From the Blog
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Loose-fill asbestos insulation (LFAI) is a serious health and safety concern for property owners and potential buyers across New South Wales (NSW). This type of insulation, used in some homes built before 1985, has been identified as a major hazard due to its airborne asbestos fibres, which can pose long-term health risks.
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Understanding Land Declarations Under the Coal Mine Subsidence Compensation Act 2017. When purchasing or developing property in New South Wales (NSW), it’s crucial to understand if the land falls within a mine subsidence district.
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Understanding Undeveloped Lots and Their Implications in NSW. A paper subdivision refers to land that has been formally subdivided on a legal or cadastral map but lacks physical infrastructure such as roads, drainage, sewerage, and electricity.
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What NSW Property Owners Need to Know About Tree Disputes. This legislation provides a structured process for resolving disagreements about trees that cause damage or pose safety risks.
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What Property Owners Need to Know Under the Local Government Act 1993. Councils are empowered to recover the cost of maintaining these works by levying annual charges on benefiting landowners.
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A Guide to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis Chapter of the SEPP (Precincts – Western Parkland City) 2021. This chapter is a key tool in unlocking development potential while ensuring sustainable and strategic growth across this transformative region.
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Understanding Aircraft Noise Impact on Land Use and Property in Australia. ANEF contours are used to assess the impact of aircraft noise on surrounding land and help guide appropriate land use planning decisions.
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What Property Buyers and Developers Need to Know. Contaminated land is a significant issue in property development, environmental safety, and public health.
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What Section 8 of the Planning Certificate Means for Property Owners and Buyers. When reviewing a Section 10.7 Planning Certificate in New South Wales, Section 8 addresses whether the land is affected by any proposed or current road widening or road realignment projects.
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Flood-related development controls are an essential part of land use planning in New South Wales. Section 9 of a Section 10.7 Planning Certificate informs potential buyers, developers, and property owners whether the land is affected by flooding constraints that may limit or control development.
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Bush fires are a natural part of the Australian landscape, but they pose serious risks to life, property, and the environment. In New South Wales (NSW), land identified as bush fire prone is subject to specific planning and building controls.
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When reviewing a NSW Planning Certificate, Section 7 refers to whether any part of the land is reserved for acquisition under an environmental planning instrument. This information is crucial because it indicates whether a government authority has identified the land for future acquisition.
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When reviewing a Section 10.7 Planning Certificate in New South Wales, Section 6 plays a critical role in identifying whether a property is subject to safety-related building orders.
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The Rural Housing Code provides a fast-track complying development approval pathway for new 1–2 storey dwelling houses, rural sheds, certain farm buildings, earthworks, and ancillary development on land in nominated rural and large-lot residential zones (typically RU1–RU6, R5, and similar—check the Codes SEPP text).
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The Low Rise Housing Diversity Code expands the range of small-scale housing that can be delivered quickly through complying development—helping bridge the gap between detached houses and apartments. It enables well-designed dual occupancies, manor houses (up to 2 storeys, 3–4 dwellings), and terrace housing in eligible zones, subject to detailed design and lot standards.
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The Greenfield Housing Code tailors complying development standards to suit new release (“greenfield”) estates—where lot sizes, widths, and urban structure differ from established suburbs. It streamlines approvals for new 1–2 storey dwellings and alterations/additions in mapped greenfield areas to increase take-up of fast-track approvals and support housing supply.
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The Inland Code adapts complying development to the conditions of regional and inland NSW, recognising larger rural-residential lots, agricultural activities, climate differences, and servicing constraints west of the Great Dividing Range. It seeks to approve new homes, renovations, and farm buildings in 20 days or less where Code standards are met.
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The Housing Alterations Code streamlines approval for alterations, additions, and ancillary works to existing dwelling houses on eligible residential land—when changes are modest and meet prescriptive measurements. This pathway is useful for renovations, extensions, decks, garages and similar works that fall short of triggering a full DA.
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The General Development Code brings together a broad range of relatively low-impact works—across residential, business, industrial and community settings—that may proceed as complying development when detailed standards are met. It fills the gaps between the more specialised Codes (Housing, Rural, Industrial, etc.) by covering miscellaneous structures and site improvements.
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The Industrial and Business Alterations Code allows many internal fit-outs and external alterations to existing commercial, retail, warehouse and industrial buildings to be approved quickly—keeping businesses operating and adapting without lengthy DA delays.
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Where a proposal involves constructing a new commercial or industrial building (or substantial additions) on appropriately zoned land, the Industrial and Business Buildings Code can offer a code-assessed approval path—significantly shortening delivery times for warehouses, factories, bulky-goods retail, and similar uses that meet strict standards.
