Landscaping
Part of Brisbane City Council's vision for Brisbane is to ensure a:
'living environment that is human in scale, with a sense of place based on the city's subtropical character'.
The use of subtropical landscaping, and the blending of 'traditional timber and tin' buildings with vibrant and exciting new developments, helps to create a desirable sense of place, the Livable City.
To encourage the subtropical feel of the city through landscaping, Council is committed to:
- protecting flora habitats and ecological processes
- managing the impact of development on environmentally sensitive areas
- managing the risk of fire
- developing an integrated open space system
Landscaping plans
Council's aim is to ensure that any developments that occur in the city are appropriately landscaped. So when you lodge a planning application with Council, you may need to prepare a 'landscape concept plan'. This plan is:
- a scaled drawing of a development showing the proposed landscaping treatment of external spaces
- needed for development applications such as multi-unit and single unit dwellings, subdivision and industry
When an acceptable landscape concept plan is submitted with an application, a private certification condition may be applied. This means that a detailed landscape plan does not need to be lodged later as an Operational Works application. This may save time and money.
If your landscape concept plan is not acceptable, you may have to prepare a detailed landscape plan as a condition of approval of your development permit. Your landscaping plans must meet the requirements in the Landscaping Code in City Plan and these relate to:
- streetscape, character and planting
- screening and buffering
- maintenance and drainage
- safety
When submitting your landscaping plan, you need to ensure that the plans are drawn to scale, and clearly identify the:
- proposed building footprint
- existing and proposed landscaping details (that is, the location of trees (including species), fences, retaining walls)
It is strongly suggested that you engage a professional landscape architect to prepare this plan for you.
Advice on suitable species of plants is contained in the Planting Species Planning Scheme Policy.
