The entities that are referred a DA may change depending on the type of proposed development, the location and other variables. Referral may also be mandated under legislation in certain cases.

The list below outlines the most common referral entities and what to expect from their advice.

  • Evoenergy will usually be referred DAs to comment on any proposed electrical or gas works or impacts, including:
    • if they can provide a connection
    • how it fits into the wider network, and
    • how the development will meet relevant standards.
  • Icon Water will usually be referred DAs to comment on:
    • how a proposed development may impact on water and sewerage infrastructure, including:
    • the availability and capacity of the network, and
    • how the development will meet relevant standards.
  • Transport Canberra and City Services, within the City and Environment Directorate (CED) will usually be referred DAs to comment on:
    • road and verge infrastructure
    • traffic impacts
    • parking impacts
    • street trees impacts
    • waste enclosures
    • stormwater, and
    • other municipal issues.
  • the ACT Heritage Council will usually be referred DAs to comment on:
    • impacts to heritage-listed items and places, and
    • other Heritage Act 2004 considerations.
  • the Conservator of Flora and Fauna will usually be referred DAs to comment on:
    • the general environmental impacts of a development,
    • consideration of the Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design Guide
    • any impacts to protected matters and protected trees.
  • the Environment Protection Authority will usually be referred DAs to comment on:
    • erosion risks, and
    • contamination impacts and associated remediation
    • noise impacts, and
    • other forms of potential pollution.
  • The ACT Emergency Services Agency will usually be referred DAs to comment on:
    • bushfire risks
    • the capacity of fire hydrants for use during emergencies, and
    • accessibility for emergency service engines, etc.
    • ACT Health will usually be referred DAs to comment on proposed septic systems and developments that propose commercial grade kitchen or medical facilities.
    • The City Renewal Authority will be referred DAs within the Urban Renewal Precinct. Their will generally focus their advice on the design quality of the development.
    • The Suburban Land Agency will be generally be referred DAs that are on land under their custodianship. They will generally focus comments on impacts to their land and interrelation with any anticipated land release or associated infrastructure.
    • The National Capital Authority (NCA) will be referred DAs in Designated Area or subject to Special Requirements under the National Capital Plan (NCP). The NCA will generally focus comments on the consistency of the proposal with the NCP.
    • Worksafe will generally be referred applications to provide advice on developments that involve a hazardous industry or that propose the storage of large quantities of hazardous chemicals.
    • ACT Valuation Office will be referred DAs to comment on valuation reports provided, where a lease variation charge will apply.
    • Education will generally be referred applications proposing new childcare centres and schools. They will generally focus comments on compliance of the proposed development with the required infrastructure standards that apply to the development.
    • Utilities Technical Regulation will generally be referred applications to provide advice on the construction or decommissioning of water storage dams, and proposals for utility-scale power generation.
    • The Climate Change, Water and Energy Division in CED will generally be referred applications to provide advice:
      • greenhouse gas emissions produced by a development
      • major energy infrastructure, such as electrical substations, power generation stations and electricity storage facilities
      • technical water modelling.
    • The Planning and Urban Policy Division in CED will generally be referred DAs to provide advice when an application is presented to the National Capital Design Review Panel (NCDRP), and for major infrastructure works such as road duplications, and utility and water supply works.
    • Loose Fill Asbestos Coordination will generally be referred applications to provide advice on developments on asbestos affected blocks.

The Authority will refer a DA to any other Government entity if they believe it'll have an adverse impact on a matter of interest to that entity. Other entities may also be outlined in the Territory Plan or the Planning Technical Specifications.