Pre-Application Meetings (PAM)

PAM’s are generally not held for dual occupancies, dwelling houses, dwelling alterations/additions, or development ancillary to residential land uses (e.g. swimming pools, garages, awnings etc.).

You can always speak to Council’s Duty Officers (planning, engineering and building) on 9839 6000 for small scale developments or you can attend council’s gateway counter for advice from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday except public holidays.

Please refer to the relevant “Request a PAM” form for the information that is required with your PAM request.

Note: The more detailed the information you provide in support of your development proposal, the greater understanding we will have in giving you advice. You will not be provided advice for concepts that are proposed in the meeting and are therefore requested to be prepared so that Council officers can investigate any particular issues in advance.

PAM’s here at Blacktown are all free of charge. It is hoped that this encourages you to discuss your development ideas with us first and then incorporate our advice into your proposal.

Experienced Council officers will be available for your teleconference meeting including Town Planners, Civil Engineers, Traffic Management Officers, Waste Management Officers, Environmental Health Officers, Building Surveyors, our City Architect, Biodiversity Officers, or other relevant officers where required. 

Yes. You can discuss your proposal with the Duty Town Planner prior to lodging your request for a PAM. The Duty Planner can be contacted on (02) 9839 6000 during office hours or alternatively at the Gateway Counter located at the Civic Centre between 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. 

Your proposed development may be integrated development with an external government authority under other NSW legislation, or require a referral to an external government or regulatory authority. You are advised to seek early advice and discuss your proposed development with the relevant external government authority prior to booking a PAM. You may also invite the relevant authority to attend the meeting with you.

Please refer to the below links for information on external government and regulatory authorities:

• Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (including the former Office of Environment and Heritage) - https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/.
• Roads and Maritimes Services (RMS) - https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/
• NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) - https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/
• NSW Department of Education - https://education.nsw.gov.au/
• Water NSW - https://www.waternsw.com.au/
• NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) - https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/
• Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) - https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/
• The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) - https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/natural-resources-access-regulator
• NSW Police Force - https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/
• TransGrid - https://www.transgrid.com.au/
• Endeavour Energy - http://www.endeavourenergy.com.au/
•  Sydney Water - http://www.sydneywater.com.au/

PAM’s are held virtually using Microsoft Teams with customers and Council officers from a range of disciplines in a meeting room at Council’s Civic Centre at 62 Flushcombe Road, Blacktown.

Meetings are typically held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

A virtual meeting using Microsoft Teams will be arranged with you to discuss your proposal.

All meetings are commercial-in-confidence.

We will contact you once we have received your request however you are advised to book at least 2 weeks in advance of the date on which you want to have the meeting. 

The meetings are scheduled for a maximum of 1 hour. Council officers may consider a second PAM to go through issues raised in the earlier meeting.

Council officers will not commit to or guarantee any proposed variations to policy, controls or guidelines in a PAM. Any variations will be subject to a detailed planning assessment when the development application is lodged. Council officers will advise you of any necessary supporting information required if you wish to pursue amendments or a variation to the prevailing planning controls.

A Council officer is present at the meeting to take minutes. You will be provided with e-mailed minutes after your meeting to confirm matters discussed in the meeting.  We will endeavour to provide your PAM minutes within 15 working days. These will be sent to you by e-mail with the details you provide on your booking request form. 

The minutes will include the matters discussed in the meeting, and other information we hope you find useful that will assist you prepare the documents for your development application, should you choose to pursue a development application.

Currently we are holding PAMs as virtual meetings using Microsoft Teams, there is no need to attend council.

A maximum of five professionals may attend the virtual meeting using Microsoft Teams, preferably with one spokesperson to ensure the meeting can be conducted in an orderly manner. 

All meetings will now be provided via a virtual meeting using Microsoft Teams. No Permissions is given at any time to record our verbal advice.

• Please access the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s (DPIE) website through the following link: https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/.

  Note: the DPIE has superseded the Department of Planning and Environment (“DPE”) as the regulatory authority for NSW state planning matters. However, you can still access the DPE’s website which includes useful information through the following link: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/

• Please access NSW Planning Portal to assist you to understand and meet the requirements of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 through the following link: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/