How to lodge a planning application

The NSW Planning Portal is a digital space where you can lodge a range of planning applications with Council. From Friday 18 December, Council no longer accepts hardcopy and email applications.

Visit here for more information about the Portal or to lodge your application.

To make the process as streamlined as possible, please follow the steps below, which deals with the initial planning phase of your project right through to lodging your application.

1. Talk to the right people

Duty Planner

We encourage you to talk to us about your building or development options early on in your planning. You can speak with our Duty Planner or Building Surveyor on 02 4934 9700 (available 8.30am to 12.30pm Monday to Friday at Council's Administration Building) who will provide you with information that will assist you in moving your project forward. 

Hunter Water

It is the applicant’s responsibility to speak with Hunter Water to ensure the proposed development is clear of Hunter Water assets. To find out more visit the Hunter Water website or contact 1300 657 657.

Mine Subsidence Board

Should your property be located in a mine subsidence area, your plans will also need to be stamped by the Mine Subsidence Board.

Service NSW

Service NSW are available to provide technical support for the NSW Planning Portal.

All enquiries can be referred to Service NSW by either emailing [email protected] or calling 1300 305 695. 

 

2. Lodge your application

To avoid any delays in processing ensure everything that is necessary is included and that all applications have a copy of all plans and documentation, stamped by Hunter Water and the Mine Subsidence Board where applicable. These documents must be uploaded electronically through the NSW Planning Portal. 

Once the application has been submitted through NSW Planning Portal, Council staff will contact the applicant with a quotation for the required Application Fees. At this point you will need to pay the quoted amount for Council to process the application.

Note: Under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Amendment (Planning Portal) Regulation 2020, a development application is NOT considered ‘lodged’ until the application fee has been paid.

Lodge your application via the Planning Portal