The four DA types
Material Change of Use (MCU): the use of the land changes — e.g. single dwelling becomes townhouses. Reconfiguration of a Lot (RoL): the lot boundaries change — subdivision, boundary realignment. Operational Works (OPW): physical works on the land — earthworks, retaining, stormwater, access. Building Works (BW): construction of buildings — usually triggered separately by the building certifier, not the council.
The process
1. Pre-lodgement (optional but valuable for complex sites). 2. Lodgement with full application package and fees. 3. Initial review (council confirms the application is properly made). 4. Assessment (Code or Impact). 5. Information Request cycle if applicable. 6. Public notification (Impact only — 15 business days minimum). 7. Decision: Approved (with or without conditions) or Refused. 8. Appeal period (15 business days for applicant, 20 days for submitters in Impact cases).
FAQ
Common questions.
- What does a DA cost?
- Council application fees range from ~$2,000 (simple Code Assessable secondary dwelling) to $20,000+ (complex Impact Assessable multiple dwelling). Consultant fees (planner, architect, engineer, surveyor) typically run $15K-$80K depending on complexity. Casa AI flags realistic professional fees for each scored listing.
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