Expert help for complex DAs

• About building and development in Woollahra
• Development rules (LEP, DCPs, Planning Proposals etc.)
• Objections and comments
• Submit a DA
  • DA process overview
  • Prepare your application
    • Expert help for complex DAs
    • Statement of Environmental Effects
    • Construction Management Plan (CMP)
  • Avoid assessment delays
  • Developments over $750,000
  • Submitting 3D digital models
  • Pre-DA consultation service
  • Disclosure statements
  • Lodge your application
    • Rejection at lodgement
  • DA fees
  • About Development Applications
    • Incomplete or misleading applications
• Notifications, assessing and determining DAs
• Major Development Applications (DAs)
• Once your development is approved (building certification)
• Building safety regulations
• Building and development forms

We recommend that you get expert help when preparing DAs for more complex developments. Whilst most architects are able to handle most residential developments, larger or more complex developments may require design input from a wide range of experts including:

• Access Consultants (Disabled Access & Facilities)
• Acoustic Engineers (Noise and Attenuation design)
• Arborist (Tree Preservation)
• Building Surveyors (Building Code of Australia & Fire Safety)
• Environmental Engineers (Acid Sulphate Soils or Contaminated Land)
• Flooding & Stormwater Engineers (Flooding & Hydraulic design)
• Geotechnical/Hydrogeological Engineers (Excavation and groundwater)
• Heritage Consultants (Heritage Items and Conservation)
• Landscape Architect (Landscape Design)
• Project Manager (Overall coordination role)
• Quantity Surveyor (Estimate the value of work)
• Registered Surveyor (Detailed contour and other surveys)
• Town Planners (Statement of Environmental Effects)
• Traffic Engineers (Traffic and Parking impacts and design)
• Urban Design Architects and Planners

The best way to find the right expert is by personal referral and through their professional associations or accreditation bodies (we have given links above to the associations/bodies best known to us but you need to do you own background checks before employing anyone).

You should visit the Building Professionals Board when selecting an Accredited Certifier or Principal Certifying Authority for the building (Construction Certificate) stage and beyond.  More information about Construction Certificates and Principal Certifying Authority Services.

The other good way to select an expert is by their demonstrated performance in Land and Environment Court cases as advocate experts or Court Appointed Experts. The Court's judgements often pass comment on whether or not the Court accepted the evidence of particular experts and what weight the Court gave to such evidence. You can search the judgements online.

We cannot recommend any particular individual.