3810 6888 or complete an online request here.

Please be advised that the Planning and Regulatory Services Department have electronic facilities available in our meeting rooms such as computers and projectors with up to date aerial photography and information on services and constraints. These facilities can be useful in presenting and analysing information in respect to development sites and development proposals.

Evidence of the Possession of Site

At all pre-start meetings there is detailed information required by Council's Planning Scheme Policy 3 – General Works Part 5 – General Construction Section 5.2.2(1) – Prerequisites and concerning "Evidence of the Possession of Site" granted to the nominated representative (in accordance with AS2124).

In order to comply with these pre-start requirements, the applicant is required to return the "Response to Prestart Information – Nomination of Responsibilities" form below either in person at the pre-start meeting with Council officers, or by email to plandev@ipswich.qld.gov.au.

Queensland Urban Utilities

From 1 July 2014, Queensland Urban Utilities will be responsible for receiving, assessing, providing advice and approving applications for connections, disconnections and alterations to their water and sewerage networks, instead of Council in most instances.  As such, customers will need to apply directly to Queensland Urban Utilities for water and sewerage connections, disconnections and alterations.

This change has resulted from the Water Supply Service Legislation Amendment Act 2014 recently passed by the Queensland Parliament.  The intention of the new legislation is to streamline the approval process for water and sewerage connections.

If you've got an existing development approval or application lodged with Ipswich City Council please refer to Queensland Urban Utilities' website for a copy of their fact sheet on the transitional arrangements for connecting to water and sewerage services. For further information and fact sheets visit http://www.urbanutilities.com.au/development-services/help-and-advice/water-approval-process or contact the Queensland Urban Utilities' Development Services Customer Team directly on 3432 2200.

Ripley Valley Self Certification Process

The purpose of the Certification Procedures Manual (PDF, 582 KB) is to ensure the satisfactory certification and construction of works in accordance with nominated standards as identified in a Priority Development Area (PDA) development condition.

The Certification Procedures Manual (PDF, 582 KB) removes the need for a PDA development application to be made for operational works, if Ipswich City Council (ICC) has granted a PDA development approval with conditions (such as for a material change of use or reconfiguring a lot) that set a Nominated Assessing Authority (NAA) and standards to be complied with. As well, the certification process can be used for other requirements of PDA development conditions, such as landscaping works, infrastructure plans etc, again, where the condition states a NAA and standards to be complied with.

The EDQ Certification Procedures Manual and corresponding forms and deeds will remain applicable to and to be used for construction activities. However, in order to assist Council in maintaining efficient and streamline lodgement processes an additional ICC form has been created and should be completed and lodged in addition to other EDQ Submission Forms.

For further information on the Self Certification process and forms please see the Self Certification Process on the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning website.

Decision Ready Applications

On 16 October 2012 Council adopted the Decision Ready Scheme using Accredited Consultants.

The purpose of Decision Ready Application Process is to facilitate the fast-tracking of well made operational works applications using a certification process and preferred Accredited Engineering Consultants. The process also aims to improve operational works assessment time frames whilst maintaining appropriate construction standards through risk assessment and management. Thus broadly challenging the consultant industry to improve performance and accept greater responsibility for design outcomes as a direct result of client oriented demand for participation in these types of applications.

Please be advised that the Decision Ready Program implemented on 16 October 2012, is currently under review.  As such, until further notice Ipswich City Council will not be accepting new applications under this scheme. Existing applications or stages of projects being assessed under this process will be completed in accordance with the established Decision Ready processes.  Should you have any enquiries regarding this review or existing applications under this scheme, please contact Aaron Katt on 3810 6837 or Mitchell Weatherhead on 3810 6876.

Company Name Prequalified Consultant
KN Group Pty Ltd Geoffrey Brian Greenhalgh
KN Group Pty Ltd Robert Mander
HDR Pty Ltd Christopher Allan
Arcadis Mitchell Bray
Cardno John O'Sullivan

Voluntary Offset Policy - Water Quality Nutrient Offset

On 20 September 2011 Council adopted Implementation Guideline No. 24 Stormwater Management (PDF, 3.5 MB). This guideline is intended to assist with the implementation of the Planning Scheme by providing guidance for the management of stormwater run-off as a resource.

These guidelines compliment other information available that support Total Water Cycle Management (TWCM) planning through the provision of specific guidance for flood and disaster management, water way health objectives and acceptable outcomes for development. Council's Implementation Guidelines are intended to apply a standard approach to the interpretation and implementation of the relevant aspects of the Ipswich Planning Scheme.

