Council as Referral Agency

Amenity and aesthetics applications

On August 23, 2023, council resolved that any Class 1A Dwelling House being re-sited either within the Mackay Local Government Local Government Area or from another Local Government Area to Mackay may have amenity impacts in certain localities. The localities are defined in the Mackay Region Planning Scheme 2017 V4.0 as the following zones:

  • Emerging community
  • Low density residential
  • Medium density
  • High density residential
  • Mixed use
  • Rural residential, and
  • Township

To ensure that amenity and aesthetics matters are considered, an application for Council as a Referral Agency is required to be lodged and assessed by council.

Siting and design applications

Where a Class 1A or 10 building or structure does not meet the acceptable outcomes as prescribed by the Queensland Development Code (QDC) Mandatory Parts 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 or the alternative provisions in accordance with the Mackay Region Planning Scheme 2017 V4.0 an application for siting and design is required. This includes:

  • Road frontage boundary setbacks
  • Side and/or rear boundary setbacks
  • Over-height
  • Site coverage exceedance
  • Screens, fences and retaining walls greater than 2m in height.

To ensure that any impacts are considered, an application for Council as a Referral Agency is required to be lodged and assessed by council.

Application requirements

A copy of the Council Resolution for Amenity and Aesthetics is available here.

A copy of the Mackay Regional Planning Scheme 2017 V4.0 is available here

A copy of the Council as a Referral Agency application form and be found here. This includes all the information required to lodge a properly made application.

Assessment timeframes are approximately 10 business days once the application is ‘properly made’ and no information request is required. Upon approval, council will impose conditions with a currency period of two years. Further information is provided below under application requirements.

Applications can be lodged to development.services@macaky.qld.gov.au.