The second phase of the move toward digital lodgement of applications will commence on 1 July 2021. Phase 2 will include mandatory lodgement of occupation certificate applications, certifier appointments, subdivision certificates, subdivision works certificates (previously known as Civil Works Construction Certificates) and building certificates.

The occupation certificate applications and certifier appointment can be made via the Portal anytime after CC or CDC is submitted and prior to the occupation certificate inspection.

What will it mean for me?

From 1 July 2021, these additional application types are required to be lodged via the NSW Planning Portal. For this to occur, applicants will need to register for an account with the NSW Planning Portal. Council will continue to have staff available to discuss proposals with customers and to provide assistance with the lodgement of applications.

Will I have to change how I do business?

The lodgement of applications through the Planning Portal is not expected to be a significant change to your normal business practices. The greatest changes are likely to be:

• Lodging applications digitally via the Planning Portal at any time,

• No paper copies of documents or plans required for lodgement,

• Naming the files and allocating them to a category within the Planning Portal, and

• A greater number of documents to be lodged with your application.

How do I pay fees?

Council will provide you with a Fee Estimate and this can be paid either in person, or by phone. Details are on the Fee Estimate.

To apply for a Development Application online, you must be registered with the NSW Planning Portal.

The Planning Portal also allows you to login using your Service NSW account.

The NSW Government have produced a ‘How To’ guide to assist you available on the Planning Portal link below.

The builder, draftsperson, shed company or home improvement company may be able to lodge your application on your behalf. Discuss this option with them.

Take me to the Planning Portal to create an account(External link)

How to register for a Planning Portal account

Step 2 – Gather and prepare your documentation

PDF format

• All forms, plans, photos and documents must be submitted as PDF files.
• Security settings — including passwords and editing restrictions — must not be applied to these files.

Mandatory documentation

As part of Council’s testing of the Planning Portal, we have discovered that the following documents must be uploaded to the Planning Portal in order to lodge your application. Council has developed templates to assist you in having a document available to upload.

• Statement of Environmental Effects
• BASIX certificate(External link) (new dwellings with a value of works greater than $100,000, swimming pools with a capacity of 40,000 litres or more, or alterations and additions to a dwelling with a value of works greater than $50,000)

Other documentation may be required, depending on the scale and location of the project, including:

• Heritage Impact Statement – where works are in a Heritage Conservation Area or associated with a Heritage Item
• Clause 4.6 Variation request – where a variation to a Local Environmental Plan variation is requested

Plans

1. Should be to a standard scale (1:100, 1:200, 1:500), rotated to landscape and provided in PDF or PDF/A format. Plans should not be scanned and must be directly created or converted into PDF or PDF/A format. This enables Council’s assessment officers to accurately measure off the plans digitally.
2. Must be converted electronically rather than printed and scanned
3. Should be A3 size or less and at a maximum scale of 1:100 or 1:200 (unless previously agreed to by our Council staff) with the scale and size clearly displayed on all plan sheets.
4. Colour plans are highly desirable and are to have a resolution between 300 and 900dpi.
5. Black and white plans may be accepted on the basis that they are created in grayscale at a resolution of at least 300dpi.
6. Plans should be grouped together with their relevant plan type as a separate PDF file following a naming convention of: ‘Site plan – 158 Russell Street Bathurst’, ‘BASIX certificate – 158 Russell Street Bathurst’.
7. Floor plans must be provided in their own separate file, together with a redacted (edited to hide the internal layout of the dwelling) floor plan, and not combined with any other plan.
8. The specific plans and documents will vary depending on your development. Generally, the following plans will be required for most applications:
   • A Statement of Environmental Effects
   • Plans of the proposed development including site plan, floor plans, elevations and sections
   • Plans demonstrating proposed landscaping
   • Plans of existing development (if being retained wholly or partly)
   • Subdivision Plans (if a subdivision is proposed)
   • BASIX Certificate(External link) (residential developments including swimming pools) and plans demonstrating commitments

Step 3 – Lodge your application

It’s your responsibility to provide all required information with enough detail for a decision to be made.

The Planning Portal will indicate mandatory documentation, however, you may also be required to upload additional documents. If you are unsure, please contact Council for advice. Getting this right will save time and money. We’ll aim to review your application within 3 business days of receiving it. The pre-lodgement review determines the suitability of the application for lodgement. It is not a comprehensive assessment of the application. If more information is required, we’ll be in touch.

When your application is ready to proceed, we’ll request payment via email with a fee estimate attached. The application will only be lodged once payment is received. Timeframes are a guide only.

How to lodge your application guide

How to provide additional information guide

I’m ready to lodge, Take me to the Planning Portal(External link)

Step 4 – Pay for your application

Application fees will be calculated by Council staff and provided to you in writing after we’ve received your Development Application. Council aims to email you a fee estimate within 48 hours of receiving notification of the application being lodged. The assessment of your Development Application will not commence until all outstanding fees have been paid.

The fee estimate provided by Council will relate to the lodgement of applications only. Further conditions relating to the payment of fees, including Section 7.12 developer contributions and headworks charges may also be imposed as part of any consents. These fees can only be determined definitively as part of the assessment process and will be included in the conditions of consent. It is recommended that you contact a Council planner to determine whether or not Section 7.12 developer contributions may also be payable to Council in respect of your application.

Step 5 – Lodge your Construction Certificate Documentation (Optional)

Building works

Council offers certification services for all new and alterations to residential and commercial projects.

If you are wishing to appoint Wentworth Shire Council as your certifier, you will be required to lodge the following post-consent applications:

1. Construction Certificate Application,
2. Principal Certifier Agreement, and
3. Occupation Certificate Application.

Lodgement of these applications can be made prior to the determination of a Development Application, however, these applications will not be determined until the Development Application has been determined.

Application fees will be calculated by Council staff and provided to you in writing after we’ve received your application. Council aims to email you a fee estimate within 48 hours of receiving notification of the application being lodged. The assessment of your Construction Certificate will not commence until all outstanding fees have been paid and the Development Application has been determined.

If payment is not received within 3 business days, your application may be returned to you.