Development applications

Before you lodge your DA, you need to review the planning policies that apply to your land:

• Local Environment Plan
• Development Control Plan

To see local planning restrictions that may apply to your land or property, use the NSW Planning Viewer.

Our Planning team are here to help you work towards a successful outcome as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. By getting in contact with our team early in the process, you can:

• Gain an early understanding of what you're trying to achieve
• Identify everything that’s required for the proposed development site
• Receive early access to professionals who may assess your application which can save you time and money.

Contact our Duty Planners by calling 02 4934 9700, or visiting the Duty Desk at Council’s Administration Centre Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 12.30pm.

Alternatively, for significant developments, you can book a meeting with our Duty Planners. Meetings take place on Thursdays from 9.00am to 11.30am and run for approximately 30 minutes, however you can request longer. You can book a pre-lodgement meeting with a Duty Planner by completing a Pre-Lodgement Meeting Application.

You will save time and money by completing an application with all the required information and supporting documents.

Depending on your application, supporting documents could include plans like a locality, site, bulk earthworks or elevation, drainage, landscape or notification plans.

All development applications must be lodged via the NSW Government’s Planning Portal. You will be asked to register an account so you can lodge and track your application.

Once you have submitted your application via the Portal, Council will be notified, and our staff will then review your application. If more information is required, you will receive an email to submit the information via the Portal.

Once you've lodged your application via the Planning Portal, we will determine what fees are owed, and you will receive an email asking for payment.

Fees are charged in line with our Fees and Charges based on the estimated cost of works for the development.

Once fees are paid, your application will be formally lodged and will progress through for assessment.

After your application has undergone the initial review, and fees have been paid, you will receive an application number which you will need to use to make enquiries and track the progress.

Development applications are required to be publicly notified or advertised on Council’s website. This allows interested people to see the details of your application via the application tracker, and make comments within a specified time frame.

Council will consider any public submissions and petitions when making their assessment.

Your application will be assigned to a planner, building surveyor or engineer who will review your proposal's impacts and conduct a site inspection.

They will evaluate your proposal’s compliance with development controls, statutory requirements and any relevant objections.

After this, a development assessment report will be completed along with a recommendation.

You will receive a determination notice on the outcome of your development application.

If your DA is not approved, your determination notice will outline why and details on how to request a review or appeal of the decision.

If your proposal includes building or construction work, you'll need to obtain a Construction Certificate via the Planning Portal, before undertaking any work.

A construction certificate application may be lodged at the same time as a development application or at a later date.

Find out more information about building certifications.

If you need to make changes to an approved DA you will need to lodge an application, via the NSW Planning Portal.

Depending on the nature of the modification, new supporting documents may need to be supplied. You will also need to amend the original supporting documentation that will be affected.

If you’re unsure how to modify your development, contact Council’s Duty Officers on 02 4934 9700.