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Council

Council provides a range of services, activities and facilities for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Local Government

In the Australian federal system there are three (3) levels of government: Federal, State and Local. Each level of government has its own responsibilities, though many responsibilities are shared in various ways.

Listed below are the roles and responsibilities for Local Government, the lowest level of government in Australia, often seen as being the most accessible to the people. Local government bodies such as Council have specific responsibilities, duties and limitations on their areas of responsibility or influence.

For further information on Council's products and services, visit the White Pages under Gold Coast City Council, or refer to Council's Community Guide, available at all Council Customer Service Centres.

Find links to Council's Community Guide and Local Government websites below.

Council Services

Advertising Devices

Some signs may require a development permit and/or licence. For information about compliance or application details, call (07) 5581 6668.

Application forms are available from Permits and Licencing - phone 1300 130 854.

Building

Before starting any building work, check with a building certifier about applications needed - refer to Building Surveyors in the Yellow Pages.

For building compliance assistance, contact Council's Town Planning Advice Centre:

Nerang Administration Centre
833 Southport Nerang Road
Phone: (07) 5582 8708

Busking

Permits are issued for busking in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

Cavill Mall

Busking is permitted with a licence within designated areas.

Licences are issued quarterly by Surfers Paradise Alliance and Council. Performers must audition in Cavill Mall before a judging panel and the public.

To register, please phone (07) 5584 3700.

Broadbeach Mall

For audition times, contact Broadbeach Alliance Ltd on (07) 5539 8416.

Citizenship

Applications for Australian Citizenship are available by contacting Gold Coast City Council on 1300 130 854, but are processed by the Department of Immigration.

Council holds citizenship ceremonies each month. For more information, phone 13 18 80.

Council Cab

A shared taxi service is available to take people from their home at 9:30am to a designated shopping centre and home again at 11:30am, at least one day a week, for $2 each way.

Phone: 1300 130 854

Dogs and Cats

To report dogs barking or wandering, dog attacks or nuisance cats, contact Council's Animal Management:

Phone: (07) 5581 6664 or 1300 130 854

Council promotes responsible cat ownership. Cats must be contained to the owner's property at all times.

Dogs aged six months and over must be registered as part of responsible pet ownership.

Fire Ants

Council will identify fire ant specimens. Take the sealed specimen labelled with your name, address and phone number to any Council Customer Service Centre. It will be forwarded to Pest Management (phone: (07) 5581 7914) for identification.

To report a fire ant infestation contact:

Department of Primary Industries
Phone: 13 25 23

Footpaths

To report damaged footpaths, contact Council, or our works maintenance depots between 7am and 4pm as follows:

  • south of the Nerang River, including Nerang - phone (07) 5581 7801
  • north of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7923

For advice and information about insurance claims resulting from injury on Council-controlled land, contact Council's Insurance and Risk Management branch:

Phone: (07) 5581 7303

Free Trees

Council encourages tree planting and supplies free plants to ratepayers. Find the link to GCParks website below.

Graffiti

Council will remove graffiti from Council properties. Although Council does not remove graffiti from private land, graffiti removal kits are available from our branch offices.

To report graffiti on public land, contact Council's Graffiti Hotline:

Phone: (07) 5581 7998 between 7am and 4.30pm (or leave a message after hours)

Alternatively, email graffiti@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, or call 1300 130 854.

Immunisation

Council provides free vaccinations under the National Immunisation Program Schedule Queensland (NIPSQ) for children/adolescents aged two months to 15 years. The vaccines are provided courtesy of Queensland Health and administration by health professionals at Council clinics is also free. Council also provides certain vaccines which are not on the free list at vaccine cost.

For a full schedule, clinic times and locations and details of the vaccines available, please contact Council's Environmental Health Services and Policy branch:

Phone: (07) 5581 6709 or 1300 130 854

Libraries

For library locations and hours of operation, contact Council's Library Services & Cultural Development branch:

Phone: (07) 5581 6788 or 1300 130 854

Markets

There are many arts and crafts markets on the Gold Coast.

For information about those operating on Council land, contact Parks and Recreational Services:

Phone: (07) 5581 6863

For information about foods for sale at markets, contact Health and Regulatory Services:

Phone: (07) 5581 6220

Noise

To report noise contact Council's Health Services:

Phone: (07) 5581 6220 or 1800 637 000 after hours

Residential Properties (excluding high rises)

Power tools, gardening equipment, ducted vacuuming systems and generators may be operated:

  • 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday (no audible noise permitted outside these hours)
  • 8am to 7pm, Sundays and public holidays (no audible noise permitted outside these hours).

Swimming pools and spa pumps may run:

  • 7am to 7pm - noise no louder than 50 decibels
  • 7pm to 10pm - noise no louder than 5 decibels above background noise
  • NO audible noise is permitted between 10pm and 7am.

Air-conditioning and refrigeration can operate:

  • 7am to 10pm any day - noise no louder than 50 decibels
  • 10pm to 7am - either 40 decibels or 5 decibels above background noise.

