Approvals & Compliance Blog | giantA Pty Ltd

21 Articles

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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

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

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

Granny Flat Energy Compliance NSW 2026: BASIX, NatHERS and Cost-Saving Strategies for Secondary Dwellings

Introduction Every secondary dwelling in NSW — whether a 45m² studio or a 60m² self-contained granny flat — must obtain a BASIX certificate before a Development Application or Complying Development Ce...

BASIX basix-certification basix-compliance energy efficiency energy-efficiency energy-efficient-design sustainability thermal performance

Aug 25, 2026

BASIX Solar PV and Battery Storage NSW 2026: Energy Compliance and the Emergency Backstop

Introduction: Solar PV Is Now Central to BASIX Energy Compliance When BASIX first launched in 2004, a rainwater tank and a solar hot water system were enough to sail through compliance. Two decades la...

BASIX basix-certification basix-compliance energy efficiency energy-efficiency energy-efficient-design nsw-building-compliance solar PV

Aug 22, 2026

BASIX Certificate NSW 2026: Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your BASIX Certificate

TL;DR A BASIX certificate is a mandatory planning document required for all new residential developments, renovations over $50,000, and pools over 40,000 litres in NSW. You obtain it through the NSW P...

BASIX basix-compliance energy-efficiency nathers passive-house sustainability

Aug 19, 2026

NCC 2025 NSW: What the May 2027 Adoption Date Means for Your Building Project

NSW will adopt the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 on 1 May 2027 , a full 12 months after the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) published the complete code on 1 May 2026. The Minns Governme...

BASIX NSW Planning commercial-projects da-approval energy-efficiency home-renovation nsw-planning sustainability

Aug 16, 2026

NCC Energy Efficiency Freeze Until 2029: What It Means for NSW BASIX Compliance and Your Building Project

Author: Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd (15+ years experience in NSW residential and multi-unit development) Introduction: Why the NCC Freeze Matters for NSW Builders and Homeow...

7 star rating BASIX NSW building regulations basix-certification basix-compliance energy efficiency nathers nathers-certificate nsw-planning

Aug 16, 2026

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

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

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

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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