Rural Sheds development application guide

• Complete the online DA form on the NSW planning portal website planningportal.nsw.gov.au 
• Complete Council’s Land Owner Details form Note: The consent of all owners needs to be provided.  
• Complete Council’s Estimated Cost of Development form 
• Include a set of plans at a scale of 1:50, 1:100 or 1:200. The set of plans must include a site plan, floor plan, elevation and sections, plus details of external finishes and colours where available.

You will need to complete a written Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) document.

Division 1 of Part 6 and Schedule 1 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulations 2000 sets out the information requirements to accompany a DA. You will need to provide answers to the following questions in your written (SEE) document:

• What is the intended use of the shed?
• Will occupation involve a commercial, industrial or residential use requiring a separate consent?
• Will there be any employees or external visitors to the site?
• How will vehicles access the property? (include car parking arrangements and driveways)
• Will any equipment, machinery, vehicles or material to be stored on site?
• What is the floor area and building height? (if not marked on submitted plans)
• Are any excavation or earthworks required?
• Are any sanitary facilities or On Site Sewage Management (OSSM) arrangements needed? refer to ballina.nsw.gov.au/councilpolicies

You will also need to provide answers to the following questions in your written Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) document:

• What is the zoning of the land?
• Is the site in an escarpment or water catchment zone, bushfire prone or close to a main road? (refer to ballina.nsw.gov.au/online-maps)
• Are there any relevant State Planning Policies? (e.g. Remediation of Land, Koalas, Coastal Land, refer to planningportal.nsw.gov.au)
• Are there any special or relevant Ballina LEP clauses? (e.g. building height, acid sulfate soils, flood planning etc.)
• Are there any clauses of the Ballina LEP that you are not complying with? If so, you will need to include additional details or justification about why the proposal is not compliant and why the proposal should be approved. We recommend you discuss this with Council’s Duty Planner prior to submitting your application.

The written Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) document needs to provide information relating to the following Chapters of the Ballina Shire DCP 2012:

• Chapter 2- General & Environmental Controls, including controls covering land use conflict, ridgelines, natural areas, potential contamination, on site sewer management, and erosion. 
• Chapter 2B – Floodplain Management including risks and flood planning levels
• Chapter 7 – Rural Living and Activity including overall design, building lines and setbacks, road access and parking
• If there is any part of the DCP that you are not complying with, you will need to include some additional details and justification about why the proposal is not compliant.

Answer these questions to help you identify any other matters to address in the written (SEE) document:

• Have you spoken to the neighbours about any potential concerns or impacts?
• If you are not clear about any LEP or DCP clauses that apply to your proposal, have you sought advice from Council’s Duty Planners?
• If there are any proposed variations to the controls, difficult issues to resolve or prior development history, do you need a consultant to assist?