Acceptance of Works "On Maintenance"

Prior to acceptance of works "On Maintenance" the developer must meet prerequisites outlined in Planning Scheme Policy 3 (PSP3). The developer may request in writing the approval to submit an Uncompleted Works Bond for the development in accordance with this Policy. Alternatively, where works are completed and accepted on maintenance, a corresponding maintenance bond is required.

Uncompleted Works Bonds must be provided in conjunction with a formal agreement concerning the works and development. The formal agreement is required in the form of standard template "Bond and Licence Deeds" which are categorised under one of the following four (4) agreement titles dependent upon the extent of works and construction footprint:-

  1. Combined Incomplete Works and Maintenance Bond and Licence Deed
    Applicable where combined incomplete works and maintenance bond under PSP 3, and where the amount of the incomplete works bond will be reduced to cover the maintenance bond when the works are accepted on maintenance.
  2. Maintenance Bond and Licence Deed
    Applicable where what is being provided is a maintenance bond under PSP 3.
  3. Performance Bond and Licence Deed
    Applicable where Public (Municipal) Works to be constructed on land that is owned or occupied by Council or on privately owned or occupied land in accordance with standard condition of approval. This agreement and bond is generally required to be provided prior to commencement of works and preferably prior to any pre-start meeting.
  4. Rolling Bond and Licence Deed
    Applicable where what is being accepted on maintenance any public (municipal) works under PSP 3 and where the initial development approval incorporates multiple stages.  Importantly, this deed incorporates the ability to nominate authorised delegates for the purpose of on-going bond management and transactions concerning a master rolling bond.  The deed also includes all aspects of incomplete works, maintenance and performance bond requirements. The following documents may also be applicable and to be used in conjunction with Rolling Bond and Licence Deed:-
    1. Upgrade Deed
      To be used to increase the bond amount under a Rolling Bond and Licence Deed;
    2. Bond Allocation Cancellation Agreement
      To be used to cancel a Bond Allocation Agreement that has been signed in conjunction with a Rolling bond and Licence Deed between the applicant and council;
    3. Bond Allocation Agreement
      To be used in conjunction with the Rolling Bond and Licence Deed and any other Bond Allocation Agreements under the Rolling Bond and Licence Deed.

The applicable Deed must be completed and submitted to Council in hard copy format at the time of lodgement of the respective bond payment (bank guarantee). No bonds will be accepted by Council without submission of the applicable Deed. All Deeds must be executed by the Applicant and/or Landowner and witnessed as applicable, prior to lodging with Council for execution.

Security bonds are accepted by Council to allow signing of survey plans in advance of completion of subdivision works, or to provide security that certain works will be completed, or to ensure that funds are available to maintain infrastructure in the maintenance period prior to handover to Council. Click the link for further information on security bonds (PDF, 8.2 KB).

Financial Apportionment Form and Instructions

Council requires the Financial Apportionment Form to capitalise contributed assets in Council's financial system. The form below is to be completed by the Consultant prior to the development being accepted as "on maintenance."

Should you have any questions regarding any of the information on this page please contact the Engineering, Health and Environment Branch on telephone number (07) 3810 6888.

Build Over/Near Relevant Ipswich City Council Infrastructure or Easement

The Building and Other Legisaltion Amendment Act 2013 (BOLA) received Royal Assent on 13 August 2013. The BOLA will remove the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008. The requirement for private building certifier to ensure that consent has been obtained from a service provider before approving building work over or near the service provider's infrastructure.

From 1 November 2013, building work over or near relevant infrastructure must be assessed against Queensland Development Code Mandatory Part 1.4 (MP 1.4) 'Building over or near infrastructure'.

The Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009 prescribes relevant service providers as a concurrence agency for the purpose of referrals for MP 1.4 when the proposed work does not comply with the acceptable solutions of the code or is for an applicable class 2-9 building. Queensland Urban Utilities  is the concurrence agency in the Ipswich local government area for water and sewer referrals under MP 1.4. Information regarding these changes can be given by Queensland Urban Utilities on 13 26 57.

Ipswich City Council remains the referral agency for stormwater drains under MP 1.4. Below is a copy of the relevant form for Building Over/Near Relevant Ipswich City Council Infrastructure or Easement.

Traffic Signal Approval Process

As part of an implementation from the March 2018 Engineering & Environment Industry Forum it was agreed to include a copy of Council’s Traffic Signal Approval Process. This process can be found by clicking on the below link:-

Council’s Standard Drawings

As part of an implementation from the March 2018 Engineering & Environment Industry Forum it was agreed to include a copy of Council’s Standard Drawings. These documents can be found at the below link:-