Particular industrial activity

Extractive industry

Premises used for extraction and processing of resources such as sand, gravel, soil, rock and stone to produce extractive materials.

Research and technology industry

Premises used for innovative and emerging technological industries involved in research design, manufacture, assembly, testing, maintenance and storage of machinery, equipment and components. The use may include emerging industries such as energy, aerospace and biotechnology. Examples include aeronautical engineering, computer component manufacturing and medical laboratories.

Service industry

Premises used for industrial activities where manufactured goods are repaired, restored or serviced or commercial services are provided. The uses are not an environmentally relevant activity and any impacts on surrounding uses are contained within the site.

Examples include audio visual equipment repair, bicycle repairs, clock and watch repairs, computer repairs, domestic appliance repairs, dry cleaning, hand engraving, film processing, hot bread shop, jewellery making, laundromat, locksmith, picture framing, plan printing, screen printing, shoe repairs and tailor. The following are not examples of service industry: cabinet making, motor vehicle workshop and tyre recycling.

Warehouse

Premises used for the storage and distribution of goods, whether or not in a building, including self-storage facilities or storage yards. The use may include sale of goods by wholesale where ancillary to the use.

Waterfront and marine industry

Premises used for waterfront based marine industries involved in any activity relating to the manufacturing, storage, repair and servicing of vessels and maritime infrastructure requiring a direct waterfront location. The use includes the provision of fuel and disposal of waste. Examples include boat building and boat storage.

Some Planning Schemes define industry differently again, and as such this terminology is occasionally used for departmental works in relevant localities.

General industry

General Industry as the use of premises for the purpose of industry (making, assembling, dismantling, breaking up, servicing, storing or repairing goods, or treating wastes), if at a scale and of a nature not otherwise defined in the planning scheme.

The term does not include noxious and hazardous industry.

Heavy industry

Refer to QPP high impact industry definition.

Light industry

Refer to QPP low impact industry definition

Special industry

Some planning schemes define special industry as the use of premises for any industrial activity that requires separation from sensitive land uses due to the potential detrimental effects that may result from the processes or materials involved in its operation. The term includes but is not limited to, those activities classified as an environmentally relevant activity by the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and not devolved to local government.

Special industries may also be defined as noxious and hazardous industries as per the draft QPP.

Overall precautionary principal

Despite these broad definitions, no use would be permitted if it would pose an unacceptable risk to the environment and/or the community. This would be assessed on an individual proposal basis. For example, while an area may be designated for industrial use in a planning scheme, each industrial use within that area would need to be assessed against the planning scheme provisions and/ or other legislative requirements such as the Environmental Planning Act 1994.

For further information contact the department.