Approvals & Compliance Blog | giantA Pty Ltd

9 Articles

NSW building regulations ×

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

Renovating in a Heritage Conservation Area in NSW 2026: Complete DA Approval, Heritage Impact Statement & Cost Guide

What Is a Heritage Conservation Area in NSW? A Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) is a precinct recognised by a local council for its collective heritage significance — the streetscape, building styles,...

Approval Process DA approval Home Renovation LEP/DCP NSW Planning NSW building regulations Residential Projects

Aug 25, 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

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

Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026: What NSW's Biggest Regulatory Overhaul Means for Your Project

The NSW Parliament passed the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 on 4 August 2026, marking the most significant overhaul of the state's building regulatory framework in a generation. The...

Approval Process DA approval NSW Planning NSW building regulations Sustainable Building basix-compliance building-advice cc-approval

Aug 9, 2026

CDC vs DA: Complete Guide to NSW Building Approval Pathways in 2026

CDC vs DA: Complete Guide to NSW Building Approval Pathways in 2026 Introduction If you are planning a new build, renovation, or subdivision in New South Wales in 2026, one of the first decisions you ...

Approval Process DA approval Development Application NSW Planning NSW building regulations Residential Projects apartment-design

Jul 21, 2026

Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Ratings Explained: What NSW Homeowners Must Know Before Building in 2026

Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Ratings Explained: What NSW Homeowners Must Know Before Building in 2026 Building on bushfire-prone land in New South Wales is not just about design ambition; it is about u...

Approval Process NSW building regulations cdc-approval da-application new-south-wales nsw-building-compliance

Jul 20, 2026

BASIX Solar PV & Battery Storage NSW 2026: Maximise Your Energy Score & Slash Bills

BASIX Solar PV Battery Storage NSW 2026: How Much Can You Save? Quick Answer: Solar PV and battery storage are the highest-impact measures for maximising your BASIX energy score in NSW 2026. A 6.6kW s...

BASIX NSW building regulations battery storage energy efficiency nathers-certificate solar PV

Jul 13, 2026