Why You Need a Town Planner on Your Development Team

At OwnerDeveloper, we talk a lot about strategy—and with good reason. The most successful property developers in NSW aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones who build the right team early.

And if you’re planning a duplex, townhouse, multi-dwelling, or custom home development? One of the most important experts to have on your side is a qualified town planning consultant.

Here’s why a town planner is an essential part of your property development journey—and how we integrate them into our full-service model to reduce delays, cut risk, and help you build smarter.

What Does a Town Planner Actually Do?

Town planners (also called town planning consultants or urban planners) are professionals trained in understanding how land use policies, zoning codes, and government planning regulations work.

Their job is to make sure your development is aligned with both state legislation and local council controls—helping you avoid unnecessary compliance issues, rejection letters, and drawn-out application processes.

In practical terms, your town planner will:

✅ Review your design concepts early to ensure compliance

✅ Prepare your Development Application (DA) or Statement of Environmental Effects

✅ Liaise directly with council planners on your behalf

✅ Respond to council requests for changes or further information

✅ Advocate for your project if there are neighbour objections

✅ Represent you in mediation meetings or appeals if required

Sound technical? It is—but that's exactly why they matter.

Why Engage a Town Planner Early?

One of the most expensive mistakes new developers make is bringing in a planner too late.

We’ve seen projects suffer months of delays (and tens of thousands in redraw costs) because someone tried to lodge their DA before getting professional planning advice.

A good town planner will:

• Catch compliance issues before you lock in your design

• Help shape your plans to align with local precedent and policy

• Reduce the risk of application rejection or lengthy RFI (request for information) delays

• Improve your negotiation position with council officers

• Help prepare objection responses if nearby residents or third parties oppose your plans

At OwnerDeveloper, we involve our planning consultants early—often before the architect finishes the first concept sketch. That’s how we avoid costly detours and give our clients a much clearer pathway from idea to approval.

Council Can Be a Maze—Your Planner Is Your Guide

Council planning departments are often overworked, under-resourced, and highly risk-averse. It's not uncommon for first-time developers to feel like they’re hitting a brick wall when trying to navigate the system.

But a town planner who knows the local council—and more importantly, has worked within it—can:

• Speak the same language as planning officers

• Anticipate concerns before they become formal objections

• Build rapport with decision-makers

• Negotiate design changes that avoid rejection

• Attend pre-lodgement meetings to fast-track approval

When done right, planning is a partnership—not a battle.

Our experience shows that taking a cooperative, solutions-focused approach with council officers (with your planner leading the way) gets better results every time.

What Does It Cost to Hire a Town Planner?

Costs vary depending on project complexity, location, and consultant experience. But here’s a general guide:

• DA preparation and reports: $2,500 to $5,000

• Additional RFI responses or objections: Charged hourly

• Court representation (e.g. NSW Land and Environment Court): $3,500–$5,000+

At OwnerDeveloper, we include these costs in our upfront feasibility and scope planning—so you're never surprised by hidden fees or drawn-out professional expenses. We also handle the engagement and coordination of your planner as part of our turnkey service.

10 Smart Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Town Planner

If you're hiring independently (not through a service like ours), make sure you ask:

1. What experience do you have with this local council?

2. What’s your success rate with similar projects?

3. Do you recommend pre-lodgement meetings with council?

4. What documents will you prepare for the DA?

5. How do you respond to council objections?

6. Can you represent me at VCAT or LEC if needed?

7. Do you charge hourly or flat fees?

8. Will you liaise with my architect or designer directly?

9. What’s your typical timeframe to get approvals?

10. What’s your process for handling objections or appeals?

When we manage projects, we’ve already vetted and built long-term relationships with town planners who tick every box.

The OwnerDeveloper Approach: Fully Managed, End-to-End

At OwnerDeveloper, we don’t just introduce you to a town planner—we manage the entire process for you.

From the moment we begin feasibility, we assess:

• Whether your site is development-friendly under council controls

• Which planning pathway (DA or CDC) is fastest and lowest risk

• Whether there are heritage overlays, environmental issues, or traffic constraints

• How to position your plans to avoid rejections and maximise success

Then we engage our trusted town planning consultant to:

• Shape your design

• Lead pre-application meetings with council

• Write the DA or CDC submission

• Handle all correspondence, requests, and potential objections

• Represent you at mediation or appeal if needed

This end-to-end approach is how we get projects approved faster, with less stress—and why our clients stay with us across multiple developments.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Go It Alone

Planning is a specialist skill. It’s not something you can “figure out as you go.” The approval process is a complex maze of rules, politics, and negotiation—and your project deserves an expert guide.

Whether you're building your first duplex or your tenth multi-unit development, a qualified town planner is a must-have on your team.

At OwnerDeveloper, we don’t just help you find one—we make sure they’re integrated into a broader strategy that puts your goals first and gets your project across the line.

🔍 Ready to assess your site and start your development the smart way?

📞 Book your free property development strategy session today!

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