Oh, Yes!! (This is not a sign of a positive emotion) First of all, you are not allowed to have a conversation with your assigned assessing officer. In the last two years, I only managed to speak to the Council’s officer on a handful of occasions. And this is not for the lack of trying. I estimate I made around 300 calls to the Council in this time. Often, it was important to talk to the Council in order to progress…
Reportedly, it is not uncommon for the approval of a DA for construction of residential dwelling in the Campbelltown City Council area to take in excess of 2 years. Our DA has not reached that mark yet – check out the counter in the top right corner of this page for current timing. Just for example, It took the Council about half a year to reach internal consensus of what would be the Council’s requirements to the size of the…
In a typical scenario, your major costs to build on a block of land are the cost of purchase plus the cost of construction. No one would typically expect major costs for the construction of a residential dwelling to be beyond this simple formula. And then comes unexpected! In order to review your development application, the Council will require you to pay: Item Cost Council application fee $4,200.00 Bushfire Assessment Report $6,817.69 Flora and Fauna Assesment Report $5,280.00 Land Contamination…
As we experienced, there will be no profit from the purchase of the land in the Campbelltown City Council. Lets do some sums. You buy a block of land for $500,000. You live on a rent for a period of construction – well, you need to live somewhere, so this does notcount. Say your land purchase loan has 6% interest – in 3 years, you will pay $90,000. During this period, you will pay, at the Council’s whim, in excess…
I spoke to RFS getting an update on the review progress. RFS did finally sent update to the council. However the communication was not a review result but a request for an additional information. They suggested to follow up with the council on what happens next. I just sent email to the council (remember, council will not talk to you as an applicant over the phone, the only way they accept communication is via email!) I was advised by RFS…
In the morning, RFS advised that they sent the response back to the Council on Friday 22/09/2017. Apparently, they again require an additional information. Just sent an email to the Council advising them that RFS sent back the response and asking if any additional information will be required from me as an applicant. No response from the Council yet…
Called RFS today and they advised that the update is still not ready. The gentleman on the phone in fact recognized me that I called on Monday (he actually thought it was yesterday but it was Monday). Will try to call them again on Friday…
In the call to RFS today (apparently it is called Planning and Development section, not Development Control), they told me that the update from RFS with responses to Council questions will be ready today or tomorrow! Can’t wait!
Called RFS again and got a different person on the phone. He did in fact find the review request and confirmed the timeline facts as provided by the Council in the email. Go figure…
Email from the Council: Council has provided a request and has received a response from the NSW RFS. Council has sought further clarification from the RFS and they are responding accordingly. Your property address and Lot and DP have been included in all Council’s and the RFS’s correspondence. Council has responded to the NSW RFS’s comments dated 29 August via email tonight (6 September) seeking further technical clarification. Upon receipt of such clarification Council will be in a position to…