How to prepare a Development Application

What to submit with an application;

PLANNING

• A written submission detailing how you comply with the relevant schedules of the Planning Scheme
• Three copies of the site plan (no larger than A3)
• Three sets of plans (elevations, shadow diagrams, aspects etc.)
• Details of proposed waste water disposal (if applicable) 
• Applicable fees will be advised with submission

BUILDING

• 2 complete sets of full structural plans showing timber sizes, stress grades, bracing & footing/slab design, openable windows, roof pitch & nominate all materials.
• 2 copies (1 copy an original) of Certificate of Others (Form55) from Certifying Engineer for any steel work .
• 2 copies of plumbing plan showing stormwater, hot water cylinder location & sewerage. Plan to include size and location of down pipes and guttering, stormwater disposal from driveway & overflow from water tank (where applicable)
• Soil test & wind speed assessment (Dwellings only)
• Energy efficiency calculations including galzing & insulation (Dwellings only)
• Certificate of Likely Compliance from Private Surveyor (Commercial or privately certified applications only)
• Owner builder statement or Builders housing indemnity insurance (where applicable)

ALL PLANS ARE TO BE DRAWN TO SCALE AND NO LARGER THAN A3 - INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED

The Development Application Form

Forms can be collected from Council or downloaded here.

The application form must be completed throughout, and be signed by the owner or applicant at the bottom of the front page. Applicants can opt to apply for "planning only" to begin with; or submit an application for building, plumbing all at once if required. The application for Certificate of Likely Compliance must be selected if applying for a building permit, unless the plans have been privately certified by a Building Surveyor.

Property Details

Full address details are to be supplied. The application must be accompanied by a cpmplete copy of the Certificate of Title, and these details need entering into the Property Details section of the form.

Owner/Applicant Details

Many applications are submitted by the owner, therefore being the owner is the applicant as well. In the case of someone applying on the owners behalf, the relevant sections must be signed. The applicant will receive all Council correspondence, including permits when issued, and in the case of the application being advertised the applicants name will be advertised on behalf of the owner.

Description of Development

The description of the type of development you are applying for (e.g. Dwelling, Garage, Subdivision etc). In the case of sheds, the use of the structure should also be noted.  This is so Council Officers can determine the correct Class catagory of the structure.

Planning and Building Details

Colour should be noted as some Zones have colour guidelines for buildings.  The existing building area is for additions to a structure.  The new floor area must be noted so that appropriate fees can be calculated.

Value of Work - it is important that this part of the form is completed. The value of work is the cost of the total development. Contract price or estimated cost is required.

Building Practitioner details

The Building Surveyor in many cases is the Building Control Officer at the Council. If you have had the plans privately certified for a Certificate of Likely Compliance you need to enter the details of the surveyor used. It is vital to include accreditation numbers for all practitioners. Permits can not be issued without accreditation numbers.

If you have not used a designer for the drafting of your plans you can enter the name of whom ever was used.

Builders details must be entered in full, as it is often the builder Council contacts in relation to inspections of the work. If you are planning to do building works yourself you will need to complete the Owner Builder section on page three of the form.

Application Fees

Upon submission of your application, Council will calculate applicable fees. These are paid by the applicant or owner before Council will begin processing. If the application is for planning and building combined, the applicant can chose to pay and apply for planning approval to begin with and upon completion of planning approval can then submit building specifications and pay building application fees. Fees are calculated on the size and cost of the developments in most cases.

Site Plan

The site plan needs to be at least A4 in size but no larger than A3. The purpose of a detailed site plan is to show where everything is positioned on the land and how the proposal will sit in relation to the existing developments. It must include;

• All buildings, houses, sheds and garages etc.
• Accesses, driveways and car parking areas
• Landscaping, garden beds, trees and shrubbery
• Neighbouring properties and buildings on these properties
• Setbacks from boundaries and distances to the neighbouring dwellings
• The site plan needs to be drawn to scale (preferably 1:100) and be clear and easy to read.

Applications for planning, building and plumbing

An application for building and plumbing works needs planning approval first so the above information is still applicable. Further to the above, Council requires all building specifications and drainage plans. For further information please see Building and/or Plumbing.

Written submission addressing the Break O'Day Council Planning Scheme 1996

A written submission addressing the Break O'Day Council Planning Scheme 1996 needs to be submitted in support of your application. The planning scheme is performanced based, therefore the onus is on the Applicant to demonstrate compliance with the scheme standards. First you need to address the Zone standards, depending on which zone the property is part of, then you will need to address the relevant codes that are applicable to your develpment. A list of codes can be found on the first couple of pages of the zoning information.  To determine which zone your land is in, please contact council Planning staff on 03 6376 7900 to obtain this information.