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Planning and Development Applications

Understanding the DA process

Source: NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment

Pre-lodgement advice

Before you prepare and lodge an application, we encourage you to discuss it with one of Council’s planning staff to obtain general advice. This is a free service, available via phone or in person at our administration building between 9am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Formal Pre-DA meeting

Detailed written advice can be obtained through a formal Pre-DA meeting. These meetings are reserved for significant proposals, including multi-dwelling developments, subdivisions of more than 10 lots, commercial developments, industrial developments, and all temporary events requiring development consent; or proposals with complex planning considerations.

A formal meeting is intended to give consideration to the feasibility of your proposal and provide information in relation to the assessment process. The principal objective is to identify and resolve constraints related to your project before submitting your application. The meeting is for discussion and clarification only and isn’t intended to preempt a final decision in relation to a DA.

Although Pre-DA meetings are not mandatory, consultation early in the process may prevent delays in processing of your application. 

Meetings are held by appointment at our administration building, subject to availability.

To book a Pre-DA meeting

  1. In the first instance, discuss your proposal with Council’s planning staff in order to obtain clarification as to whether the proposal qualifies for the Pre-DA service.
  2. In the event Council’s planning staff confirms that a Pre-DA meeting should be held, please complete a Pre DA Request for Meeting Form 
  3. Submit your completed form and supporting documentation via email to:  council@balranald.nsw.gov.au

A letter of advice identifying any issues that need to be addressed will be issued within ten days of the Pre-DA meeting.

Lodgement

Step 1: Obtain all required documents

Supporting documentation is required when lodging an application. View the Submission Matrix to make sure you have everything you need. In addition to the documents specified in the Submission Matrix, you will need to:

If your application relates to ancillary development, see the below sample plans to help you when submitting your site plan. 

  • Retaining walls on boundary
  • Swimming Pool
  • Ancillary structure and retaining walls
  • Ancillary Structure

Step 2: Obtain an application fee quote 

There are fees associated with the lodgement of a development application.  You must include the application fee quote as part of your application. To obtain your quote, contact our customer service team.

Application fees are detailed in Council’s Fees and Charges.

Step 3: Lodge your application electronically 

You must prepare and submit your development application on the NSW Planning Portal.

The NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has created a guide to walk you through registration and lodgement on the Planning Portal.

If your application is incomplete, you’ll receive details on what is required via the Planning Portal.

Once your application is complete and accepted for lodgement on the Planning Portal, Council’s Customer Service Team will contact you for payment. Your application will not be considered as lodged until the application fees have been paid in full.

https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/

For more information on using the Planning Portal, see NSW Government Planning Portal.

Track a DA

You can track the status of any application we’re assessing, whether you are the applicant or not.

Applications can also be tracked via the NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment  Application Tracking Service by browsing the map or by selecting ‘Balranald Shire Council’ from the drop-down menu.

Assessment

In most instances, Council will be the consent authority for the DA. In certain circumstances, we may only undertake the assessment process and a regional panel or another government agency will act as the consent authority.

  1. Once submitted, your application will be allocated to an assessment officer.
  2. The assessment officer will contact you to introduce themselves and answer any questions you may have (within 14 days of lodgement).
  3. Your application may be placed on public exhibition.
  4. If so, the assessment officer will carefully consider all matters raised during the exhibition period.

You may be requested to provide additional information during the assessment process.

Applications are assessed in accordance with Section 4.15 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and on public exhibition in accordance with our Community Participation Plan (CPP).

Determination

Following the complete and proper consideration of your application, a determination will be made.

If permission is granted for your project, you’ll obtain a development consent. Your development consent will outline any conditions that must be addressed prior, during and upon completion of construction or prior to use commencing. You may also have to obtain a number of other certificates or approvals.

If the assessment officer is not in a position to support your proposal, development consent will not be granted. If this occurs, the assessment officer will then contact or meet with you to discuss issues and explain Council’s position.

Modifying a Development Consent (Section 4.55 Applications)

You may apply to modify your development consent (known as a Section 4.55 Application), provided that the modified development remains substantially the same as the one that was initially approved.  There are three types of modifications:

  • 4.55(1) Minor Modifications – to correct a minor error, misdescription or miscalculation
    Example: incorrect plan numbers were referenced on the development consent. 
  • 4.55(1a) Minor Modifications – involving minimal environmental impact
    Example:  Changes to an approved landscape plan, or minor changes to the internal configuration of a building.
  • 4.55(2) Other Modifications – where environmental impact is possible
    Example: Changes to approved hours of operation, changes to the external configuration of a building such as window placement or height. 

If you’re not able to satisfy Council that the modified proposal is substantially the same as the one that was initially approved, you will need to lodge a new development application.

Related information

Other Forms
Balranald Local Environmental Plan 2010

The Balranald Local Environmental Plan 2010 is the principal planning instrument affecting land use in the Balranald Local Government Area. The Balranald Local Environmental Plan 2010 commenced on 9 July 2010.  The written instrument can be viewed on the New South Wales Government Legislation web site via the following link:

https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/epi-2010-0363

The supporting LEP maps are also available through the above link.

The purpose of the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is to define what purpose land may be used for as well as development standards and controls that apply. The Plan consists of a written statement and a number of maps that depict the spatial application of the various zones and controls.

Planning Policies

Council has the following Policies located on the policies page that may assist in answering queries about common development questions.

  • Building setback Policy
  • Fencing Code Policy
  • Nature strip Landscaping Policy
  • Street Raffle Policy

Please click on the link to access Councils Policies

Obstacle Limitation Surfaces

The Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) are a series of surfaces that set the height limits of objects around an aerodrome. Objects that project through the OLS become
obstacles.  The OLS may comprise the following individual surfaces:

  • outer horizontal surface;
  • conical surface;
  • inner horizontal surface;
  • approach surface;
  • inner approach surface;
  • transitional surface;
  • inner transitional surface;
  • baulked landing surface; and
  • take-off climb surface.

The standards for, and description of, each of the obstacle limitation surfaces are set out in the following plan – please click on the link to view

Obstacle Limitation Surface