Development enquiries

Council's CairnsPlan 2016 Property Report tool is an easy and convenient way to access planning scheme information that relates to a specific property. It includes:

• General property information
• A summary of the applicable planning scheme zones, local plans and overlays
• Maps showing the applicable planning scheme mapping layers
• Links to relevant sections of the planning scheme and other relevant websites.

The report is device responsive and can be viewed on a desktop computer, tablet or smart phone.

You can take a tour of the Property Report tool using the help button. Use the PDF button to print, share or save your property report.

The information provided in this report is made available for general reference purposes only and does not replace the need to obtain a Planning and Development Certificate or the need to seek professional legal or town planning advice in relation to the existing or intended use of the property.

If you are undertaking conveyancing, development or building certification, it is recommended that you conduct the necessary Land Record Searches. These may include (but are not limited to) building information searches, planning and development certificates and flood information searches.

Generate a CairnsPlan 2016 Property Report

Other useful sources

• If you require flood levels for your property, please order a Flood Zone and Storm Tide Information search through the Land Record Search.  More information on flooding, flood zones and storm tide can be found at our Flooding webpage.
• Copies of Development Applications can be found at our online portal DA Online.
• Information on how to make a Development Application is available on our Making and lodging a Development Application webpage.
• If you are looking to make a submission, refer to our Public notifications and submissions webpage.

Our website provides a range of information and tools on planning and development related matters. Please review these prior to submitting a General Development Enquiry.

If you have used our online tools and require more information on matters of a general nature, you can submit a General Development Enquiry.

General development enquiry

Note: Complex queries or queries seeking specific, technical information may not be appropriate as a general development enquiry. Our reviewing Officer will determine if your query is general in nature or whether formal pre-lodgement advice is required. Should the response type change, an Officer will be in contact within two (2) business days.

If you would prefer a PDF version of this request form, please email us with your request.

You can make a 20 minute appointment to meet with a Council Town Planner to understand:

• Whether your proposal triggers the need for a Planning Application
• What Planning Scheme codes may need to be considered
• If you need to notify your neighbours
• When you need to talk to a Building Certifier
• Where relevant, the steps you need to take in order to progress the proposal.

Appointments are offered on Wednesday mornings for 20 minutes between 9am and midday (excluding public holidays and Christmas closure periods). Bookings close on the Friday prior each week. Appointments are available:

• In person meeting at Council's administration centre, 119-145 Spence Street, Cairns or
• Virtually via Microsoft Teams.

To help you to get the most out of a 20 minute General Enquiry meeting, at the time of requesting the meeting you will need to provide a plan, the location and details of the proposal (e.g. I seek to subdivide my land into 2 x 600m2 lots and obtain access via a new driveway).

The meeting will not give formal or in-depth responses or a position on the proposal. Due to the preliminary nature of a General Enquiry meeting, the response is limited to verbal only, at the time of the meeting. Where you are seeking detailed feedback about a development proposal, it is recommended that you use the Pre-lodgement meeting services below.

Officers will contact you prior to the meeting to acknowledge receipt of your General Enquiry request.

Book a General Enquiry Meeting

If you would prefer a PDF version of this request form, please email us with your request.

For pre-lodgement enquiries, we can offer

• a free pre-lodgement meeting and/or
• a free written response to your enquiry.

where you can present your development proposal to a Council planner and/or engineer (if required) for preliminary comment.

These services are not a formal part of the Development Assessment process but may help resolve potential issues before you lodge an application and contributes to a development application being well made.

Council’s pre-lodgement services are not suitable for development enquiries of a general nature. If this is the case, request a General Development Enquiry (see above).

Pre-lodgement meeting

A pre-lodgement meeting is generally preliminary in nature and is not a detailed assessment. Pre-lodgement advice is provided in good faith and in no way binds a decision made by Council following the detailed assessment process, including consideration of further detailed information.

The level of detail provided by Council officers will be determined by the level of detail you provide. All matters for discussion should be raised prior to the pre-lodgement meeting, with additional matters raised during the meeting tabled as a follow up item. Preliminary advice will only be given on matters raised and only if sufficient information is provided.

The Reviewing Officer will contact you to confirm the date and time of the meeting within 5 business days.  Meetings are set for 1 hour maximum and will typically be held within 15 business days of receipt of request.

At the conclusion of the pre-lodgement meeting, minutes will be distributed with responses on raised matters.

What we need from you

• You must provide property address.
• You must advise Council of any meeting attendees and their details on the request form, and if they are attending in person or virtually.
• You must identify all specific questions and/or relevant performance solutions where Council feedback is sought, along with a detailed submission and/or discussion points and any supporting plans or other documentation.
• You must provide all information when you lodge your request form - Council will not be able to provide feedback on the new plans. If new plans are submitted after the meeting, a follow-up meeting will be required.
• Council may refer you to a different level of service upon review of the materials lodged at the time of the request.
• You must confirm your availability to attend the meeting.

Formal pre-lodgement advice

A component of Council’s free pre-lodgement service is the issue of formal, written pre-lodgement advice involving input from Council planners, engineers and/or technical officers (if requested and applicable).

The formal pre-lodgement advice service is aimed at receiving formal, written advice on identified matters specific to a development proposal, to assist in guiding the preparation of detailed plans to address or manage customer-identified matter/s. This service is generally reserved for a proposed development and site that a landowner, consultant or property developer is seeking preliminary feedback on prior to submission of a formal Development Application.

We aim to provide a detailed response within 15 business days; however, please note that technical advice requested and / or more technical developments may require additional time.

The level of detail provided by Reviewing Officers will be determined by the level of detail you provide to us. Preliminary advice will only be provided on matters raised and only if sufficient information is provided.

This service is not a formal part of the development assessment process but may help resolve potential issues before lodging an application and contributes to a well-made application.

Formal pre-lodgement advice options

We have two options for Formal pre-lodgement advice:

Formal advice as a general member of the public
This is recommended for landowners or those who do not regularly undertake development. It is aimed at providing formal written advice on matters specific to a development proposal. It assists in guiding preparation of detailed plans to address or manage the customer-identified matter/s prior to submission of a formal Development Application.

Formal advice as a planning/engineering consultant or property developer
This is recommended for planning/engineering consultants or property developers who frequently lodge development applications. It is aimed at providing formal written advice on customer-identified technical matters specific to a development proposal. It assists in guiding preparation of detailed plans to address or manage the technical matter/s (i.e. traffic impact assessment) prior to submission of a formal Development Application.

What we need from you

• You must provide the property address.
• You must provide proposal plans (site plan, technical reports, floor plans, elevations, and sections).
• You must identify all specific questions and/or relevant performance solutions where Council feedback is sought, along with a detailed submission and/or discussion points and any supporting plans or other documentation.
• You must include any relevant development or building approvals if it relates to the advice sought.

Note: Formal pre-lodgement advice does not include certainty around a development outcome or decision. It does not include information usually obtained from a standard or full planning and development certificate. Any advice provided does not constitute approval.

Request pre-lodgement service

If you would prefer a PDF version of this request form, please email us with your request.