Infrastructure charges

Charges collected or assets constructed contribute to the provision of essential trunk infrastructure to service new development. Trunk infrastructure is significant infrastructure that supports large areas or catchments. This includes major stormwater pipes for an entire neighbourhood. Council manages three networks:

• transport
• public parks and land for community facilities
• stormwater.

Council's current infrastructure charges

Council levies infrastructure charges under the Brisbane Infrastructure Charges Resolution (Charges Resolution). The current Charges Resolution is the Brisbane Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No. 8) 2019. This applies to development approvals given on and from 1 July 2019. 

Download the:

• Brisbane Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No. 8) 2019 (Word - 162kb)
• Brisbane Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No. 8) 2019 factsheet (Word - 742kb)
• Brisbane infrastructure charges 2017-18 report (PDF - 3.8Mb)
• Brisbane infrastructure charges 2017-18 report (Word - 1.5Mb).

For a summary of the current charges, refer to Brisbane infrastructure charges.

Council's past infrastructure charges instruments

Details of previous infrastructure charges instruments are as follows:

Infrastructure demand credits and discounts

Demand credits

You may receive a demand credit for the demand placed upon the local government trunk infrastructure networks generated by existing lawful development, previous lawful development, or existing lots or other development on the premises if the development can be carried out lawfully without the need for a further development permit (as applicable).

See section 16 of the Charges Resolution for more information.

Applicants seeking a demand credit as described above must complete the prescribed form B and checklist B.

Discounts

You may receive a discount for infrastructure contributions previously paid (subject to eligibility requirements). 

See section 12 of the Charges Resolution for more information.

Applicants seeking a discount for a prescribed financial contribution must complete the prescribed form A and checklist A.

Infrastructure offset and refunds

An infrastructure offset may relate to an item of trunk infrastructure (land or works) identified in Council's Local Government Infrastructure Plan. This may be provided in lieu of payment of some infrastructure charges.

For infrastructure charges levied from 30 June 2014 onwards, Council generally determines infrastructure offsets and refunds in accordance with the Charges Resolutions (No. 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8) (see table above). For these development approvals, the relevant details are included in the Infrastructure Charges Notice (ICN). 

When you make a submission to Council regarding infrastructure charges offsets and refunds, submit a prescribed form.

For infrastructure charges levied between 1 July 2011 and 29 June 2014, Council generally determines infrastructure offsets and refunds in accordance with the Charges Resolutions (No. 1, 2 or 3) (see table above). For these development approvals, an offset or refund may be agreed through an Infrastructure Agreement (IA).

You can download the:

• Infrastructure offsets factsheet (Word - 119kb)
• Prescribed forms factsheet (PDF - 191kb)
• Prescribed forms factsheet (Word - 107kb)
• Trunk infrastructure offset claim notice (PDF - 78kb).

For more information regarding offsets and refunds under the Charges Resolutions (No. 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8), refer to Part 4 of the Charges Resolution.

Charges reduction for retirement and aged care accommodation 

Council has extended the initiative reducing infrastructure charges by 33 per cent for qualifying developments for retirement and aged care accommodation. 

The reduction applies to development of a retirement facility and/or residential care facility compliant with the relevant provisions of Brisbane City Plan 2014. The development must also provide a quality living environment that is fit for purpose and contributes towards design excellence within the industry. The reduction applies for developments approved between 1 September 2016 and 31 December 2020.

Download the:

• Infrastructure charges reduction for retirement and aged care accommodation factsheet (Word - 91kb).

For more information on the charges reduction, phone Council’s Infrastructure Coordination Team on 07 3403 8888. Alternatively, you can email the details of your proposed development.

Charges reduction for student accommodation

Council has maintained the initiative which reduces infrastructure charges for qualifying residential development approvals that took effect between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2017. This is for accommodation provided for tertiary or higher education students on sites:

• within four kilometres of the Brisbane Central Business District’s General Post Office 
• supporting medium or high density residential development.

Download the:

• Student accommodation infrastructure charges reduction factsheet (PDF - 158kb)
• Student accommodation infrastructure charges reduction factsheet (Word - 107kb)
• IA request notice student accommodation infrastructure charges reduction (PDF - 108kb).

For more information on the charges reduction, phone Council’s Infrastructure Coordination Team on 07 3403 8888.

Charges reduction for four and five-star hotels

Council has maintained the initiative to reduce infrastructure charges for hotel developments. 

Council offers a reduction on infrastructure charges for four and five-star hotel development approvals that took effect between:

• 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2014 inclusive; or
• 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015 inclusive, but only for development applications lodged prior to 1 July 2014, or as a result of a formal pre-lodgement meeting prior to 1 July 2014. 

