Greater Sydney

Town planner in Georges River

Statements of Environmental Effects, development due diligence, duplex, granny flat, townhouse and subdivision DAs across the Georges River local government area. Fixed-fee proposals, usually within one business day.

Local Environmental PlanGeorges River Local Environmental Plan 2021

Development Control PlanGeorges River Development Control Plan 2021

State policiesCodes SEPP (Housing Code, Low Rise Housing Diversity Code), Housing SEPP 2021, low and mid-rise housing provisions

Planning in Georges River

The 2021 LEP unified the former Hurstville and Kogarah controls and sets a single minimum lot size for dual occupancies across the LGA.

Foreshore scenic protection along the Georges River and Kogarah Bay and flood mapping on the small creek catchments are the recurring constraints.

Hurstville and Kogarah are nominated centres for the low and mid-rise housing reforms.

What we do for Georges River sites

Statements of Environmental Effects for new houses, knock-down rebuilds, alterations, dual occupancies, secondary dwellings and townhouses, written to Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021 and Georges River Development Control Plan 2021.
Development due diligence reports before you buy: zoning, permissibility, yield, constraints and the approval pathway.
Dual occupancy and duplex planning, including minimum lot size and frontage checks, CDC eligibility under the Low Rise Housing Diversity Code and Torrens subdivision advice.
Granny flat planning where the site does not fit the Housing Code and a DA is needed.
Townhouse and multi dwelling housing yield testing, DCP compliance and SEE reports.
Subdivision, Clause 4.6 requests, DA or CDC advice and responses to council requests.

Suburbs we cover in Georges River

Hurstville
Kogarah
Penshurst
Mortdale
Oatley
Peakhurst
Riverwood
Beverly Hills
Blakehurst
Sans Souci
Carlton
Allawah
Lugarno
South Hurstville
Kingsgrove

How a DA works in Georges River

Development applications are lodged through the NSW Planning Portal and assessed by the council against the LEP, the DCP and the section 4.15 matters in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Where a proposal meets every standard in the Codes SEPP it may instead be approved as complying development by a private certifier, which is faster but has no room for merit assessment. We check both pathways before recommending one.

A complete application is the single biggest thing an applicant controls. Our Statements of Environmental Effects address the LEP and DCP in the order the assessing officer reads them, with the sources shown, so requests for information are the exception rather than the rule.

Frequently asked questions: Georges River

Do I need a Statement of Environmental Effects for a DA in Georges River?

Yes. Every development application lodged with Georges River council through the NSW Planning Portal needs a Statement of Environmental Effects that addresses Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021 and Georges River Development Control Plan 2021. Complying development certificates do not.

Can I build a duplex in Georges River?

Dual occupancies are permissible with consent in most R2 and R3 zones, subject to the minimum lot size and frontage in Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021 and the DCP controls. Since 1 July 2024 the state-wide dual occupancy provisions also apply to most R2 land. A site check confirms whether your lot qualifies and whether CDC or DA is the pathway.

Which planning controls apply in Georges River?

The zoning, lot size, height and floor space ratio come from Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021; setbacks, site coverage, landscaping, privacy, parking and stormwater come from Georges River Development Control Plan 2021. State policies such as the Codes SEPP and the Housing SEPP sit over the top.

Do you visit sites in Georges River?

Most planning reports are desktop based, using the survey, drawings, aerial imagery and the Planning Portal. We inspect where access, slope, trees or neighbouring development make it worthwhile, and we work with local surveyors and engineers across Georges River.

Instrument names are stated as current at the time of writing. Councils amend their LEPs and DCPs; we confirm the version in force on the date of each report.