Industrial City Planning

Our skilled team assists a range of clients across Brisbane and South East Queensland to develop properties for industrial use or secure material change of use approvals relating to industrial activities in existing buildings.

We have experience with a range of industrial developments, including but not limited to warehouses, low, medium and high impact industry uses, and special industry.

Low Impact Industry means the use of a premises for industrial activities that have negligible impacts on sensitive land uses, generate minimal traffic and heavy vehicle use and are primarily undertaken indoors. 

Examples include:

• Light engineering works, not including boiler making, metal finishing, spray painting or foundry activities.

• Assembling, fabricating or repairing wood products including furniture, kitchens, shop fitting, cabinet making and joinery, where no outdoor machinery is required. 

• Storage and handling of dangerous good in small quantities

• Fitting and turning workshop

• Repairing or servicing tools, garden equipment, lawn mowers or outboard engines

• Repairing or servicing motor vehicles where not including spray painting.

• Clothing or footwear manufacturing or repair.

• Upholstering

• Printing, with a gross floor area less than 1,000sqm

Medium impact industry means the use of a premises for an industrial activity that has the potential for noticeable impacts on sensitive land uses, generates high traffic flows, and generates an elevated demand on the local infrastructure network. 

Examples include:

• Abrasive blasting

• Anodising

• Glass product manufacturing

• Plaster manufacturing

• Powder coating

• Boat repairing

• Boiler making

• Food, beverage or pet food processing

• Concrete batching plant or works for producing concrete products

• Storage and distribution of dangerous goods/hazardous chemicals within regulated limits

High impact industry means the use of a premises for an industrial activity that has potential for significant impacts on sensitive land uses due to emissions including aerosol, fume, particle, smoke, odour and noise. The uses typically experience high traffic volumes and generate significant demand on the local infrastructure network.

Examples include:

• Abattoir

• Battery manufacturing

• Large boiler making or engineering works

• Concrete batching plants

• Recycling chemicals, oils, or solvents

• Large powder coating operations

• Large spray painting workshops

• Large plaster manufacturing workshops

• Storing or handling large quantities of dangerous goods/hazardous chemicals

Special industry means the use of a premises for an industrial activity that has significant potential for extreme impacts on sensitive land uses due to aspects such as emissions, fire or explosion risk, toxic release, and noise. The use may involve the storage and handling of large volumes of dangerous goods and operate at night-time and outdoors. 

Examples include:

• Large alcohol distilling establishments

• Burning of coal or coal products

• Storage and handling of large quantities of dangerous goods/hazardous chemicals

• Manufacturing fertilises involving ammonia

• Metal refining or smelting

• Oil refining or processing facilities

• Rendering plants

• Sugar milling or refining

• Tannery or works for curing animal skins, hides or finishing leather

• Tobacco processing

• Waste incinerator

This industry has potential for significant impacts on sensitive land uses due to emissions including aerosol, fume, particle, smoke, odour and noise. The uses typically experience high traffic volumes and generate significant demand on the local infrastructure network.

Please note that these lists are not exhaustive and each category is determined and defined in accordance with the relevant City Council’s definitions and industry thresholds.

If you would like to discuss your unique needs and specific industrial site plan, contact us today for a no-cost, no-obligation discussion.

Other non-residential uses we assist with fall under a broad defined use of commercial uses. 

Commercial uses include but are not limited to:

• Bars

• Showrooms

• Medical centres

• Veterinary clinics

• Retail shops

• Food and drink outlets

• Function facilities

• Theatres

• Hotels

• Offices

• Places of worship

• Indoor sport and recreation (gyms etc.)

• Service stations

• Educational establishments