Which authorities may be consulted on a residential DA?
The authorities consulted depend on what is affected by your residential development.
For example:
- Evoenergy – electricity or gas infrastructure and connections.
- Icon Water – water and sewer infrastructure.
- TCCS – driveways/verges, roads, traffic, parking, street trees, stormwater, waste and other municipal matters.
- ACT Heritage Council – where heritage-listed places or objects are affected.
- Conservator of Flora and Fauna – environmental matters, protected matters and protected trees.
- EPA – contamination, erosion, noise or other pollution issues.
- ESA – bushfire risk, emergency access and fire-fighting matters.
- ACT Health – matters such as septic systems where relevant.
- NCA – where the site is within a Designated Area or affected by Special Requirements under the National Capital Plan.
So, for a typical dual occupancy, ACT Planning might seek advice from Icon Water or Evoenergy where services are affected, or TCCS where driveway, verge, street-tree or stormwater matters are involved. This does not mean all three are automatically consulted on every application.
Reference: ACT Planning – After you Apply – https://www.planning.act.gov.au/applications-and-assessments/development-applications/after-you-apply
Short Answer
A residential DA may be referred to different authorities depending on the location of the property and what the development affects. Not every residential DA is referred to every authority. ACT Planning determines the required referrals based on the proposal, site and relevant statutory triggers.
Common authorities relevant to residential development can include Evoenergy, Icon Water, Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS), the ACT Heritage Council, the Conservator of Flora and Fauna, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA), ACT Health and the National Capital Authority (NCA).
Detailed Explanation
Under Planning Act 2023, s 170, the Territory Planning Authority must refer a DA to a referral entity prescribed by regulation, an entity specified by the Territory Plan where required, the Conservator where the proposal is likely to significantly adversely affect a protected matter, or another government entity where the proposal is likely to adversely affect a matter in which that entity has an interest or advisory role.
The Planning (General) Regulation 2023, Part 6, particularly ss 33–34, prescribes referral entities and the circumstances in which referrals are required.
ACT Planning's current After you apply ? Entity advice guidance provides the practical list of common referral entities and explains what each generally assesses. It also makes clear that the actual entities referred a DA vary according to the type of development, its location and other relevant variables.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
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