DA submissions

Have your say on development applications in support of, or in objection to, a development application by preparing a submission. Before preparing your submission, view the Making a submission about a development application information sheet(PDF, 381KB) to find out more.

To ensure you secure appeal rights, i.e. rights to appeal to the Courts about the decision that Council makes, you must make a "properly made" submission.

Council cannot consider anonymous submissions. To be a valid submitter to a development application, a submission must be properly made in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act 2016. All properly made submissions are published on Application Tracking for viewing in conjunction with the development application. Submissions lodged will generally be published online in their entirety, including name, address and signature.

Submissions will not appear instantly on Application Tracking. Submissions will appear once they have been processed.

Once a development application has been decided in accordance with the Act, the name and address of all submitters who made a properly made submission will be contained in the Council decision which is then provided to the applicant and is available to other submitters. This occurs when the applicant and submitters are advised of Council's decision. 

"Properly made" submissions

A "properly made" submission is one that: 

  • is in writing and received by email, mail or in person
  • is signed by each person who made it (unless made electronically)
  • is received during the notification period, i.e. during the days stipulated in the public notice
  • states clearly the name and address of each person making the submission
  • states the grounds (reasons) for the submission. 

Additional information that may assist Council to process the submission:

  • states the development address it relates to 
  • includes facts and circumstances supporting the grounds (reasons) for the submission
  • includes the council file/reference number (if known)
  • is addressed to Council's assessment manager (if known). 

Process

A submission can be lodged any time after the notification period commences and before midnight on the last day of the notification period, i.e. between the first day and the last day stipulated in the public notice. If Council receives your submission outside of this time, your submission will be deemed not properly made. 

Online

  • Go to ‘Applications on notification’
  • On the required Development application, click the drop down arrow in top right hand corner and select 'Lodge a submission'

Written submission

Note: An electronic submission does not need to be signed but must state the name and address of each person making the submission.

You can withdraw your submission at any time before a decision is made. If you make a "properly made" submission, a copy of the Decision Notice and Development Permit will be posted to you after the application is decided by Council.

If you signed your name in a petition, only the "principal" petitioner, i.e. the person that signed their name first or identifies themselves as the contact person, will receive a copy of the Decision Notice and Development Permit.

If your submission is deemed properly made and you disagree strongly with the decision made by Council, you can make an appeal against the decision to the Planning and Environment Court. 

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