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.
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.
Play spaces shall be developed, installed, inspected, maintained and operated in accordance with:
AS 4685.0 2017 – Playground equipment and surfacing Part 0 – Development, installation, inspection, maintenance and operation. This standard contains information on matters that should be considered before a playground is built.
Playground surfacing shall be designed and manufactured in accordance with:
AS 4422:2016 – Playground surfacing – Specifications, requirements and test method. To ensure that the playground surface will reduce the impact of falls, thereby preventing serious injury.
Water play equipment such as misters and sand/water play areas shall be designed and manufactured in accordance with:
AS 1547:2012 – On-site domestic wastewater management. This Standard sets out the performance objectives, requirements and criteria for wastewater management.
AS/NZ 3661.2:1993 – Slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces – Part 2: Guide to the reduction of slip hazards. The selection, installation, care and maintenance of flooring to reduce slip hazards.
AS 4586:2013 – Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials. Provides means of classifying pedestrian surface materials according to their frictional characteristics in accordance with the test methods set out in this Standard.
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.
Shade sails – AS 4174:2018 – Knitted and woven shade fabrics. Requirements for classification, performance and labelling of knitted and woven shade fabrics for horticulture and human protection.
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.
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.
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.
Where the embellishment is ‘assessable development’ it requires building approval from a private building certifier and must meet all of the requirements of the Building Regulation 2006, the Building Code of Australia (current edition) and the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014.
Building Code of Australia (BCA) Volumes 1 and 2 are a uniform set of technical provisions for the design and construction of buildings and other structures throughout Australia.
Play equipment over 3.0 m in height and shade sails are ‘assessable development‘ and require building approval by a private building certifier.
Other associated embellishments may require building approval, please see relevant LIM chapters for advice. The following (including, but not limited to) are classified as ‘non-habitable buildings’ under the BCA:
car parking.
entire path connection to buildings/toilets (from car park to the building itself).
Queensland Building Services Australia (QBSA) license as ‘Builder Restricted to Structural Landscaping’ is the minimum requirement to install playground equipment.
A 'Certificate of Compliance' is supplied by a playground manufacturer who supplies and or installs the playground equipment. This is a standard requirement for new equipment.
An independent 'Certificate of Compliance' (certifying compliance with Australian Playground Standards and under surfacing) will be required.
The manufacturer must install, on the equipment (as per AS 4685.1:2021), the following: Equipment identification (i.e. compliance plate); and Basic level mark (for surfacing).
Inspection of play equipment must be carried out by a competent, appropriately qualified person.
Where a building development permit is required, it must comply with the Plumbing Code of Australia.
Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) Volume 3 of the National Construction Code (NCC) pertains primarily to plumbing and drainage for all classes of buildings.
A Plumbing Compliance application and permit is required for water plumbed to a new water-play activity on council land by a plumber who is licensed to perform the required work.
Sound equipment (electrical services) are to be installed as per the Electrical Safety Act 2002 and regulations by an electrician who is licensed to perform the required work.
Markers should be fitted to indicate the positioning of all underground services. For example, a brass ‘E’ marker must be fitted to indicate the position of sub-surface electrical conduit.
All ‘park activity entry’ signs and ‘regulatory’ signs appropriate for play spaces must refer to LIM Signage for guidance, technical drawings and graphic design templates.
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.
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 (Development Services) – all works associated with any development application.
Council delivered assets
Council (Development Services – Building and Plumbing Services) – compliance.
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 (Communication) – graphic design services, communications and publishing support.
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.
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Sunshine Coast Open Space Landscape Infrastructure Manual (LIM) DISCLAIMER
Disclaimer
Information contained in this document may change without notice and you should use the current material available from Council’s website and not rely on material previously printed or stored by you.
All figures and diagrams are intended to be used as an aid to design and include Council’s preferred elements but they are not intended to be prescriptive and may need to be varied as dictated by site specific factors. While Council has exercised reasonable care in preparing this document, it does not warrant or represent that it is accurate or complete. The Council will not accept responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense that you may incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon any material contained in this document.
This document is produced to convey general information and is not intended to constitute advice whether professional or legal. Any reference to legislation in this document is not an interpretation of the law. It is to be used as a guide only. Consult relevant authority websites for current documents, revisions and amendments.
Where a particular product or supplier is profiled in this document, Council is NOT nominating this product or supplier as the selected choice. Product/supplier information has been provided to allow users to source products which contain the correct elements required for Council embellishments. Each product profiled states ‘or equivalent’ which means that different products may be supplied provided they satisfy the identified performance criteria, recommended standards, equal access guidance and product specifications.
Product design, manufacture and installation requires appropriately qualified people to provide site specific solutions to ensure the embellishment is appropriately adapted to local conditions and data.
This document does not override requirements stipulated in a development approval. Project specific variations may be appropriate as a result of site, environmental or other constraints. Any variations to these standards must be approved in writing by council prior to commencement of variation works. Components of this document may be used within a contract document but users should undertake their own investigations to confirm the information is suitable for this purpose.
Drawings contained in this document are NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
Details in this document are deemed to be the minimum standard and the user may wish to apply a higher standard subject to approval by council.
Acknowledgements
Council wishes to thank all contributors and stakeholders involved in the development of this document.
Copyright
Sunshine Coast Regional Council (Council) supports and encourages the distribution of its material however, copyright protects this document. Council has no objection to this material being reproduced but only if council is recognised as the owner of the copyright and this material remains unaltered.
