DA & COUNCIL SUBMISSIONS

One Application, Prepared Right the First Time

Most council delays don’t come from a difficult project — they come from an application that’s missing something council asks for later, or one lodged under the wrong pathway to begin with. A deemed-to- comply application treated as a full DA wastes time; a project that actually needs a full DA but gets lodged as deemed-to-comply gets bounced back.
We start by working out which pathway your project actually qualifies for, then prepare every piece of documentation that pathway needs — planning drawings, energy efficiency reports, structural details — before anything goes to council. Once it’s lodged, we follow it up directly with your council’s planning department, including owner builder applications and any request for further information, rather than leaving you to chase updates.
This covers new homes, alterations, granny flats, subdivisions or any project already designed elsewhere that just needs council approval and lodging.
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More Than Filling In a Form

  • Pathway assessment. Your project checked against deemed-to-comply criteria first, with a full DA prepared only where it's actually needed.
  • Planning application documentation. Council-ready drawings, the planning application form and lodgement of council planning fees.
  • Building permit documentation. Structural engineering details and certification, an energy efficiency report, and the building permit application form once planning approval is through.
  • Owner builder applications. Prepared and lodged alongside your other submissions where you're managing construction yourself rather than through a licensed builder.
  • Council liaison. Direct contact with your council's planning department, including responses to any request for further information (RFI) so the application keeps moving.
  • Certified application pathway. Coordination with a building surveyor where a certified application can move your building permit through faster.

Our Process

1

Site & Pathway Assessment

Your project checked against your specific council's deemed-to-comply criteria and any site overlays, so we know which pathway applies before preparing anything.

2

Documentation Preparation

Planning drawings, energy efficiency reports and structural details prepared to your council's standard, coordinated with your structural engineer and energy assessor where needed.

3

Planning Application Lodgement

Planning application lodged with council along with the required fees, followed up directly and any request for further information responded to on your behalf.

4

Building Permit Application

Once planning approval is granted, the building permit application is prepared and lodged — including certified application coordination with a building surveyor where that's the faster path — through to approval.

What's Included

DA & COUNCIL SUBMISSIONS

Assessment & Documentation

  • Deemed-to-comply vs. full DA pathway assessment
  • Planning application drawings and form preparation
  • Energy efficiency report coordination
  • Structural engineering details and certification coordination
  • Owner builder application preparation, where applicable

Lodgement & Liaison

  • Direct lodgement with your council's planning department
  • Response to council requests for further information (RFI)
  • Building permit application preparation and lodgement
  • Certified application coordination with a building surveyor
  • Progress updates so you're not left chasing council yourself
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Project Management

New homes, subdivisions and granny flats, designed and documented end to end.

Questions? You’re covered.
What's the difference between a DA and a deemed-to-comply application?
A deemed-to-comply application is a faster pathway for projects that meet set planning criteria outright, assessed without going to advertising. A full development application (DA) applies when a project doesn't meet one or more of those criteria and needs individual assessment, which usually takes longer and can involve neighbour consultation. We assess your project against both before lodging.
It varies by council and by how straightforward the application is. Deemed-to-comply applications are generally faster than a full DA, and a full DA can take longer again if council requests further information or the project goes to advertising. We give you a realistic timeframe once we've assessed your project.
Once planning approval is granted, a building permit application needs structural engineering details and certification, an energy efficiency report, and the permit application itself lodged with council or through a certified building surveyor. We prepare and coordinate all of it.
Often, yes, depending on size, height and how close it sits to a boundary. Some smaller structures fall under exemptions, but many still need either a planning approval or a building permit. We check this against your council's specific requirements before you build anything.
An owner builder approval lets you manage construction yourself rather than through a licensed builder, and WA requires a separate application and approval before building permit stage. We prepare and lodge this alongside your other council submissions where it applies.
We respond directly on your behalf, whether that's additional drawings, a specialist report or a clarification, and keep the application moving rather than leaving it to stall.
We lodge it directly and follow it up as your point of contact with council, so you're not the one making calls or chasing an update.
Most building permit applications need structural certification, particularly for anything involving a second storey, a new footing or a load-bearing change. We coordinate this directly with a structural engineer as part of the submission.
A variation can still be approved through a full DA if it's justified — we assess this early and, where a variation's needed, prepare the application to make that case to council rather than redesigning by default.
It depends on which pathway your project needs and how much documentation has to be prepared from 
scratch versus coordinated from existing drawings. We give a fixed quote once we know your project's 
scope. 

Ready to Get Your Project Moving Through Council?

Start with a conversation about your project and which approval pathway it needs.

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