Driveways & crossovers

Driveways and crossings in road reserves provide safe vehicle access between the road and property.

• The crossover is the ramp or section at the kerb line that allows vehicle access from the Council-controlled public road (including the street, footpath and nature strip) to the property boundary.
• Driveways provide access from the crossover to the property (eg garage, carport or shed).

Property owners are responsible for building, maintaining and altering the driveway and crossover. It is the responsibility of the owner to keep driveway crossovers clear of debris and free draining, in particular where small culverts/steel plates are in place.

Basic maintenance such as repairing cracks or sealing the crossover area does not need Council approval.

Generally, a single crossover does not require Development Approval if it meets the Access Crossovers requirements of the FNQROC Development Manual. This document stipulates minimum construction standards and required site grades in order to minimise stormwater runoff and erosion, ensure access to public utilities, and maintain a safe corridor for pedestrians and traffic. All additional crossovers require Council Operational Works approval.

When planning the driveway location and before starting construction, we recommend you undertake a Dial Before You Dig search. This free national service provides plans advising of the presence and approximate location of essential services such as telecommunications, oil, gas, sewer, water and stormwater. It will help you identify other relevant authorities which you may require approval from.

If you need to access your property from a Queensland Government controlled road, you will require approval from the Department of Transport and Main Roads to complete your crossover construction. Council cannot approve your construction. Visit www.transport.qld.gov.au for more information.

Additional and non-compliant crossovers: Operational Works approval

Additional crossovers and non-compliant crossovers require Operational Works approval from Council. You must receive your Decision Notice before you start construction; a Confirmation Notice does not constitute approval.

Technical standards

Driveways must be constructed using the correct specifications. Correctly constructed driveways avoid things like steep driveway slopes and stormwater runoff, and make sure the driveway it is safe for pedestrians.

Council’s technical standards for crossovers and driveways are contained in the the FNQROC Development Manual and other best practice technical standards.  The standard drawings illustrate the recommended construction standard and finish.

To assist with the set out, construction and finish of the driveway, please refer to the following FNQROC Development Manual Standard Drawings:

• S1000 - Concrete Kerb & Channel
• S1015 - Access Crossover
• S1035 - Pathways/Bikeways
• S1105 - Rural Allotment Access
• S1110 - Concrete Driveway for Allotment Access

Other technical documents:

• Queensland Development Code - Non-Mandatory Part (NMP) 1.1 Driveways
• Australian Standard AS2890.1 Parking Facilities - Off-Street Car Parking

Driveway materials

The Technical Standards outline the recommended driveway formation and materials.  Other materials may be approved by Council upon application.

Accepted driveway materials

Broom finish, stencil, coloured and exposed aggregate concrete driveways are the most common form of driveway specified and installed by builders and concreters.  Typical specifications have been outlined in Standard Drawings S1015 and S1110.

Asphalt driveways are typically permitted in rural areas and not the built-up urban areas. The typical specification is detailed in Standard Drawing S1105.

Non-standard driveway materials

The Technical Standards recommend best-practice, cost-effective and durable materials for safe and functional access. Non standard materials do not provide a long-term, sustainable, hard-wearing driveway solution and are not endorsed.

• Clay, honed and concrete pavers may be approved where the pavers are at least 400mm thick and placed on concrete with a compacted sub-base beneath to ensure a firm foundation.
• Tyre track or ribbon style driveways are an older style driveway consisting of two parallel tracks of hardened material with an unpaved area in between and either side of the tracks.  Council considers these appropriate in Neighbourhood Character areas but recommends full sealed driveways where possible for long-term durability.
• Checker plates, steel plates, welded grates, timber, rubber bump stops over/in or bolted to the kerb and channel are not accepted unless under exceptional circumstances (eg dramatic changes in road verge gradient). Non-conforming ramps and “bridging” materials can create a trip hazard, cause damage to wheels and block stormwater flows.

Removal of public vegetation for a driveway

A Local Law permit for the alteration or improvement to Local Government controlled areas or roads applies for all planting, clearing or damaging trees on a footpath not associated with a Reconfiguration of a Lot, Material Change of Use and/or an Operational Works Development Permit (e.g. prescribed activity under Council’s Local Law 11) and that is not in accordance with:

• the FNQROC Regional Development Manual
• Councils Planning Scheme Policy - Landscaping
• Vegetation on Council-Controlled Land Guidelines

Council will consider the proposed removal of a street tree (Council vegetation) by the property owner to facilitate the installation of a driveway if the driveway design is an accepted driveway under the CairnsPlan 2016 and all alternative locations have been considered to attempt to accommodate Council vegetation.

Supporting site plans and street tree replacement locations must be provided within the application. The planting of any replacement tree shall be in a location by the FNQROC Development Manual Guidelines setback distances and an approved species acceptable to Council.

If a non-compliant assessable driveway and Council vegetation are proposed for removal, an application for Operational Works application is required for the driveway and associated Council vegetation removal.

It is recommended to discuss with Council the proposed driveway and tree removal before submitting an application.