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The Subdivisions Code identifies limited subdivision types that may proceed as exempt or complying development—providing a simplified pathway for minor boundary adjustments, strata subdivision of existing approved buildings, and certain Torrens title actions where impacts are minimal and infrastructure is in place. Most subdivisions still require a DA; the Code only applies to tightly defined cases.
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The Demolition Code permits the demolition of buildings and structures—including dwellings, garages, pools, and some industrial buildings—as complying development when pre-set safety, environmental, asbestos, heritage, and waste management standards are satisfied. This helps clear sites quickly for redevelopment while maintaining public and worker safety.
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The Fire Safety Code enables certain fire protection upgrades to be installed quickly as complying development—supporting occupant safety without full DA delay. The Code targets essential life-safety works where impacts are low and the technical standards are well defined.
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If you’re planning to build a new home, renovate your existing one, or add a structure like a garage or swimming pool in New South Wales, you may be eligible to bypass the regular Development Application (DA) process using the Housing Code.
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If you're planning to build a new home, add a granny flat, extend your house, or even install a swimming pool in New South Wales, you may be able to skip the lengthy Development Application (DA) process and obtain fast-tracked approval through the Complying Development pathway.
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If you’re buying or planning to develop a property in New South Wales, it’s crucial to check whether it falls within a Heritage Conservation Area (HCA). These areas are designated under local planning laws to protect the historical, architectural, and cultural significance of a neighbourhood or streetscape.
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Under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), certain areas of land in New South Wales may be classified as having Outstanding Biodiversity Value (OBV). These areas are given the highest level of environmental protection due to their unique ecological significance, and they can have major implications for land use and development.
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When buying, developing, or renovating property in New South Wales, one of the first things you need to understand is the zoning of the land. Zoning defines what the land can legally be used for and what types of development are allowed.
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When it comes to building or renovating in New South Wales, understanding your zoning is just the beginning. While the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) sets out the legal framework for land use, the Development Control Plan (DCP) provides the detailed design rules that shape how development must look and function.
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Understanding the legal and planning controls that apply to a property in New South Wales can be complex and time-consuming. SiteReview.ai solves this problem by using AI to generate a clear, concise, and easy-to-understand report.
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A Planning Certificate issued under Section 10.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) is a legal document provided by the local council that outlines the planning rules and restrictions that apply to a particular parcel of land.
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When purchasing land or property in New South Wales, it’s important to understand whether a covenant applies to the title. A covenant is a legally binding agreement that places restrictions or obligations on the land, and it can significantly affect what you can or cannot do with your property.
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Page 7 of the Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Land (2022 edition) outlines important statutory warnings for property purchasers in New South Wales, highlighting critical legal, financial, and regulatory matters.
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When entering into a contract to buy residential property in New South Wales, it’s important to understand your rights regarding rescission, dispute handling, and how auction sales differ from private treaty contracts.
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When buying or selling real estate in New South Wales, it’s important to understand every part of the Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Land. Page 3 covers key financial and tax-related disclosures, including deposit arrangements, electronic lodgment, and GST treatment.
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Understand the essential details on page one of a NSW Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Land. Learn about inclusions, settlement, parties involved, and legal property identifiers.
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Learn everything about Title Searches in NSW – what they reveal, why they are essential in property transactions, and how to obtain an official title search through NSW Land Registry Services.
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Buying or selling property in New South Wales (NSW) involves signing a Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Land, a legal document that defines the terms of the property transaction. It is crucial for both buyers and sellers to understand its components, their rights, and the obligations it imposes.
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Learn everything about the Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Land in NSW. Understand key clauses, cooling-off rights, vendor disclosures, and FAQs to avoid costly mistakes.
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When reviewing a Section 10.7 Planning Certificate in New South Wales, one of the first sections you'll encounter is the "Names of Relevant Planning Instruments and Development Control Plans". This section lists all State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) that apply to the land and influence how it can be developed.
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A Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is one of the most important planning documents used in New South Wales to control how land can be used and developed. If you’re buying property, lodging a development application (DA), or planning to build, renovate, or subdivide land, it’s essential to understand how the LEP affects your site.
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Complying Development is a fast-track approval pathway for straightforward residential, commercial, and industrial projects. If your project meets specific standards, you can get approval in as little as 20 days.
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The Section 10.7 Planning Certificate is a crucial document when buying property in NSW. It reveals the rules and restrictions that apply to a parcel of land. This guide breaks down what you need to know.