Questions to ask your Town Planner

Question 1

Is the Town Planner familiar with the area you live in?

Town planners usually specialise in certain councils or regions. However, larger town planning firms regularly work across the whole state.

Question 2

Do they have a town planning qualification?

It is always safer to employ a qualified town planner to handle your Development application.

Question 3

Do they regularly work in your council area and do they have a good working relationship with your local council?

Question 4

How experienced is the town planner?

It is good to know who will be managing your application. (a graduate town planner or a senior town planner or both).

Question 5

How interested is the town planner in you project?

It is important to know the level of service you will receive.

Question 6

How busy is the Town planner?

The workload of a town planner can sometimes affect the way they manage your application with the council.

Questions About the Application Process

Question 7

Is your town planner prepared to manage your application process?

Question 8

Is your town planner willing to coordinate reports required from other consultants?

Coordination with other consultants is one of the most important aspects of the application process. Lack of project coordination can result in a disaster. A town planner can coordinate with the architect, engineer, ecologist, council, and other parties to gain the best possible outcome for the applicant.

Question 9

Do we need a pre-application/ pre-lodgement meeting with the council town planners? Why or why not?

Pre-application/ pre-lodgement meetings are a great way for the applicant and town planner to meet with council town planners and discuss the application and any possible issues that might arise (some council charge a fee for pre-application/ pre-lodgement meetings).

Question 10

How long will it take them to prepare an application to the Council?

Question 11

What costs are involved in preparing the application?

Council fees?
Other fees?
Town Planner fees?

Question 12

Are there any post lodgment costs?

If there is an information request, does the town planner charge an hourly rate or a set fee?

Question 13

Do neighbours or other interested parties have a right to object to our proposal?

Will the application be of a type where interested parties have a right to object and make submissions to council?

Question 14

When do they expect a decision from council?

This really depends on the council, however, a town planner can inform you with an approximate timeframe.

Question 15

What infrastructure charges/ contributions are we expected to pay to the council after the approval?

When your application is approved, the applicant will usually need to pay infrastructure charges to the council for: roads, parks, public transport, street lighting, water supply, reticulated sewerage?etc. these charges can range from $5000 to $80,000 or more. Make sure to ask your town planner for an estimate or your local council for a more accurate fee.

Question 16

Do I have a right of appeal to the council decision?

Question 17

Do neighbours or other interested parties have a right to appeal the council?s decision?

Question 18

In the event of an appeal, where are the likely costs?

You might need to employ a lawyer that specialises in appeals. Ask your town planner if they are willing to act as an expert witness for your appeal.