The purpose of Maitland City Council’s Development Control Unit (DCU) is to provide pre-lodgment advice to persons, groups or companies intending to carry out development within the Maitland City Local Government Area.

Who makes up the DCU?

The DCU comprises the following core Council staff:

• DCU Coordinator
• Senior Town Planner
• Senior Health and Building Surveyor
• Subdivision/Development Engineer

Other staff will be requested to attend the DCU where the proposal being discussed warrants their particular area of expertise eg. Heritage Officer, Traffic/Infrastructure Engineer, Environmental Officer etc.

How will I benefit from Consulting with the DCU?

Early consultation with the DCU has the following benefits:

• Provides a broad overview of legislative requirements, planning context and Council policy requirements in relation to a particular activity, development or area of land;
• Identifies any issues or constraints that might apply to the land or activity/development proposed;
• Provides a clear direction to an intended applicant with respect to progression of a development proposal;
• Identifies the required standard/range of documentation and plans that will be required to support the application;
• Should reduce development application processing by ensuring that the application covers the whole range of issues identified by the DCU and avoids the need to seek additional information from an applicant after lodgement.

Note: Any advice provided by the DCU should not be construed as granting approval, in principle or otherwise, to any proposed activity or development. The determination of any proposal can only be made once a development application has been lodged with the Council and this application comprehensively assessed against all relevant legislation and Council policy.

On what types of proposal should I seek advice from the DCU?

• Any medium density housing development in excess of ten (10) units
• Any subdivision involving the construction of a new road (either private or public) but not including a battle-axe handle conforming to the requirement of the Maitland Citywide DCP
• Any subdivision in excess of five (5) lots
• Any new building within a heritage conservation area
• Any alterations or additions to a building listed as a heritage item or any substantial alterations or additions to a building located within a heritage conservation area
• Any application for demolition within a heritage conservation area or involving a listed heritage item
• Any new development within a commercial zone
• Any proposal for 'designated development'
• Any development proposal which may have an impact on threatened flora or fauna or which may have substantial impact on the integrity of an adjoining/nearby watercourse or waterbody
• Non-residential uses in or adjacent to a Residential zone (excluding home activities)
• Any industrial development which by nature of the use and/or processes and materials involved requires assessment under SEPP 33
• Any industrial development which proposes a building exceeding a floorspace of 1,000 square metres
• Any proposal where the value of the development exceeds $2 million
• Any proposal for a motel, hotel, hostel, boarding house or the like
• Any proposal for a place of public assembly or public recreation facility
• Any development proposal involving major drainage issues/impacts such as low/flat areas, channels, gullies (major), and drainage easements
• Any development which is considered to be of a contentious nature and/or likely to have significant social/economic impacts on the community
• Any development which by virtue of its type or processes or activities carried out has the potential to have a significant impact on the environment (eg. Water quality, air quality, flora/fauna populations etc ) or the amenity of an area (eg. noise, dust, odour, traffic generation, visual etc).

When does the DCU meet?

The DCU meets Wednesday and conducts advisory sessions each half hour between 9.00 am and 12.00 pm.

How do I make an appointment with the DCU?

To make an appointment with the DCU just contact Councils DCU Coordinator, Kathleen Martin, on Phone Number: 4934 9770. Every effort will be made to provide an appointment at the time most convenient to you however you must have made your appointment no later than 12.00 noon on the Monday prior to the Wednesday you wish to meet with the DCU. If there are no available sessions on the day you require Council may have to arrange your appointment for the following week. The best way to ensure that you can meet with the DCU when you want is to book an appointment as far in advance as possible.

When making your appointment with the DCU you should provide the following information:

• The names of all persons to attend the meeting
• The address of the land under discussion
• The type of development proposed
• A key contact person and phone number

What material needs to be provided to the DCU meeting?

The following minimum level of information should be provided to Councils DCU Coordinator at the time an appointment is made. If this information is not received at this time the appointment may be re-scheduled:

• A locality plan identifying the property
• A concept plan showing the layout of the site (at minimum) and sketch elevations with basic dimensions
• A brief written description of the proposal
• Photographs (where possible) of the site and existing buildings where relevant

Is a fee required to be paid to meet with the DCU?

There is no fee required to meet with the DCU. Council wish to provide the maximum incentive possible to ensure that the DCU is well utilised and accepted by the development industry and that the potential benefits of the DCU are realised in terms of better advice earlier in the process and reduced application processing times.

Does Council confirm the advice of the DCU in writing?

The minutes of the advice session relating to your development proposal will be forwarded to you as soon as possible after the DCU meeting. DCU sessions may be recorded to assist in the preparation of accurate minutes.