Development Advice & Pre-Lodgement Meeting Services

The initial/general development enquiry is great if you have a simple enquiry or require general advice on a development matter. These enquires are free of charge.

Your initial/general enquiry might involve a question like:

• What are the setback requirements for a new shed on my property?
• Can I subdivide my block?
• Do I need approval from Council?
• What information do I need to provide in an application?
• How does the development process work?
• What is the zone of my block, what does this mean?

These enquiries will generally be simple enquiries for general discussion on a proposal and the planning scheme or application requirements. General information will be provided including zone, overlays and codes that apply to development, where to find the information and how to lodge an application. This level of information provided will be general in nature but provide sufficient guidance to take the next steps for your development.

Initial/general development advice will be provided via a phone call with the Duty Planner or email advice and will be responded to in 2-5 business days.

To log an enquiry please access online services "Customer Service Enquiries" Development and Planning and log details of your enquiry.

Note: Complex queries or queries seeking specific, technical information may not be appropriate as a general development enquiry. The reviewing Duty Planner will determine if your query is general in nature or specific written advice or if a formal pre-lodgement meeting is required. 

Livingstone Shire Council is committed to providing customers with an efficient, responsive and friendly pre-lodgement development service. Part of Council’s commitment to provide quality service includes general planning and property advice as well as pre-lodgement meetings. 

The purpose of a pre-lodgement meeting is to provide an opportunity for applicants and Council Officers to discuss key matters relevant to a specific proposal. The meeting will include Council Officers from various specialist areas including town planning, engineering, environmental health and natural resource management. 

A pre-lodgement meeting is a great way to get feedback on your proposed development in the early planning stages and/or before lodgement. Together Council and the Developer can work collectively to set out the pre-lodgement and application approach to any development including complex or major development.

Council can help you with:

• detailed pre-lodgement meetings, including meeting notes
• advice from senior council officers from multiple disciplines
• pre-assessment of technical reports
• making the application process more efficient
• resolving issues before you lodge your application

To help Council provide the best advice, you need to have:

• a detailed description of the request, and
• supporting documentation prepared by suitably qualified consultant
• an agenda or list of questions for Council officers
• a completed Pre-lodgement meeting request form accompanying lodgement of your Development Pre-lodgement application.

How to arrange a pre-lodgement meeting with Council

Pre-lodgement meetings are held every Wednesday morning from 10am. Requests for meetings should be lodged via online services a minimum of two weeks prior to the proposed meeting date. Your meeting request will be allocated to a development case manager who will contact you for initial discussion and securing the meeting booking.

Pre-lodgement meetings incur a fee which is payable the day prior to the scheduled meeting. Payment of the fee can be provided when the development pre-lodgement application is lodged online or Council can issue an invoice.

• $550.00 fee for smaller development proposals (1 into 2 lots, less than 6 units, small-scale commercial or industrial development, extensive non-compliance with acceptable outcomes for dwellings, sheds, carports)
• $1,000.00 fee for more complex proposals including ROL more than 2 lots, variation applications, impact development)

The fee is charged per meeting and includes specialist technical comments and advice, meeting (face to face or teams) and written minutes of the discussions provided within 5 business days following the meeting.

Please note that information provided at a pre-lodgement meeting is given in good faith and it in no way binds a decision by the Council.

Having a pre-lodgement meeting is an opportunity for you to present and discuss your development proposal with Council. During the meeting, officers will try to assist you by identifying likely issues, and may suggest solutions to make your development work better. While Council will endeavour to give accurate and constructive advice, your meeting does not replace or pre-empt a full assessment, which will be conducted after you lodge your application.

Following the pre-lodgement meeting applicants will receive a copy of the Minutes of the meeting outlining the matters discussed. The information provided is intended to be used as a guide only and does not constitute a detailed assessment and in no way guarantees the outcome of any subsequent assessment process. For complex proposals Applicants may still need to seek assistance from professionals such as town planning consultants, architects, engineers, designers and surveyors. 

