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Development One Stop Shop

Pre-application Briefings of the Development Consent Authority

 

What are Pre-application Briefings with the DCA?

This service provides applicants with the opportunity to brief the members of the relevant Division of the DCA on their forthcoming proposal and receive their feedback and questions. DCA pre-application briefings are held directly following scheduled DCA meetings.

DCA meetings will be held bi-monthly in the Divisions of Darwin and Litchfield from July 2009 and monthly in the Divisions of Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs.  For information on the scheduled meeting dates for each of the DCA Divisions please visit www.nt.gov.au/planning/dca/dates.shtml 

The DCA Divisions of Batchelor and Tennant Creek meet on an as needed basis. For advice on upcoming meeting dates and opportunities to book an appointment to brief these Divisions please contact Development Assessment Services on 8999 6046.

Appointments are generally for a half hour period, however if the complexity of a proposal warrants additional time this can be requested when you book your appointment.  Briefings are confidential and there is no limit to the number of times that you may book an appointment to brief the DCA.

The Briefings are not a substitute for individual consultation with agencies on the specific details of your application that might require upfront negotiation or detailed technical knowledge.  A detailed assessment of technical or design aspects of your proposal will occur during the formal assessment process established by the Planning Act after you have lodged your development application.

 

Who should make an appointment to brief the DCA?

Any prospective applicant can book an appointment to brief the DCA, although it may be of greater benefit to proponents of larger scale proposals due to the more complex nature of the assessment requirements.

 

Who will attend the Briefing?

The Briefing will be attended by members of the relevant Division of the DCA and planners from Development Assessment Services (DAS).  If you would like staff of the local council to attend, this should be requested when you book your appointment.

You may invite others to the meeting such as a consultant or other representatives.

 

What information do I need to provide to the DCA and when do I provide it?

The decision on what, if anything, to provide to DCA members prior to the appointment rests with  you and will depend on where you are in the development and design phase of your proposal and the matters on which you want feedback.

Appointments can be booked up to two months in advance and up to two weeks prior to your selected day.

If you wish to have documentation circulated to DCA members it is your responsibility to ensure the information is delivered to DAS by close of business 14 days prior to your appointment (i.e. if your appointment is for Friday 20 January any documentation should be submitted by Friday 6 January).  This will ensure that DCA members receive your documentation with their regular agenda and have adequate opportunity to review it.

Documentation can be submitted:

  • Electronically in PDF format if the file size is no greater than 5MB and emailed to das.dpi@nt.gov.au; or
  • On CD ROM or Memory Stick (all documentation must be in PDF format) or In hard copy and delivered to the relevant DAS Office:

    * Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield & Batchelor DCA - Ground Floor, Cavenagh House, 38 Cavenagh Street, Darwin;
    * Katherine DCA - First Floor, Katherine Government Centre, 5 First Street, Katherine;
    * Alice Springs & Tennant Creek DCA -First Floor, Alice Plaza, Cnr Todd Mall and Parsons Street, Alice Springs

An additional CD ROM, memory stick or hard copy should be provided if, when you booked your appointment, you requested local council staff to attend.  When submitting documentation you should include your name, contact information and the date of your appointment.

 

Book an appointment?

Book an appointment for a Pre-application Briefing of the DCA in Darwin, Litchfield, Palmerston, Katherine, or Alice Springs via the Online Planning Appointments system .

Alternatively you can book by telephone on 8999 6046.

After you book your appointment you will be contacted by Development Assessment Services staff to confirm the exact time of your appointment on your selected day.  Appointments will generally be late in the morning or in the early afternoon; the exact time will be dependent on the DCA meeting agenda for that day.

If you require detailed information on the policies and requirements of relevant agencies or information on the manner in which your proposal will be assessed against the NT Planning Scheme you should consider making an appointment for the Pre-application Planning Forum or a Pre-application Meeting with a Planner.