Tower crane application

You must get approval from Bayside Council if you plan to swing, slew or hoist using a site-based tower crane over and across Council property and roads.

A tower crane is a fixed construction crane with a vertical tower, horizontal jib or boom that can rotate, and a counterweight.

Tower cranes are used to lift heavy materials and equipment during construction. Due to site constraints, they are often required to slew over Council land and may require appropriate approvals.

Other authorities

Sydney Airport Corporation Limited and Civil Aviation Safety Authority

A tower crane requires approval from Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL) or Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 1996 for the penetration into airspace.

Sydney Airport is in the Bayside Council Local Government Area (LGA) so the majority of the LGA is protected airspace, which can also be known as “prescribed airspace”.

You must contact SACL or CASA and inform them of planned work and obtain their approval. You must provide us evidence of approval, or that SACL has confirmed approval is not required.

Supporting documentation

We require lodgement of all plans and supporting documentation in digital form as PDF documents. Check the Lodgement Guidelines for Engineering Applications

  • Traffic Management Plan – Prepared by a qualified person (TfNSW accredited person) that indicate details of installation, operational and removal phases. It must be in compliance with TfNSW Traffic Control at Work Sites Manual Guidelines – AS1742.3 and Work Cover NSW regulations.
  • Tower Crane Details – A set of drawings, elevations and sections for the proposed tower crane.
  • Slewing Diagrams – A site plan showing the location of the hoisting equipment on the site or on the building, the area of the roadway from which material will be hoisted over and where the crane is proposed. A drawing showing the slewing movement of the crane boom or crane jib in a horizontal plane over roadways and surrounding properties.
  • SACL / CASA letter – Written consent from Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL) or Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that provides concurrence for the occupation of the airspace. Approval must be granted under the Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 1996.
  • Certificate of Currency – A Certificate of Currency must identify the proposed permit holder as the insured party, with the value of Public Liability Insurance being no less than $20,000,000. The Certificate of Currency must have an expiry date at least three (3) months later than the finish date for the proposed work activity.
  • TfNSW Approval – Written consent from TfNSW for approval if the proposal is to slew over a Classified Road.

Slewing over private property

We can’t provide approval for slewing of tower cranes over private property. A separate access agreement with each affected landowner must be obtained.

We have no statutory obligation to ensure the access agreements with the private landowners have been obtained before issuing approval.

Apply online

Press theApply online button to start the application process, you will be asked to make a payment to complete lodgement.

Payments made by MasterCard or Visa incur a service fee of 0.5%.

Apply in person

Download and print the application form, and lodge when completed to any of our Customer Service Centres.

Fees and charges

Payments made by MasterCard or Visa incur a service fee of 0.5%.

A non-refundable application fee is required at submission. The assessment of the application will not commence until the application fee has been paid.

We will advise of remaining fees during review and assessment of the application. Payment will be required prior to any approval. See our Fees and Charges.

Fees to be paid at lodgement.

Application fee $308.00 Per application

Fees and Charges paid after lodgement.

Slewing fee over Bayside Council land $913.00  Per crane per month or part thereof

After lodgement

Once your application is received you may be contacted for further information.

Your application is not a permit to undertake work. Your permit will only be issued after assessment, approval and outstanding fees are paid in full.

A minimum period of 10 working days is required to assess the application.  Longer processing times are required for large works or for activities on Classified roads, which require the concurrence from relevant stakeholders.

If you have any questions, contact on 1300 581 299 Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5pm