The Development Coordination Authority (DCA) provides NSW Government technical expertise to support planning and development decision‑making across the planning system.
The DCA brings together specialist State Government input so consent authorities and assessment teams can engage with one body, rather than multiple agencies.
DCA’s expert advice supports:
- local development applications
- State significant development and infrastructure
- planning proposals and rezonings.
When and how DCA is involved
DCA is involved through existing planning and assessment processes, depending on the type of proposal.
Council assessed development
DCA provides a single, coordinated NSW Government response to referrals through the NSW Planning Portal.
State significant development and infrastructure
DCA provides technical advice to Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) assessment teams, where it has in-house expertise.
Planning proposals and rezonings
DCA provides technical advice to support plan-making, including Gateway assessment and related processes, where relevant expertise is held within the DCA.
Post consent housing issues
DCA will identify solutions to address delays in housing construction and completion for local and State significant development pathways and provide case management services.
Under the new referrals framework, certain bodies outside the NSW Government will still be responsible for receiving and responding to some referrals. DCA does not coordinate inputs for Australian Government departments, interstate agencies, or private companies like gas and electricity suppliers.
Councils will continue to refer these matters directly to these agencies via the NSW Planning Portal.
Who DCA works with
DCA primarily works with:
- Consent authorities, including local councils and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), to support planning and assessment processes.
- NSW Government agencies and State-owned corporations, to coordinate and obtain technical advice for referrals and other planning matters where additional specialist expertise may be required.
- DCA may also interact with applicants, proponents, consultants and industry stakeholders, where appropriate, as part of formal assessment processes.
Technical areas
DCA provides statutory and advisory inputs across technical areas, including:
- transport and infrastructure
- heritage
- water and flooding
- environmental protection
- biodiversity
- natural hazards
- mining and resources.
For local development applications, DCA coordinates NSW Government input across these technical areas where referrals are required.
For State significant development, infrastructure, and planning proposals, DCA provides advisory input in these areas where it has in-house expertise.
Review of DCA decisions
Applicants may request a review of certain decisions made by DCA.
This applies to decisions where a condition of development consent requires an action to be carried out to the satisfaction of DCA.
The review is limited to the specific decision made by DCA and does not apply to the development consent as a whole.
How to apply
An application for a review of a DCA decision must be made within 28 days of the consent authority’s determination of the development application.
Further procedural details, including fees, are being finalised and will be available shortly.