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Frequently asked questions

What is Development Applications (DA)?

DA (Development Application) – refers to the development of an existing property or land that needs to be declared to the local council and approved by the local authority to ensure that the development and changes are within the local plan. It is important that planning permission is granted by the local council, such as house plans, elevations etc., to ensure that the development and changes you want to make are within the local zoning. Generally speaking for residential properties, if your property is in Acid Sulfate Soils (class 1 or 2), Bush Fire Zone, Heritage Conservation Area, Waterfront Housing ( Foreshore Area or Foreshore Building Line), or if your home is two stories or more, you need to apply for a DA when you want to build an addition or development to your existing land or home. The outcome of a DA submitted to the council will depend largely on the quality of the plans and applications submitted. It is vital that planning controls and building controls are taken into account when preparing documents and that any supporting reports are provided by suitably qualified consultants. Once planning permission has been applied for that means you have to notify all your neighbours for at least 14 days and if you receive any objections from your neighbours within 14 days you need to enter into mediation, for example by changing your plans. Certainly the council will first review the reasonableness of these objections and on the other hand it is important to maintain neighbourly relations, which greatly affects the speed of approval. It is a delicate balance between controlling costs for the client and ensuring that the Council has sufficient information to approve the application. With our vast knowledge base in planning and building control, we will be able to advise you on what is allowable, but importantly, we ensure that you do not spend money on unnecessary reports and that a carefully worded Environmental Impact Statement from one of our qualified planners is usually sufficient.



What is Construction Certificate Applications (CC)?

CC – Once you have been notified of your DA approval, the following stage is called the CC, which is called the Construction Certificate. In simple terms, this is the stage where the relevant authorities approve the construction, structural, and drainage drawings and plans to ensure that the building is built, constructed, and structurally designed by the local building and construction codes. The building is designed and constructed (as shown on the building certificate application and drawings) following the development consent The proposed building will comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) Relevant conditions of the Development Consent have been complied with, such as the provision of a bond, payment of contributions, BASIX energy efficiency and water conservation requirements, and any conditions requiring amendments to the development, the preparation, and submission of specialist details and reports, or any other matters required to be submitted with the required CC comply with several other relevant legal requirements. Generally speaking, no conditions can be imposed on a building certificate. This means that the plans, specifications, and associated documentation must be sufficiently detailed and demonstrate compliance with the development consent and relevant provisions of the BCA and Australian Standards. Building certificates can be issued by the Council or a private sector certifier with appropriate accreditation from the NSW Government Building Professionals Council. We will have professionals on hand to manage your documentation and communicate promptly to ensure you receive your certificate in the first instance.



Complying Development Certificate Applications (CDC)?

CDC – This refers to the fast-track application process known as the Complying Development Certificate. This process eliminates the need to submit a DA application to the Council and allows you to apply for both development and construction approval for your project through the relevant department or company. If you wish to obtain quick and easy approval, your project can be approved through a Compliant Development Certificate (CDC). This is where a private certifier issues approval for you, rather than applying to the council. Most residential and many commercial projects in NSW can be approved through the Certificate of Compliance Development, which will save you time and money. For a building project to be approved through this process, it needs to be established that the CDC is feasible in your community and also that the plans developed for the project need to comply with the provisions of the Compliant Development Approval. We will be able to tell you quickly and easily whether your new building project is eligible for CDC, but this fast track approval process has certain requirements for your development and alteration projects, the more common being the limits on the location and size of the property that we have just mentioned in our introduction to DA applications. in addition to this, the planning requirements are different from the local Council’s planning requirements for DA. However, small to medium-sized additions and alterations, or the construction of residential houses of two stories or less can be completed through this fast track application process.



What services we provide?

We understand that building and renovation can be a very tiring process. That is why we are here. We manage projects with our expertise and give the suggestions that suit our clients, making the whole process a pleasant journey. Our services include Architecture Design, Project Management, New Build and Rebuild, Extension and renovation.



Do you include materials for refurnish?

Generally speaking, we recommend to our customers the suppliers we are more familiar with. There are multiple choices and the price-performance ratio is generally better in the market. If you choose our suppliers, we will be responsible for picking up, managing and installing. Of course, guests can also choose the material supplier they find, so they only need to confirm the material model and size with us before signing the contract, and we are directly responsible for the installation on site



How long to wait for design approval?

The time required for different content to be submitted for review is different. Generally, the more complicated the project, the longer it takes to review and approve. The speed of DA application and CDC application is also very different. Usually CDC will be twice as fast as DA.



Do I need to move out during construction？

We recommend that customers move out. Many construction procedures will produce dust, peculiar smell and noise, which will affect the normal life of customers. The client agrees that if we move out during the construction period, our construction will be faster and at a lower cost, and the price will also be lower.