Transport noise corridors

A designated transport noise corridor can be a state-controlled road, railway or major local government road that's been designated and gazetted by the state or a local government under the Building Act 1975.

As Queensland's population grows, more residential development will be located close to major transport routes.

To minimise the impacts of transport noise on dwelling occupants, the Queensland Government has streamlined the building application approval process for residential buildings constructed in designated transport noise corridors.

Find out about the code for building in transport noise corridors.

Mandatory and voluntary areas

The state-controlled road network is separated into 2 areas: mandatory area and voluntary area.

The voluntary area reflects the relatively lower risk to noise exposure that these roads pose to occupants.

If a property and building is wholly or partly in the:

  • voluntary area — the building owner can choose to include the relevant noise category measures under MP 4.4
  • mandatory area — the building owner must comply with the relevant noise category measures under MP 4.4.

The transport noise corridor mapping tool provides details of these areas in the results for a property search.

Railway corridors

The Queensland railway lines designated as transport noise corridors are the:

  • South East Queensland passenger network (excluding the Interstate line)
  • North Coast Line System (Nambour to Cairns)
  • Western System (Rosewood to Oakey)
  • Goonyella System (Yukan to Riverside/Oakey)
  • Newlands System (Abbot Point to Riverside)
  • Blackwater System (Gladstone to Oakey)
  • Moura System (Gladstone to Byellee).

The transport noise corridor mapping tool provides details of these railway corridors.

A relevant building development application for a property affected by noise from a railway corridor must comply with MP 4.4.