J430,
It is all covered in the AIP which you can access at the Airservices site
http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/...Jun-2005&ver=1
Q1. Clearance is required for VFR flight in D airspace. (AIP ENR 11.2)
Q2. Clearance is not required to operate on the base of controlled airspace however see below. (AIP ENR 1.1.7)
Q3. There is no such thing as "No mans land" A clearance is required and procedures are conducted as per the "lesser airspace" when flying on a common vertical airspace boundary.
AIP ENR 1.1.7)
J430,
I don\'t have access to maps at the moment to check out the Rockhampton area. I guess if you do not intend to enter the D airspace (EG overflying at 4500) then the procedure to be followed may not be clearly covered in those references.
I agree with the TWR advice to make a call for information. This type of scenario caused incidents around the country during the NAS trial.