Approvals & Compliance Blog | giantA Pty Ltd

17 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

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

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

The Sydney Plan 2026–2046: What the 20-Year Housing Blueprint Means for Your Development

By Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd — 23 August 2026 What Is the Sydney Plan 2026–2046? The Sydney Plan is a 20-year strategic planning framework finalised by the Minns Labor Gov...

CDC DA approval Home Renovation NSW Planning da-approval duplex nsw-planning renovation

Aug 22, 2026

Modern Methods of Construction NSW 2026: How the New Regulatory Framework and Industry Expansion Program Will Reshape Housing Delivery

What Are Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in NSW? Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) refers to off-site, industrialised building techniques that shift significant portions of construction work f...

CDC construction-costs da-approval nsw-planning residential-projects

Aug 21, 2026

NSW Housing Pattern Book 2026: How to Fast-Track Your Approval in 10 Days

Author: Franz Phan, Senior Planning Consultant, giantA Pty Ltd (15+ years NSW development experience) Published: 19 August 2026 Introduction The NSW Housing Pattern Book represents the most significan...

Approval Process DA approval NSW Planning cc-approval cdc-approval nsw-planning planning portal 2026 planning-reforms

Aug 18, 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...

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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

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

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

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