Tidal works and prescribed tidal works

Tidal works generally include the construction or demolition of structures such as jetties, pontoons, seawalls, navigation channels, marina basins and the like.

Prescribed tidal works are a subset of tidal works. A definition of prescribed tidal works, can be found on the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel website. They are assessed by local government when they are located completely or partly within a tidal area for a local government area and not within a tidal area for strategic port land.

Owner’s consent may be required to support a development application for tidal works.

Owner’s consent

Before you undertake a development application, you may be required to obtain consent from the owner of the land.

To find out if owner’s consent is required for your development application refer to Development assessment—owner’s consent fact sheet.

If the development is for a private marine development on State land that adjoins private land you may will need to complete an Application form: Owner’s consent for tidal works on State land.

An application for owner's consent may also require:

Assessment tools

State Development Assessment Provisions

Assessable development that affect State interests are assessed by the State Assessment and Referral Agency.

These works must comply with State Development Assessment Provisions (State Code 8: Coastal development and tidal works).

Further information on how to comply with State Code 8 is contained in Guideline: State Development Assessment Provisions State Code 8: Coastal development and tidal works.

Prescribed tidal works assessment code

Prescribed tidal works must comply with the Code for assessable development that is prescribed tidal works which is contained in Schedule 3 of the Coastal Protection and Management Regulation 2017.

For information on local government application requirements and fees for prescribed tidal works contact your local government.

Guideline for prescribed tidal works

The Guideline for coastal management—Purpose and use of the Code for assessable development that is prescribed tidal works (PDF, 395KB) provides more detailed information about how to comply with the Code for both local government assessment managers and those applying for a development approval.

Quarry material

Quarry material on land under State tidal water is generally owned by the Queensland Government.

You must first apply for an allocation of quarry material (an allocation notice). Removing quarry material from tidal water does not include moving, shifting or otherwise placing dredged material from one location to another within tidal waters.

An allocation of quarry material confers a right to the resource but does not authorise the actual removal of the material. You may need a development permit before you can start removing quarry material under tidal water. A royalty is payable on quarry material removed from tidal water.

For more information read the Guideline: Dredging and allocation of quarry material (PDF, 209KB).

Related information

Allocation of quarry material. An allocation of quarry material confers a right to the resource but does not authorise the actual extraction of the material.