Approvals

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

Stormwater Management and On-Site Detention (OSD) in NSW 2026: Complete Guide for Developers and Homeowners

Author: Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd (15+ years NSW development experience) Introduction: Why Stormwater Management Can Make or Break Your NSW Development Every time a proper...

BASIX da-approval duplex granny-flat nsw-planning

Aug 15, 2026

Soil Testing and Geotechnical Investigation in NSW 2026: Complete Site Classification, AS 2870 Compliance and Foundation Cost Guide

Author: Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd (15+ years experience in NSW residential and multi-unit development) Why Soil Testing Is the First Decision That Shapes Your Entire Build...

Approval Process DA approval NSW Planning construction-costs nsw-planning soil-testing

Aug 14, 2026

CDC vs DA in NSW (2026): Which Approval Path Is Faster for Your Project?

Real case: a two-storey addition in Parramatta qualified as complying development. The owner chose the DA route "to be safe". Seventy days and a neighbour-notification round later, the same plans coul...

Approval Process CDC Complying Development DA approval NSW Planning cdc-approval

Aug 13, 2026

BASIX Certificate NSW 2026: Cost, 7-Star Targets and What Changed This Year

A Sydney homeowner budgeted $400 for a BASIX certificate, accepted a $99 "instant BASIX" online, and ended up paying for a redesign when the report failed the 7-star thermal review. In 2026 the BASIX ...

BASIX basix-certification energy-efficiency nsw-planning sustainability

Aug 13, 2026

DA Checklist NSW 2026: Every Document You Need Before Lodging a Development Application

Real scenario: a 451 m² duplex site in Western Sydney, two-storey, R3 zoning. The owner lodged a DA without a proper SEE and got an RFI (Request for Information) three weeks in — adding six weeks to t...

Approval Process DA approval NSW Planning development application nsw-planning

Aug 13, 2026

Torrens Title vs Strata Title Subdivision in NSW 2026: Complete Cost Comparison, Process & Decision Guide

Torrens Title vs Strata Title Subdivision in NSW 2026: Complete Cost Comparison, Process Decision Guide Subdividing land in New South Wales offers one of the most reliable pathways to unlock property ...

DA approval NSW Planning construction-costs home-renovation nsw-planning

Aug 13, 2026

Prefabricated Buildings in NSW: How the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 Changes Everything

Prefabricated Buildings in NSW: How the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 Changes Everything NSW just became the first Australian state to legally recognise prefab and modular construct...

Approval Process CDC DA approval Home Renovation cdc-approval home-building-act nsw-planning renovation

Aug 13, 2026

BASIX Water Efficiency NSW 2026: Rainwater Tanks, WELS Fixtures & Landscape Compliance Guide

BASIX Water Efficiency NSW 2026: Rainwater Tanks, WELS Fixtures Landscape Compliance Guide What Is the BASIX Water Section? The BASIX Water section requires new residential developments in NSW to redu...

BASIX Home Building Act NSW Planning NSW building regulations Sustainable Building basix-certification basix-compliance building-advice

Aug 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown: Class 2 Building Design Fees vs Construction Costs Sydney 2026

Author: Franz Phan, Registered Design Practitioner (Class 2 buildings), Senior Planning Consultant — 15+ years experience in NSW residential development Published: 13 August 2026 Reading time: ~9 minu...

NSW building regulations apartment-design class-2-building construction-costs dbp-act design-practitioner multi-residential nsw-building-compliance nsw-construction property-development

Aug 12, 2026

NSW Fair Trading Licence Changes 2026: What Builders and Homeowners Must Know

The NSW Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, introduced to Parliament in February 2026, proposes the most significant overhaul of builder licensing in NSW since the Design and Bu...

builder-licence da-approval home-building-act home-renovation nsw-planning

Aug 11, 2026

Owner-Builder Permits NSW 2026: Complete Guide to Costs, Eligibility & Restrictions

Building your own home in NSW can save tens of thousands in builder margins — but it comes with legal responsibilities that catch many owner-builders off guard. Since the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) ...

DA approval Home Building Act Home Renovation NSW Planning owner-builder renovation residential-projects

Aug 10, 2026

Granny Flat Energy Compliance NSW 2026: BASIX Requirements for Secondary Dwellings

TL;DR Every granny flat (secondary dwelling) built in NSW requires a BASIX certificate before a Development Application (DA) or Complying Development Certificate (CDC) can be approved. The BASIX certi...

7 star rating Air Tightness Approval Process BASIX CDC DA approval DCA development application

Aug 10, 2026

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