Download the:

• Hotel infrastructure charges reduction factsheet (PDF - 449kb)
• Hotel infrastructure charges reduction factsheet (Word - 103kb).

For more information on the charges reduction, phone Council’s Infrastructure Coordination team on 07 3403 8888.

Charges reduction for eligible community organisations

Council has continued the initiative to reduce infrastructure charges for eligible community organisations.

Council provides financial assistance to eligible community organisations to reduce the cost of infrastructure charges.

Download the:

• Infrastructure charges reduction for eligible organisations factsheet (PDF - 1.05mb)
• Infrastructure charges reduction for eligible organisations factsheet (Word - 95.49kb)
• Eligible organisations infrastructure charges reduction request notice (PDF - 87kb).

The following organisations received approval to pay reduced charges. 

Download the:

• Register of approved infrastructure charge reductions for eligible organisations (Excel - 53kb).

Council updates this register at the conclusion of the financial year. 

Incentive payment for universal housing design

Council has introduced an incentive payment equivalent to 33% of the Council infrastructure charges paid for new universal housing developments that are designed to meet the accessibility needs of all residents.

The incentive is payable for new universal housing developments that incorporate sufficient design elements to be certified at the 'as built' stage as meeting the Gold or Platinum performance level under the Livable Housing Design Guidelines and that meet other Council-defined eligibility criteria. These new developments should ensure accommodation designs cater for all residents, especially those who are ageing, have a disability or are injured, and families with young children.

Certification must have been obtained and the development lawfully commenced use between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2021.

Applicants must apply online before 1 October 2021.

You can download the Brisbane Universal Housing Design Incentive factsheet (Word - 92kb).

For more information, phone Council on 07 3403 8888 and ask to speak to a Planning Information Officer.

Request for calculations

To request an estimate of infrastructure charges for your proposed development, complete:

• Request for infrastructure charges estimate (PDF - 81kb).

You can lodge this request at:

• any Regional Business Centre; or 
• via email by following Council's eLodgement electronic file requirements.

Refer to the Schedule of fees and charges for the fee in 2019-20 financial year.

Billing and payment process

Council sends details of infrastructure charges via two Infrastructure Charges Notices (ICNs):

• Council networks (transport, stormwater and community purposes)
• Queensland Urban Utilities networks (water supply and sewerage).

Payment

Following the receipt of the ICN, pay your infrastructure charges for:

• a material change of use approval, the change of use happens; or
• reconfiguring a lot, Council approves the plan of reconfiguration; or  
• building work, the final inspection certificate for the building work, or you receive the certificate of classification for the building under the Building Act 1975.

Before you pay

You must provide a current itemised breakdown of infrastructure charges before your payment is processed.

To receive an itemised breakdown of infrastructure charges, you can submit your request by completing the online request form.

Note: to avoid delays, check the amount payable date on the itemised breakdown prior to attempting to pay the charges. If the date has passed, you will need a new itemised breakdown before you can pay.

How to pay

For ICNs issued by Council, you can pay infrastructure charges at any Regional Business Centre by cash, cheque or EFTPOS (using a cheque or savings account). Payments by Mastercard or Visa incur a credit card surcharge. The surcharge is the same charged for rate payments paid by credit card.  

Records of infrastructure charges

Infrastructure Charges Register

You can view information about infrastructure charges in an extract of the Infrastructure Charges Register. This is an official record of the infrastructure charges levied by Council, in accordance with the Planning Regulation 2017. The extract is produced monthly. 

Download the:

• Brisbane Infrastructure Charges Register Extract (Excel - 1.47Mb)

Before buying or developing  a property, you can save time and money by checking for previous applications or approvals, including infrastructure charges. If you are seeking infrastructure charges information for these purposes, it is recommended that you purchase a Planning and Development Certificate. You can request a Planning and Development Certificate for a fee, in accordance with the Planning Act 2016. 

Infrastructure Charges Notices

An Infrastructure Charges Notice is provided to a development applicant with the development approval package. The Infrastructure Charges Notice lets the applicant know if an infrastructure charge is applicable for the development. You can view specific development application details, including Infrastructure Charges Notices issued, using the application enquiry search tool on Council's online planning system, PD Online.

Infrastructure agreements

An infrastructure agreement is a contractual agreement between Council and a developer to establish obligations and entitlements for each party. It includes a schedule of infrastructure and the timings of payment of charges or provision of infrastructure.

For more information regarding infrastructure agreements, download:

• Infrastructure agreement fact sheet (Word - 117Kb)
• Infrastructure agreement request notice (PDF - 78Kb).

You can obtain a copy of an infrastructure agreement from Council for a fee, or view a copy at one of Council's Regional Business Centres. To do so you should make a request by email and include the address of the infrastructure agreement. Council will contact you to arrange for the inspection or purchase of the document.