Before you get started on your application, there’s a few things to first consider. Find out if you need development consent from your council, understand why a Development Application (DA) is required and learn more about the planning system.
The process and participants’ roles
The DA and construction approval process has six stages and there are a number of participants who have involvement across those stages. The stages, participants, roles and responsibilities are summarised in Figure 1 below:
DA Process
Stage 1 – Pre-lodgement (Getting it right at the start)
|
Participants |
Responsibilities |
|---|---|
|
You |
Get dreaming |
|
Get informed |
|
|
Get online |
|
|
Get team together |
|
|
Chat to neighbours in advance |
|
|
Your Team |
Prepare reports/plans |
|
Compile application |
|
|
Neighbours |
Raise issues, concerns and support |
|
Council officers |
Provide accurate advice and identify reports required |
Stage 2 – Lodgement and initial administration by council of your application
|
Participants |
Responsibilities |
|
You |
All information/fees provided |
|
Your Team |
Lodge ‘assessment-ready’ DA |
|
Council administration staff |
Completeness check |
|
Register |
|
|
Referrals – to internal experts and State agencies |
|
|
Formal notification to neighbours and community |
Stage 3 – Assessment (What happens to my DA now?)
|
Participants |
Responsibilities |
|---|---|
|
Council Assessment Officer |
Set call-back date |
|
Assess |
|
|
Review submissions/referrals |
|
|
Request additional information |
|
|
Council specialist officers |
Timely advice, consistent with pre-lodgement advice |
|
Your Team |
Let council assess |
|
Provide additional information |
|
|
You |
Remain patient |
|
Neighbours |
Make informed comments |
|
Community |
Make informed comments |
|
Other agencies |
Timely comment/agreement |
Stage 4 – The Determination (the Decision)
|
Participants |
Responsibilities |
|---|---|
|
Council delegate, Councillors or Local Planning Panel |
Timely decision |
|
Achievable conditions |
|
|
Council Assessment Officer |
Advise you of decision |
|
You |
Read conditions |
|
Seek Construction Certificate (CC) |
Stage 5 – Get your Construction Certificate and organise construction
|
Participants |
Responsibilities |
|---|---|
|
You |
Get CC |
|
Get Owner/Builder Permit if required |
|
|
Get Home Owners Warranty |
|
|
Appoint Principal Certifying Authority (PCA) |
|
|
Remain informed |
|
|
Certifiers (council or private) |
Issue CC |
|
Make inspections |
|
|
Builder and sub-contractors |
Build as per plans |
|
Arrange inspections |
Stage 6 – Get your Occupation Certificate and celebrate
|
Participants |
Responsibilities |
|---|---|
|
PCA |
Issue Occupation Certificate (OC) |
|
Council |
Take action if problems arise |
|
You |
Celebrate |