Duty Planner Services

Written Planning Advice is intended for applicants seeking a documented, site-specific assessment of a development proposal prior to lodgement.

Unlike the Duty Planner service, Written Planning Advice involves a detailed review of the proposal, consideration of the relevant planning controls and preparation of written feedback addressing the matters raised.

This service may be appropriate where an applicant requires:

• review of concept plans;
• site-specific planning advice;
• identification of planning constraints;
• written advice regarding the applicability of planning controls;
• preliminary consideration of development standard variations;
• subdivision advice; or
• coordinated feedback from specialist Council officers.

Written Planning Advice can assist applicants in refining proposals prior to lodgement and may reduce delays during the development assessment process.

Council will generally provide Written Planning Advice within 10 business days of payment of the applicable fee. Complex enquiries requiring specialist referrals may require additional time.

Desktop Review

Suitable for enquiries that can be assessed using information submitted by the applicant and Council's available records, without the need for a site inspection or specialist technical review.

Site Inspection or Technical Review

Suitable for enquiries involving site-specific constraints, complex planning issues, or matters that require a site inspection, detailed investigation or additional technical assessment by Council officers.

Where advice from specialist Council officers is required, an additional referral fee will apply for each referral.

Planning advice application form 

For more complex proposals, Council offers formal pre-lodgement meetings involving relevant assessment and technical staff.

Pre-lodgement meetings provide an opportunity to discuss a proposal before lodgement and obtain coordinated feedback regarding planning, engineering, environmental, heritage and servicing matters.

Council strongly encourages pre-lodgement meetings for:

• subdivision proposals;
• complex commercial and industrial developments;
• proposals involving variations to planning controls;
• developments requiring multiple specialist referrals; and
• applications involving significant site constraints.

Pre-lodgement meetings provide an opportunity to identify key planning and technical issues early in the design process, discuss likely information requirements and reduce the risk of delays during the assessment of a future development application.

Applicants will receive written notes following the meeting summarising the key matters discussed, issues identified by Council officers and any information likely to be required to support a future development application.

Attendance at a pre-lodgement meeting does not imply support for, or approval of, a future development application.

The applicable fee will depend on the complexity of the proposal and the number of specialist Council officers required to attend the meeting.

Planning advice application form 

Council's Duty Planner service remains one of the most heavily utilised services provided by the Development Team.

Between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, Council's Duty Planner provided:

• 36 pre-lodgement meetings, including meeting minutes;
• 407 email enquiries;
• 475 counter enquiries; and
• 650 telephone enquiries.

The increasing demand for planning advice has led to a significant rise in requests for detailed planning advice, including site-specific enquiries, review of concept plans and preliminary assessment of development proposals, which extends beyond the scope of the free Duty Planner service.

The volume and complexity of these enquiries can result in extended response times for customers seeking general planning advice and may divert assessment resources away from the determination of development applications.

To ensure general enquiries continue to be answered promptly while supporting the efficient assessment of development applications, Council is introducing a structured planning advice framework that distinguishes between general planning enquiries and detailed project-specific advice.