• You can attend a pre-application meeting or get advice in writing before you lodge a development application.
  • Before you request a meeting or written advice, it’s important to give EPSDD all the required information.

Before you lodge your development application (DA), make sure you have all the information and advice. You can contact EPSDD's DA Gateway team to ask questions and check if you’re submitting everything you need.

Pre-application meetings

You can ask to have a pre-application meeting with EPSDD before you lodge your DA. You’ll need to submit your pre-application online via eDevelopment. The DA Gateway team will invite you and other relevant people to raise and discuss potential issues before you lodge your DA.

These meetings happen at specific times and days of the week. The DA Gateway team considers demand and when stakeholders are available, so bookings are important.

Attendees

A case officer from the DA Gateway team will come to the pre-application meeting. A member of the Assessment team may also attend.

Officers that represent referral entities may also attend where relevant.

Duration and format

Pre-application meetings are usually one hour long, and held online via Microsoft Teams. The DA Gateway team will include all the details for the online meeting in their email invitation. If possible, they may be able to hold the meeting in person.

During the meeting, the case officer will take notes on the discussion, the issues raised and the advice they give you. They will save a copy of these notes on file and send you (or the applicant) a copy.

Fees

There is no fee to book or attend a pre-application meeting, or to get a record of the meeting. Please note formal pre-DA advice may attract a fee.

Written advice

Like a pre-application meeting, you may apply to the EPSDD for written pre-application advice. Once you lodge your application with the EPSDD, they will liaise with relevant stakeholders and will consolidated all advice. No formal meeting occurs during this process.

Written advice will include:

  • if the proposed development is likely to be exempt from DA approval, assessable or prohibited
  • if the EPSDD believes the proposal is for significant development, they’ll let you know if any extra processes may apply. For example, this might include:
  • what entity advice you will need
  • public notification requirements, including if any exemptions apply
  • if the proposed development is consistent with the Crown lease, if it needs a lease variation, and if so, if you must pay a lease variation charge
  • any extra information and documents you may need for the DA, and
  • any other assessment information. For example, help to understand the statutory planning requirements or Territory Plan.

Pre-application advice will help you understand the process for assessing your proposal, and it's not a final decision for the proposal. The EPSDD isn’t bound by that advice when considering a future DA.

Fees

You may need to pay a fee for written pre-application advice. Make sure you understand what these costs might be before.

Documentation required

It's important to give EPSDD all the information they need to help consider and advise on your proposal.

Missing information may limit and delay the advice they send you.

Generally, you will need to provide the following:

  • signed authorisation from the lessee (owner) to conduct the pre-application meeting or provide written advice, if the applicant is not the lessee
  • the following plans and drawings, drawn to an appropriate scale:
  • site plans
  • floor plans, and
  • elevation plans.

Note: Concept plans may be enough, depending on the nature of the proposed development.

  • details of which statutory requirements or elements of the Territory Plan you need advice on
  • details of any departures (deviations) from the Territory Plan
  • location details, such as block and section and/or address
  • details of any discussions you've had with referral entities or Government agencies, for example, the ACT Heritage Council, Transport Canberra, and City Services, or the Conservator of Flora and Fauna and
  • any other relevant supporting information.

How to get pre-application advice

To get pre-application advice, you'll need to request a pre-application meeting or formal written advice on eDevelopment.

You can contact the DA Gateway team for general information before submitting your application.