Power boats and jet skis on land:

  • 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday - no audible noise permitted outside these hours and responsible behaviour is encouraged.

Building/Construction Works

For information or complaints regarding after hours building works permits, contact Council's Development Compliance:

Phone: (07) 5582 8184

Allowable hours of operation:

  • 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday for activities with a building approval
  • 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday for power tools
  • NO audible noise permitted 6.30pm to 6.30am, Sundays or public holidays.

Barking dogs - contact Council's Animal Management on (07) 5581 6664.

Behavioural - for issues relating to noise such as revving vehicles, parties, music and so on, contact your local Police Station.

Aircraft - contact Air Services Australia on 1300 302 240.

Other - nuisance noises such as loud wind chimes are handled under Neighbour Disputes.

Overgrown Land

To report overgrown land in public areas, including easements, contact Council's Parks Maintenance:

  • north side of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7967
  • south side of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7814

To report overgrown land on private property, contact Council's Local Law branch:

Phone: (07) 5581 6284 or 1300 130 854

Pests

Vermin and Declared Plants (weeds)

For complaints of vermin in food premises, contact Council's Health Services:

Phone: (07) 5581 6220

For a list of and advice on pest weeds (declared plants), contact:

Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Phone: (07) 5583 1700

Pollution (Environmental)

To report spills, dumping or pouring of hazardous agents down gutters, or fuel, oil, glass and metal from traffic accidents so they are not washed into waterways and do not harm people or damage property, contact Council's Health Services:

Phone: (07) 5581 6220

Pool Fencing

For enquiries regarding pool fencing compliance inspections, contact Council's Development Compliance branch:

Phone: (07) 5582 8184 or 1300 130 854

Rates

To enquire about any aspect of your rates, please contact Council.

Rental Accommodation

Health and safety issues such as vermin, faulty wiring, leaking roofs can be reported to Council's Health Services:

Phone: (07) 5581 6220

Roads and Streets

Council is responsible for the planning, building, maintenance and control of local roads, such as installing speed minimisation devices.

For information about:

  • Planning - phone Transport Planning on (07) 5582 8489
  • Construction - phone Engineering on (07) 5581 6268
  • Road closures (for special or sporting events) - phone Engineering Services on (07) 5581 6259

Report damaged roads to:

  • Nerang or south of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7801
  • north of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7923

Rubbish, Garbage and Recycling

For enquiries, complaints or replacement bins, contact Council's Waste Management:

Phone: (07) 5581 6799 or 1300 130 854

Sewer

For information about the location of sewer mains or for copies of house drainage plans, contact Council.

To report blocked or leaking sewer mains contact Gold Coast Water:

Phone: (07) 5581 7909

For a faulty on-site sewer facility or septic (not on your property), contact Council's Plumbing branch:

Phone: (07) 5582 8393

Smoke Emissions and Backyard Burn-offs

Burn-offs are permitted when there are no fire restrictions in force and when they comply with Council by-laws. Before burning off, contact Health Services:

Phone: (07) 55816220 or 1300 130 854

For information about restrictions and permits, contact:

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
Phone: 1300 369 003

To report smoke nuisance such as chimney emissions or excessively smoking burn-offs, contact Council's Health Services:

Phone: (07) 5581 6220

Stormwater

To report:

Stormwater runoff onto private property (within property boundaries), contact Development Compliance:

Phone: (07) 5582 8184 or 1300 130 854

Stormwater runoff from roads or public lands (or to enquire about building over a stormwater main), contact Council's Beaches and Watercycle branch:

Phone: (07) 5581 6477 or 1300 130 854

Blocked or damaged stormwater systems such as blocked gully pits, contact Council's Works Maintenance between 7am and 4pm:

  • Nerang and south of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7801
  • north of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7923

To request mowing of a stormwater easement:

  • north of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7967
  • south of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7814

Street Light - Poles Only

To have a street light removed or an extra one installed, send a written request to:

Gold Coast City Council
Traffic Branch
Engineering Services
PO Box 5042
Gold Coast Mail Centre Qld 9729

Tree Removal

Private Land

Before removing a tree, visit a Council Customer Service Centre for advice on whether a permit or exemption is applicable, or contact Council's Environmental Assessment:

Phone: (07) 5582 8688

Public Land

To report a tree that needs to be removed or trimmed on public land, contact Council Parks Maintenance on:

  • north side of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7967
  • south side of the Nerang River - phone (07) 5581 7814

Water

To report problems, or to enquire or complain, contact Gold Coast Water:

Phone: 1300 366 692 or (07) 5581 7909

Weeds and Declared Plants

Landowners must clear weeds and undergrowth from private property. Council will control and eradicate pest weeds from Council-owned land.

For a list of weeds and advice, contact:

Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Phone: (07) 5583 1700

To report declared plants on private property or for advice and identification, contact Council's Local Law branch:

Phone: (07) 5581 6284 or 1300 130 854

Key Information

Related Information