Speak to a Duty Town Planner

Two people collaborate over architectural blueprints

Council Duty Town Planners are in place to provide high-level planning and development information for community members, property owners, and building and development professionals.  

This webpage helps explain: 

  • What Duty Town Planners can help with 
  • What Duty Town Planners are unable to help with 
  • How you book a meeting with a Duty Town Planner 

Before booking a meeting with a Duty Town Planner, make sure you’ve read the Frequently Asked Questions on development applications. 

What Duty Town Planners can help with 

Duty Town Planners can provide the following information: 

  • Whether your proposed development is permitted under zoning regulations  
  • Whether an application is actually required 
  • Fees that may be payable; and 
  • How a range of plans, codes and policies affect your proposal. 

What Duty Town Planners are unable to help with 

Duty Town Planners are generally unable to provide detailed assessment and go through all sections of planning controls and legislative requirements applicable for development proposals. 

For detailed advice, and to obtain a written advisory report, potential applicants can lodge a Pre-Lodgement Meeting (fees may apply) or engage their own planning/development consultant.  

Duty Town Planners are also unable to help with the following matters:

Stormwater Management and Flooding

Instead refer to Engineering Requirements for Development and Subdivision.

If you are seeking engineering (stormwater and flooding) advice before lodging your development application, you can lodge a Pre-Lodgement Meeting (fees apply). 

For further information please visit Developing in a flood area. 

88E/88B/Subdivision Certificates

Instead refer to Development and Building Forms.

For further information please refer to Lodgement Rules Section 12F from the Property Act and Registrar General's Guidelines.

Building Information Certificates and Complying Development Certificates

For Building Information Certificates, refer to: 

For Complying Development Certificates, refer to: 

Preparing to purchase a property

Council is unable to provide legal advice on property purchases.  

Before making an offer on a property, make sure that you carefully review the Contract of Sale, which includes a Planning Certificate with information about relevant planning controls.  

It is advisable to obtain professional advice from a conveyance or a solicitor to help you review the Contract of Sale. 

For further information please visit Preparing to purchase a property FAQs. 

In addition, for heritage and heritage conservation matters, please review the information below prior to booking a Duty Planner. 

If you are seeking 'Heritage Advice' before lodging your development application, you can lodge a Pre-Lodgement Meeting (fees apply). 

For further information please visit Heritage Conservation FAQs. 

Booking a Duty Planner

Book a time to speak to a Duty Planner 

More Information

For general enquiries please contact Council on 1300 617 058 or (02) 9806 5050 between 8:30am - 4:30pm 

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