What is the process of a development application?

    1. City receives Development Application (DA)

    • The applicant submits a Development Application (DA) to the City of South Perth
    • DA is recorded and an initial assessment is made by a City planning officer
    • City officer forwards information to the Development Assessment Panel (DAP) at the WA Department for Planning for lodgment
    • The City then has 90 days to complete a full submission called a Responsible Authority Report (RAR) to present to the DAP.

    2. Consultation and referrals

    • CONSULTATION: The DA is advertised according to the City's Consultation Policy P301. Submissions received by the City are collated, summarised and considered by the City planning officer according to the criteria and planning guidelines/schemes.
    • REFERRALS: The DA is referred to internal relevant departments within the City for review and comment.
    • The DA referred to an external group - the City's Design Advisory Consultants (DAC) for comment on the overall design of the proposed development.
    • The DA is referred to the Department of Wildlife and Parks (DPAW) if the development has the potential to impact groundwater and/or rivers.
    • Further information or amendments may be requested of the applicant as part of the referrals process.

    3. Assessment

    • The City's planning officer conducts an assessment of the proposal against any relevant development controls and legislation (eg Scheme amendments) applicable to the DA
    • Further information and/or amended plans may be requested of the applicant following assessment.

    4. Responsibility Authority Report (RAR)

    • In consideration of all the above consultation, referrals and the City's planning officer's assessment according to the procedure and protocol, the officer prepares a Responsible Authority Report (RAR). This report provides the City's recommendation of conditional approval or refusal of the DA to the DAP to consider
    • The City officer may request an extension of the timeline if further information and /or amended plans are required.

    5. Council Meeting

    • The RAR is presented to a Council Meeting or Special Council Meeting if required for comment.  The applicant and submitters can provide deputations at the Council Meeting. 

    6. DAP Meeting and DA determination

    • Following the submission of the RAR, the Development Assessment Panel (DAP) secretariat organise a meeting time and place for the determination and the applicant and any submitters are made aware as they are welcome to attend the meeting and provide deputations if desired
    • The DAP members (consisting of a Chairperson, two independent appropriate professionals - usually architects or planners and two representative City Elected Members) consider the proposal, responsible authority report and any deputations before providing their determination of the application
    • The decision is made for or against the application (with conditions and reasoning stated) by the DAP and the decision communicated to the City and the relevant applicant.