Approvals

Streamlining DA, CDC, CC & BASIX/NatHERS approvals efficiently

Building Information Certificate NSW 2026: When Unauthorised Works Need a BIC, Documents Councils Ask For & How Designers Help

Answer first: A Building Information Certificate (BIC) is a council certificate under Division 6.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 that, once issued, stops the council taking cer...

Approval Process Council Approval DA approval Home Renovation NSW Planning bic-services due-diligence nsw-building-compliance

Sep 5, 2026

NSW Development Contributions Guide 2026: Section 7.11 vs 7.12 Fees, Rates & How They Impact Your Build Budget

What Are NSW Development Contributions and Why Do They Matter for Your Project? Development contributions are mandatory charges imposed by NSW councils on new development to fund the infrastructure th...

Approval Process CDC Council Approval DA approval NSW Planning construction-costs nsw-building-compliance planning-reforms

Sep 5, 2026

NSW Swimming Pool Barrier Compliance Guide 2026: AS 1926.1 Changes, Approval Pathways & Costs

What Are the NSW Swimming Pool Barrier Requirements in 2026? Every swimming pool and spa in NSW capable of holding water to a depth of 300mm or more must be surrounded by a child-resistant barrier tha...

Approval Process CDC Council Approval DA approval NSW building regulations cdc-approval nsw-building-compliance

Sep 4, 2026

BASIX for Alterations and Additions in NSW 2026: When Your Renovation Triggers a Certificate

Renovating your home in NSW in 2026 means navigating a web of planning and building regulations, and BASIX is one that catches many homeowners by surprise. If your renovation budget is $50,000 or more...

BASIX NSW building regulations Sustainable Building basix-certification basix-compliance nsw-planning renovation renovation-sydney

Sep 4, 2026

NSW Tree Removal and Vegetation Clearing Laws 2026: How the New NVR Map and LLS Regulation Changes Affect Your Property

Author: Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd Published: 4 September 2026 Introduction: Why Tree Removal Laws Matter More in 2026 If you own property in NSW and have ever considered r...

CDC DA approval NSW Planning NSW building regulations approvals

Sep 3, 2026

Pre-DA Meetings in NSW 2026: How to Prepare for a Council Pre-Lodgement Meeting That Saves Weeks and Thousands

Pre-DA Meetings in NSW 2026: How to Prepare for a Council Pre-Lodgement Meeting That Saves Weeks and Thousands Author: Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd (15+ years NSW development...

Approval Process Council Approval DA approval NSW Planning development application

Sep 2, 2026

NSW Statewide Community Participation Plan 2026: How the New Single Consultation Rule Changes Your Development Application

From 1 September 2026, a single statewide Community Participation Plan (CPP) replaces more than 100 individual council participation plans across NSW. For the first time, the rules governing whether y...

Home Renovation approvals da-approval duplex home-renovation nsw-planning residential-projects

Sep 1, 2026

Embodied Carbon Reporting in NSW 2026: How the March Technical Note and NABERS Tool Change Your DA Process

From 1 October 2023, every new residential development application in NSW has been required to report embodied carbon emissions through the BASIX Materials Index. Non-residential developments face a p...

BASIX NABERS NSW Planning embodied emissions energy efficiency nsw-building-compliance sustainability sustainable-building

Sep 1, 2026

NSW Development Coordination Authority 2026: How One Agency Replaces 22 for Faster DA Approvals

What Is the NSW Development Coordination Authority and Why Does It Matter for Your Development Application? From 1 July 2026, the NSW Development Coordination Authority (DCA) replaces a fragmented sys...

DA approval DCA NSW Planning da-approval development coordination nsw-housing nsw-planning planning-reforms

Aug 29, 2026

NSW Housing Pattern Book 2026: How Pre-Approved Designs Can Cut Your Approval Time to 10 Days

What Is the NSW Housing Pattern Book? The NSW Housing Pattern Book is a government-backed collection of pre-approved, architect-designed housing templates that can fast-track your planning approval to...

CDC Complying Development DA approval NSW Planning multi-residential townhouse

Aug 28, 2026

All-Electric Homes in NSW 2026: How the Gas-to-Electric Transition Cuts Energy Bills by Up to $4,000 a Year

Switching from gas to all-electric appliances in an NSW home can save up to $2,771 per year for a house or $2,400 for an apartment, rising to around $4,000 annually when paired with rooftop solar, acc...

BASIX Home Renovation basix-certification energy-efficiency residential-projects sustainability

Aug 28, 2026

NSW Low-Rise Housing Reforms 2026: How Targeted Assessment Could Halve Your DA Approval Time

NSW Low-Rise Housing Reforms 2026: How Targeted Assessment Could Halve Your DA Approval Time By Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd — 15+ years navigating NSW planning and building ...

Approval Process CDC Complying Development DA approval Development Application NSW Planning NSW building regulations planning-reforms

Aug 27, 2026

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