Basix Certificate
The Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) is a web based planning tool designed to assess the potential performance of residential buildings against a range of sustainability indices. The BASIX Certificate identifies the sustainability features required to be incorporated in the building design, such as recycled water, roofwater tanks, AAA rated showerheads, native landscaping, wall/ceiling insulation and the like.
The applicant is required to submit the BASIX Certificate with the Development Application or Complying Development Certificate. The plans and specifications must also identify the BASIX commitments. Applicants can only generate the BASIX Certificate on the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) inter-active website www.basix.nsw.gov.au
Planning & Development
Planning and Development Services
Assessment and approval of development activity to achieve consistently high quality development outcomes for Blacktown City are the primary functions of the Planning and Development Services Directorate of Council. The Directorate is comprised of a series of Teams of professional staff dealing with the issues involved in assessment, approval, inspection and certification of development and construction work in Blacktown. These Teams are committed to providing high quality and efficient service to all customers, with optimal response times to ensure a productive and effective community and business relationship.
The primary functional areas of the Directorate are:
The Development Services Unit (DSU)
The Development Services Unit (DSU)
Council's DSU, an integral part of the Planing and Development Services Directorate, has the responsibility for ensuring the smooth and effective processing of development applications, construction, complying development and subdivision certificates, as well as compliance and occupation certificates.
Council, through the DSU, offers a competitive and comprehensive package of approval and inspection services for all types of development by way of experienced staff well versed in the legislative and community issues involved in development projects.
To ensure that future development applications to Council are both accurate and complete in terms of their content, the Development Services Unit offers all landowners / developers the service of Pre-Lodgement Meetings. These meetings are strongly encouraged by Council and help to identify and resolve, at the outset, any issues of non-compliance with Council's established development control criteria. This in turn reduces the complexity of the development application and can often mean that the development assessment timeframe is reduced along with the level of neighbourhood concern. Pre-Lodgement Meetings are conducted free of charge and can be organised by arranging an appointment with Council's Senior Town Planners within the Development Services Unit. Prior to contacting Council however, please ensure that preliminary concept plans for your proposal have been prepared in accordance with Council's development control criteria, and are available for discussion at the meeting with Council officers
The DSU is split into several functional sub-units, as follows:
| Building Services and Administration | Development Services | Engineering Approvals |
| Manager:
Peter Smith |
Manager:
Gareth Ponton |
Co-Ordinator:
Robert Marshall |
The Building Services and Administration Team deals generally with development approvals and inspections for residential development, such as dwellings, carports, garages, swimming pools and the like. This Team is comprised of professional Building Surveyors and an administrative support team, which are able to provide a complete package of all approval, certification and inspection services.
The Development Services Team is comprised of Council's Statutory Town Planners, and deals with larger and more complex developments, which may also involve input from other Government bodies such as the Department of Environment and Conservation, the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, the Roads and Traffic Authority and the Rural Fire Service. Typically these developments in Blacktown are such things as residential flat buildings, multi-lot residential housing, factory/warehouse developments, commercial/shopping centre development and property subdivisions.
The Engineering Approvals Team deals with all engineering development matters, including those subject to competition under the provisions of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Council's Engineers provide a complete approval and inspection service, including Subdivision and Construction Certificates.
The senior staff involved in these areas are:
| Senior Building Surveyors | Senior Town Planners | Senior Engineers |
|
David Apps
|
Perry Bezzina
|
Anthony Shorten
|
Building Regulatory and Policy
Aside from areas involved in building approval and inspection services, the Building Regulatory and Policy Teams of the Directorate also perform valuable functions in relation to development control, fire safety and general building matters. The Regulatory Team deals with the day to day operation of such things as Council's Tree Preservation Order, the issue of Building Certificates on older buildings and investigation of unauthorised structures and development.
The Building Policy Unit is a support arm of the other Building Teams, concerned with fire safety on older buildings, building regulation and approval advice, authorisation of places of public entertainment and maintenance of Council's essential fire safety measures certification program.
| Executive Building Surveyor | Building Supervisor - Regulatory |
| Brian Malouf | Neville McDonald |
Planning Policy and Strategy
The Planning Policy and Strategy Section of the Directorate is responsible for establishing, maintaining and reviewing the long-term or "strategic" framework within which development throughout the City of Blacktown is assessed.
The Section is divided into two core functional areas. The primary role of the first of these, the Planning Strategy Team is the coordination and preparation of planning strategies for large-scale urban release areas in the LGA. This includes the preparation of a range of environmental studies and statutory documents to ensure that urban development is of a high quality standard that meets the needs of the City's growing population, whilst balancing environmental, social and economic considerations.
The Planning Policy Team provides advice and input on planning policies and procedures, assists in the interpretation of planning law and oversees information supplied on Section 149 (Planning) Certificates. The Team provides specialist advice on heritage issues and is responsible for the identification and protection of heritage properties in the Blacktown Local Government Area as well as administering Council's Heritage Fund. This Team also deals with all legal matters involving planning legislation, including the investigation of unauthorised and illegal uses, Class 4 prosecutions and Class 1 Appeals in the Land and Environment Court.
|
Manager Policy and Strategy — Robert Scott | |
|
Executive Planners |
Senior Planners |
|
Chris Shannon(Strategy) |
Fiona Barnwell (Strategy) |
|
Sue Galt (Policy) |
Glenn Apps (Policy) |
For updates on current strategic initiatives click here
Some Useful Links
NSW Department of Planning: http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.asp
Local Government and Shires Association of NSW: http://www.lgsa.org.au/site/
NSW Department of Local Government: http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_home.asp
Department of Environment and Conservation http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/index.htm