What is the DA process?

The Development Application (DA) process in New South Wales (NSW) involves submitting a proposal to the local council for approval to carry out development or building work. The process typically includes preparing detailed plans and documentation, lodging the DA with the relevant authority, and undergoing a thorough assessment to ensure compliance with planning regulations, environmental considerations, and community impacts. This assessment may involve public notification i.e letting the neighbours know, consultation with stakeholders, and review by planning officers. Once approved, the DA may be subject to conditions that must be met during construction. If refused, there is usually an opportunity to appeal the decision through relevant administrative or judicial channels. Overall, the DA process aims to balance development objectives with community interests and regulatory requirements.

Below is a more in depth step-by-step guide on how we prepare for the Development Application (DA) process in New South Wales, how it works and what is required at each stage.

1. Engage Professionals:

   - Hire a designer to assist with the design and documentation of your project.

2. Preparation:

   - The designer will Identify the scope and nature of your development project.

   - Obtain a copy of the Development Control Plan (DCP) and Local Environmental Plan (LEP) for your area in relation to the subject site.

3. Site Analysis:

   - The designer will assess the existing conditions of the site, considering factors like topography, vegetation, and neighboring properties.

4. Development Proposal:

   - The preperation of a comprehensive development proposal outlining the purpose, scale, and impact of your project.

5. Consultation:

   - Engaging, addressing concerns and gathering feedback from neighbours can really help sometimes. Neighbours can sometimes feel like their privacy or light can be effected by a proposed development, transparency can go a a long way in diffusing disputes before they arise.

6. Application Forms:

   - Obtain the necessary forms from the local council's to submit your DA.

7. Required Documents:

   - Compile all required documents, including architectural plans, environmental impact assessments, and any other specified documents. The full list of these are usually contained within a DA checklist at your local council and will be in the form of a metric graph detailing, what is, what may be and what wont be necessary.

8. Lodging Application:

   - Submit your DA and all accompanying documents to the online NSW planning portal, paying the applicable fees along the way.

9. Council Assessment:

   - The council will review your DA, assessing it against relevant planning policies and regulations. At this time they will also ask for any other doccumentation that may assist them in the determination of the project, these can be in the form of a Geotech report, Bushfire report, Acoustics report etc..

10. Notification Period:

    - A notification period will follow, during which neighbors and the community can provide feedback or raise objections. (this is where item 5 can come in handy)

11. Council Decision:

    - The council will make a decision based on the assessment and feedback received.

12. Approval or Refusal:

    - If approved, you will receive a Development Consent. If refused, you may appeal or modify your proposal for resubmission.

Remember to check with the specific local council for any unique requirements or variations in the DA process.

Your selection of a designer can also dictate the involvement and help with this process, the DA process is nothing to be scared of but can be quite overwhelming at times, Inmind Building Design are well equipped to guide you through this process with ease.

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