A residential driveway can be caught by three documents at once, and they don't agree. Designing to the wrong one is a common reason drawings get knocked back.
The one that governs is whichever the approval for that property names, so that is where to look first.
The three documents
| Document | What it is | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| QDC NMP 1.1 | Queensland Development Code, non-mandatory part | The state-level reference. Used when nothing more specific applies |
| AS/NZS 2890.1 | Australian/NZ standard for off-street parking | When an approval condition or planning scheme cites it |
| Council standard drawing | Your local government's own requirement | Governs the crossover, and often the driveway too |
These aren't ranked. For the strip it covers, the council standard drawing decides, not the state code.
Start with the approval conditions
The conditions on the approval usually name a document, a drawing number, or both.
If they name AS 2890.1, work from a current copy, which isn't free and changes between editions.
If they name a council standard drawing, get it, since Brisbane publishes gradient limits that differ from the state code.
When they disagree, design to the tighter
Where two documents apply and set different figures, design to the tighter. A profile that satisfies the stricter number satisfies both.
What to put on the drawing
Whichever governs, state the numbers so the certifier reviewing it doesn't have to scale them off the page:
- Which document and edition the design is to
- Boundary RL and finished garage slab RL
- Each zone's length and gradient as a ratio
- The location and length of every transition
More on the state code in what the QDC actually says, and the overall picture in driveway gradients in Queensland.
Disclaimer
General information, not advice, and not a substitute for reading the documents themselves. This article describes what AS/NZS 2890.1 covers but does not reproduce any part of it — it is copyright to Standards Australia and must be obtained from them. Approval conditions, planning schemes and council standards vary by property and change over time. Confirm what applies with the relevant council or a qualified certifier.
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