How Planning Maps works

Step 1 — Enter your address

Sign in and type any Queensland or NSW street address. The address autocomplete uses the same geocoding engine as the full LayeredGeo site report, so it handles full addresses, intersections, and unit-level addressing accurately for both states.

No address? You can also enter a suburb or LGA to explore the overlay layer coverage in that area.

Step 2 — Preview overlays instantly (free)

The moment you select an address, an interactive Leaflet map loads with coloured overlay polygons drawn directly from the LayeredGeo overlay database. No credit is needed for the preview — it's completely free.

Seven overlay groups are displayed simultaneously, each in a distinct colour:

• Zoning — Local planning scheme zone polygon
• Flood — Risk mapping, overland flow, coastal inundation, historical extents
• Bushfire — Hazard category polygons (Very High, High, Medium)
• Heritage — Local heritage areas, character areas, SHR listings and curtilages
• Noise — Transport noise corridors (road and rail)
• Vegetation — Native vegetation, wetlands, urban canopy protection
• Environment — Biodiversity areas, koala habitat, MSES/MLES polygons

Toggle individual groups on and off using the colour-coded buttons above the map. A plain-language summary panel on the right shows the key overlay findings at a glance.

Step 3 — Generate a PDF report (1 credit)

When you're ready to produce a shareable document, click Generate PDF Report. One planning maps credit is deducted from your account.

The report is generated in the background — typically in under 60 seconds. It includes:

• Planning zone classification and description
• Flood overlay type, risk level, and AEP explanation
• Bushfire hazard category and BAL construction standard implications
• Heritage overlay type and development consent implications
• Noise corridor status and attenuation requirements
• Vegetation and environmental overlay types (if present)
• Distance to nearest bus stop and train station
• Data source references for every overlay group
• Methodology notes and disclaimer

The PDF opens in a new browser tab and is ready to attach to feasibility reports, planning applications, or client briefs.

Data sources

All overlay data is sourced from government-published spatial datasets. QLD data comes from Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, and other councils via ArcGIS FeatureServer, as well as state-wide QLD datasets. NSW data comes from the NSW ePlanning Portal (state-wide). See the methodology page for full source details.