Acceptable Outcome (AO):

Specific, measurable standards in a planning scheme code (e.g., Dwelling House Code) that, if met, ensure compliance without further assessment. For example, an AO might specify a maximum building height of 9.5 m in Brisbane’s Low-Density Residential Zone.

Aggregate:

A broad category of coarse to medium-grained particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, and slag.  

Bearing capacity:

The maximum load per unit area that the soil or rock can support without yielding or excessive settlement.

BIM (building information modeling):

A digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility, forming a reliable basis for decisions during its lifecycle from inception onward.  

CAD (computer-aided design):

The use of computer systems for creating, modifying, analysing, or optimising a design.

CBR (California bearing ratio):

A penetration test for evaluating the strength of subgrade soil for roads and pavements.

Code Assessment:

A streamlined approval process for development applications that comply with a planning scheme’s codes. It doesn’t require public notification, making it faster than impact assessment. Brisbane’s RiskSMART process is an example for code-assessable projects.

Compaction:

The process of increasing the density of a soil or aggregate by reducing the air voids through mechanical means.

Culvert:

A structure that allows water to flow under a road, railroad, or other embankment.

Development Application (DA):

A formal request submitted to a local council to approve a proposed development, such as a subdivision or commercial building. DAs must include plans, reports, and compliance details, assessed against the local planning scheme.

Dead load:

The static load acting on a structure due to its own weight and the weight of permanent, fixed components.

Embankment:

A raised structure, typically made of earth or rock, used to support a roadway or other construction.

Flood Hazard Overlay:

A planning scheme layer identifying flood-prone areas, requiring developments to meet specific standards, like elevated floor levels (e.g., 1% Annual Exceedance Probability + 0.3 m freeboard in Logan). Common in SEQ due to flood risks.

Geotechnical engineering:

The branch of civil engineering concerned with the engineering behavior of earth materials.

Impact Assessment:

A detailed approval process for developments with potential significant impacts, requiring public notification and broader assessment against the planning scheme. Often applies to large-scale projects in Centre Zones.

Infrastructure Charges:

Fees levied by councils to fund trunk infrastructure (e.g., roads, water networks) needed for new developments. SEQ councils update these via Local Government Infrastructure Plans (LGIPs), like Brisbane’s 2025 charges schedule.

Live load:

The dynamic load acting on a structure due to occupancy, movable equipment, and other temporary forces.

Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP):

A council’s long-term plan for delivering infrastructure to support growth, outlining projects and charges.

Operational Works:

Civil works required to support development, such as earthworks, drainage, roads, or sewerage. In SEQ, these require separate council approval, often following a DA, and must comply with Stormwater Management PSP.

Overlay:

A planning scheme layer imposing additional requirements on a site, such as Environmental Significance (protecting koala habitats) or Coastal Hazard (addressing sea-level rise). Overlays take precedence over zoning rules.

Pavement:

The durable surface material laid down on an area intended to sustain vehicular or foot traffic.

Planning Scheme:

A legal document outlining a council’s land use and development rules, including zones, codes, and overlays. Examples include Moreton Bay Planning Scheme 2025 and Gold Coast City Plan 2016.

Reinforced concrete:

Concrete containing reinforcement, such as steel bars or mesh, to increase its tensile strength.

Settlement:

The gradual downward movement of a structure due to the compression of the underlying soil.

ShapingSEQ 2023:

Queensland’s regional plan for SEQ, guiding land use, housing, and infrastructure to accommodate 5.3 million residents by 2046. It prioritizes transit-oriented development (TOD) and sustainable growth.

Shear strength:

The internal resistance of a material to shear stress, which is a force that causes layers of the material to slide past each other.

Subgrade:

The natural soil prepared and compacted to support a pavement or other structure.

Substructure:

The supporting structure below the superstructure, such as foundations, piers, and abutments.

Superseded Planning Scheme:

A previous version of a planning scheme that developers can request to apply to their project if it’s more favorable than the current scheme. Councils may grant this for transitional projects.

Superstructure:

The portion of a bridge or building that is above the substructure.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD):

High-density, mixed-use development near public transport hubs, promoting walkability and sustainability. SEQ’s TODs, like Woolloongabba in Brisbane, align with ShapingSEQ 2023’s housing goals.

Yield strength:

The stress at which a material begins to deform plastically, or permanently.

Water table:

The upper level of an underground surface in which the soil is saturated with groundwater.

Zone:

A planning scheme category defining permissible land uses, such as Low-Density Residential, Centre, or Rural. Zones set rules for development types and densities, e.g., High-Density Residential in Gold Coast’s Southport.