Simple tips for applicants dealing with councils

Are you a home owner, property developer, builder, architect or project manager? Are you about to undertake a development, house extension or renovation? We strongly recommend you read the tips below before submitting the development application to council. 

CHECK COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS

• Obtain the latest copy of council planning rules to ensure your DA complies with them.

• Most councils have checklists - use one to make sure you have provided all the drawings and information council requires.

• If your application doesn’t comply in all respects, justify any non compliance in the planning report which forms part of the DA.

CONSIDER THE NEIGHBOURS

• Realistically assess the effect of the proposal on the neighbours.

• Explain the project to the neighbours. This may lessen or even eliminate their anxieties about the proposal and minimise the likelihood of their lodging an objection. 

• Make sure you are aware how your building project will affect adjoining properties – for instance, do shadows fall on the living room windows of adjoining houses. Try to minimise impacts wherever possible.

COMMUNICATE WITH COUNCIL

• Allow enough time for the council to approve the application.

• Contact the case officer frequently to check on progress and answer any questions.

• Be prepared to modify your application to obtain an approval.

• If you need to modify anything - make sure you understand what council wants changed and why.

Please contact Neustein Urban if we can help you through the council approval process.