NSW DA readiness checklist

Establish the site and the intended work

1. Record the site address and the proposed residential work in a short, shared brief.
2. Check the approval pathway with the relevant authority or adviser. Record unanswered pathway questions.
3. Identify the applicable planning information and site constraints using current official sources. Keep the source and date with your notes.
4. Identify the professional inputs needed for the site and proposal.

Assemble the current document set

The NSW pre-lodgement guide explains that submission information varies by site and proposal. It identifies examples such as a survey, site analysis, Statement of Environmental Effects, owner’s consent, sustainability information and specialist material. Confirm the actual list with the relevant authority.

1. List each available drawing or report, its revision, issue date and intended purpose.
2. Check that the documents describe the same proposal and site.
3. Keep expired, withdrawn and superseded material clearly identified in history. Use current material for current facts and measurements.
4. Record the owner and expected next action for each outstanding input.

Review the evidence against requirements

1. For each requirement, identify the supporting file and the relevant page, section or drawing.
2. Check the evidence’s scope and currency before accepting an extracted fact or proposed interpretation.
3. Record conflicting information as a review question with the sources needed to resolve it.
4. Keep a professional review decision and any remaining limitation alongside the evidence.

Prepare the handover

An effective handover tells the reviewer what has been checked and what remains open. For example, a revised site plan may be present while the accompanying report still refers to the previous design. Record that mismatch and the required update before treating the pair as consistent.

1. Review unresolved findings, consultant inputs and actions.
2. Check the submission instructions and document formats with the receiving authority.
3. Keep a dated record of the package and the scope of the review.

What this checklist establishes

This checklist helps organise preparation. It is general guidance and cannot determine the complete requirements for a particular site. An authority’s assessment and professional responsibilities continue through the application process.