Paths, trails and tracks

Standards
Compliance requirements for embellishments
Note:
- Where Australian Standards or part thereof have been adopted by legislation, they are a legal requirement.
- This list may not be exhaustive. Please refer to the relevant authority websites for updated information and current document distribution dates. These documents are subject to amendments from time to time.
Legislation
Refer Legislation for guidance.
Australian Standards/industry guidelines
National Construction Code (NCC)
The embellishment shall be developed in accordance with the NCC (current edition):
- Building Code of Australia (BCA) Volumes 1 and 2
- Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) Volume 3.
Safety in design (SiD)
Include Safety in Design (SiD) principles to eliminate, or if not reasonably practical, minimise risks to health and safety throughout the design, construction and life of the embellishment.
See Legislation – Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for additional safety guidance.
Paths, Trails, Tracks
- AS 2156.1:2001 – Walking Tracks – Classification and signage. Classification information for paths, trails and tracks
- AS 2156.2:2001 – Walking tracks – Infrastructure design. Classification information for barrier fences for paths, trails and tracks
- AS 1289.0:2014 – Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes. General requirements and list of methods.
- AS 1379:2007 – Specification and supply of concrete. Minimum requirements for materials, plant and equipment used in the supply of concrete
- AS 1604.1:2012 – Specification for preservation treatment – Part 1: Sawn and round timber. Preservation treatment for sawn and round timber to be protected against decay.
- AS 4586:2013 – Slip resistance classifications of new pedestrian surface materials. Testing of new products and floors.
- AS/NZS 4663:2013 – Slip resistance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces. Measuring the frictional characteristics of existing pedestrian surfaces in wet and dry conditions.
- AS HB (handbook) 198:2014 – Guide to the specification and testing of slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces. Provides guidance on the appropriate slip resistance for some common applications
- Austroads Guide to Road Design – Part 4 Intersection and Crossings - General. The design of intersections.
- Austroads Guide to Road Design – Part 6A Paths for Walking and Cycling. Design of paths for safe efficient walking and cycling.
- Austroads Guide to Road Design – Part 6B Roadside Environment. Features and facilities that may need to be accommodated within a roadside.
- Austroads Guide to Traffic Management – Part 6: Roadside Design, Safety and Barriers. Selection and use of road safety barrier systems
- Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Road Rules) Regulation 2009. Queensland road rules
- Department of Transport and Main Roads - Road Planning and Design Manual (2nd edition). Roads supplement to the Austroads Guidelines
- IPWEA RS-065 - Concrete pathway. Institute of Public Works Engineers, Australia IPWEA standard drawing.
Designing for shade
- Creating Shade at Public Facilities: Policy and Guidelines for Local Government Edition 2 - prepared by Australian Institute of Environmental Health. Technical resource containing guidelines about ‘essential’ and ‘preferred’ quantities of shade at public facilities.
Designing for access and inclusion
- AS 1428 (Set) – Design for access and mobility. Design requirements for new building work to provide access for people with disabilities. This Standard is referenced in legislation.
- Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport Guidelines 2002. The purpose of this guideline is to remove discrimination on the basis of disability from public transport, such as ramps, access paths and boarding devices at a ferry ramp (linkspan) or a barge slip.
Designing for safety (CPTED)
- Queensland Government – Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) – Guidelines for Queensland, 2021. Provides guidelines about designing a safe environment to assist in the prevention of the opportunity for crime.
Erosion and sediment control
- Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control (BPESC) documents - IECA Australasia. Erosion and sediment control documents by the International Erosion Control Association (IECA).
- Queensland Acid Sulfate Soil Technical Manual: Soil Management Guidelines. Technical and procedural advice to avoid environmental harm and to assist in achieving best practice environmental management (BPEM).
- Procedural guide (Environmental Protection Act 1994) - Releases to waters. Best practice guide to achieve water quality objectives and management goals:
- from building sites and small construction sites less than 2500 m2
- from land development sites and construction sites greater than 2500 m2.
Trees
- AS 4970:2025 – Protection of trees on development sites. Provides guidance on the principles for protecting trees on land subject to development.
- AS 2303:2018 – Tree stock for landscape use. Specifies the criteria for the assessment of above-ground and below-ground characteristics of tree stock that are to be supplied for landscape use.
- AS 4373:2007 – Pruning of amenity trees. Specifies methods for pruning trees and gives guidance on correct and uniform practices.
Approvals/authorised person
Coastal management district
- Ensure appropriate environmental approvals are obtained and the conditions observed where any building work is proposed in the Coastal Management District.
- Consult with Queensland Government Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP) – State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) for application forms, guidelines and information sheets.
- Federal approvals may be triggered.
- Works may require other approvals such as an authorisation under the Land Act 1994 to occupy and use state owned or managed land (owners consent).
Other
- Ensure all relevant approvals are obtained from the appropriate governing bodies and all conditions are observed.
- Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) approval is required for works near state controlled roads. This applies to any part of the road reserve including pathways, kerb and channelling, nature strip and traffic island.
Council additional requirements
Corporate documents
- Refer Overview of corporate documents for guidance.
Corporate liaison
Developer delivered assets
- Council (Development Services) – all works associated with any development application.
Council delivered assets
- Council (Parks and Gardens) – recreation parks, amenity reserves, linear parks, landscape corridors, sports grounds and recreation trails enquiries relating to asset management, business planning and direction.
- Council (Environmental Operations) – recreation trails, foreshore infrastructure, environment reserves, constructed waterbodies and wetlands.
- Council (Design and Placemaking Services) – recreation parks, amenity reserves, linear parks, landscape corridors, sports grounds, specific purpose (sports), recreation trails and streetscape/centres enquiries relating to design.
- Council (Sport and Community Venues) – sports ground planning and asset management.
This component is currently in development