Online Interactive Mapping Tool (incluses Zoning and Overlays) 

5 Business Days

A limited planning and development certificate contains the following information for a premises.

• A summary of the provisions of any planning scheme or charges resolution applying specifically to the premises.
• If a TLPI applies to the premises and suspends or otherwise affects the operation of a planning scheme provision stated in paragraph (a) - a description of the way in which the TLPI suspends or otherwise affects the provision.
• If a variation approval is in effect for the premises - a description of the way in which the variation approval varies the effect of a planning scheme provision.
• If a State planning instrument applies to the premises - the name of the instrument.
• A description of any designation applying to the premises.
• A copy of any information recorded for the premises in the infrastructure charges register kept by the local government.

10 Business Days

A standard planning and development certificate, in addition to the information contained in a limited planning and development certificate, contains the following information for premises:

• A copy of every decision notice or negotiated decision notice for a development approval in effect for the premises.
• Details of any changes made to a development approval in effect for the premises.
• Details of any approval given to extend the currency period of a development approval in effect for the premises.
• A copy of every deemed approval notice relating to the premises, if the development approval that the notice relates to has not lapsed.
• A copy of every continuing approval stated in the repealed IPA, section 6.1.23(1)(a) to (d) relating to, and in effect for, the premises, including any approval, consent or permission that, under the repealed LGP&E Act, section 8.10(8) was continued in effect as if it were an approval, consent or permission stated in the repealed IPA, section 6.1.23(1)(a) to (d).
• Details of any decision to approve or refuse an application to amend a planning scheme made under the repealed LGP&E Act, section 4.3, including any conditions of approval, relating to the premises.
• A copy of every compliance certificate given under the old Act relating to the premises and in effect at the time the standard planning and development certificate is given, including any changes made to the compliance certificate.
• A copy of any exemption certificate for development on the premises given by the local government under section 46 of the Act, including— (i) the day the certificate was given; and (ii) if the certificate is no longer in effect for the premises—the day it stopped having effect.
• A copy of any judgement or order of the P&E Court, a tribunal or a building and development dispute resolution committee under the old Act, about— (i) a development approval in effect for the premises; or (ii) a condition included in a compliance certificate in effect for the premises.
• A copy of any agreement that the local government is a party to about a development condition of a development approval in effect for the premises.
• A copy of any agreement that a referral agency is a party to about a development condition of a development approval in effect for the premises, if the local government has been given a copy of the agreement.
• A copy of any infrastructure agreement applying to the premises that the local government— (i) is a party to; or (ii) has received a copy of under section 153 of the Act.
• A description of each amendment, proposed to be made by the local government to its planning scheme, that has not yet been made at the time the certificate is given.
• If the premises are within a declared master planned area— (i) a copy of each master plan (a current master plan) applying to the premises that continues to have effect under section 315 of the Act; and (ii) a copy of each notice of decision or negotiated decision given under the old Act about a master plan application under that repealed Act for a current master plan; and (iii) a copy of any judgement or order of the P&E Court or a building and development committee under the old Act about a condition included in a current master plan.
• A copy of any decision notice given for a change application made under section 317 of the Act to change a rezoning condition that applies to the premises.

30 Business Days

A full planning and development certificate, in addition to the information contained in a limited and standard certificate.

• If a relevant approval for the premises includes conditions (including conditions about the carrying out of works or the payment of money, other than under an infrastructure agreement) imposed, or required to be imposed, by the local government - a statement about the fulfilment or non-fulfilment of each condition, at a stated day after the day the certificate was applied for.
• If an infrastructure agreement applies to the premises and the local government is a party to the agreement - (i) details of the nature and extent of any obligations under the agreement that have not been fulfilled; and (ii) details of any security required under the agreement, including whether any payment required to be made under the security has been made.
• Details of any prosecution, or proceedings for a prosecution, for a development offence under the Act, the old Act or the repealed IPA relating to the premises that the local government is aware of.