If you need detailed planning advice or are seeking to redevelop a site for a larger or more complex proposal and would like greater certainty as to whether your development application will be acceptable, Council offers two Pre-Development Application Services.

For more information on the fees and changes applicable, please consult Council's Schedule of Fees and Charges from the 2012/2013 Annual Operational Plan.

What is the Development Advisory Panel

The Development Advisory Panel (DAP) is an advisory service designed to provide professional advice to prospective applicants on a range of larger development proposals, including:

• multiple dwellings
• intensive agriculture
• aged care or retirement villages
• subdivisions
• industrial and commercial developments
• other complex development proposals

Any development proposal submitted to the Panel is discussed so that planning, building, engineering and design issues are resolved before the Development Application (DA) is actually submitted.

The advantage of the DAP is that clear guidance is provided, which allows any future DA to be dealt with quickly by reducing the need for negotiation and requests for additional information or amendments during the assessment process.

Proponents are required to submit draft development plans at least seven days prior to the meeting.

The DAP is run by the Manager, Development and Approvals. Members of the Panel also include a senior building inspector, senior town planner and a senior engineer. If the particular circumstances of the proposed development require it, other Council professionals such as our environmental health officers will also attend the Panel meeting to provide advice.

The proponent may attend the meeting to provide a description of the project and to answer questions raised by the panel members. Minutes of the meeting will be provided within one week of the meeting.

What is a Preliminary Development Application

A Preliminary Development Application (PDA) is lodged with Council and an assessment of the submitted information is undertaken as if it were a DA.

Following the assessment of the application a written response is prepared which identifies compliance with the relevant development controls, identifies issues to be addressed within a future DA and highlights any concerns Council may have.

This service is recommended for smaller scale development proposals that seek a variation to Council’s standards or to determine whether a dwelling is permissible on rural land.

Further Information

Please contact Council’s Development and Approvals Staff for further information or book your meeting with the Development Advisory Panel by phoning (02) 6767 5552.