Town Planning
Town Planning
A genuine point of difference
Unlike many private certification firms, Bartley Burns has an in-house Town Planning team. In 2002 we formally integrated a Town Planning consultancy into our practice to complement our Building Certification services. This structure allows us to stay involved from concept to completion — enabling seamless, end-to-end delivery with expert advice at every stage of a project.
Our Town Planners provide a full range of development services, including:
Preliminary Planning Advice — understand your development potential before you invest
We review the zoning, overlays, site conditions and relevant benchmarks to provide clear advice on what can and cannot be achieved on your land or existing building, allowing informed decisions early.
Reconfiguration of Lots (ROL) — feasibility, strategy and full application management
We assess whether subdivision, realignment, etc. is viable, identify required consultants, prepare and lodge the required application to Council, and guide you through the subsequent stages of the approval process.
Material Change of Use (MCU) / Building Works (BW) / Exemption Certificates — strategic reports and advocacy to support approval
We prepare professional planning applications to Council, argue the merit of your proposal, and provide realistic guidance on approval prospects so you proceed only with informed expectations.
Operational Work (OPW) — civil, earthworks and infrastructure approvals where triggered
Where a project requires a separate operational work development approval (e.g. for earthworks, services, driveways, vegetation, drainage, etc.), we prepare and lodge the required application and coordinate supporting inputs.
Public Notification — full coordination of notice requirements for impact assessable applications
Where public notification is triggered, we manage the entire process including on-site signage, advertising and compliance with all statutory requirements.
Minor Change, Other Change & Extension Applications — amend or extend existing approvals without starting again
We prepare and lodge change applications for existing valid approvals — as well as extension (time) applications — even if the original approval was prepared elsewhere.
Compensation (Resumptions) — evidence-based reports to support higher compensation claims
For land affected by resumptions, we prepare development potential reports that establish inherent land value, providing the technical basis for fair compensation negotiations.
Risk Smart
Bartley Burns Town Planning was part of Brisbane City Council’s original RiskSMART pilot program and has remained involved since its inception. Through this accreditation, we can assist in achieving significantly faster Development Approval (DA) timeframes for eligible projects in Brisbane.
Projects that would ordinarily take up to five months in standard assessment have been approved in as little as five business days under RiskSMART.
Bartley Burns is also an accredited RiskSmart consultant with Logan City Council, enabling similar fast-track outcomes for eligible developments within the Logan area.
Not all applications qualify for RiskSMART, but where eligible, the time savings are substantial.
For more detail on the process, please refer to our Town Planning FAQ.
