DA vs CDC — What's the Difference?

A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is a faster pathway for projects that meet all required standards without exercising council discretion. No public exhibition, no council planner review — determination by an accredited certifier.

A Development Application (DA) goes to council. It involves assessment by a council planner, public notification, and council determination. It takes longer, but allows more flexibility — particularly on sites that don't meet CDC eligibility criteria.

We determine the right pathway for your project and manage whichever process applies.

CDC — Complying Development

  • Determined by an accredited certifier
  • No public exhibition period
  • Faster determination timeframe
  • Must meet all eligibility criteria

DA — Development Application

  • Determined by council planner
  • Public notification period required
  • More flexibility on design outcomes
  • Longer statutory timeframe

What's Included in R2G's Approval Service

Six stages managed under one engagement — from application preparation to determination follow-up.

01

Application Preparation

Complete DA or CDC package: Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE), coordinated DA drawings, BASIX certificate, waste management plan, and all supporting documents.

02

Consultant Coordination

A typical residential DA requires 6–12 separate consultant reports. We brief every consultant, manage their deliverables, review their reports, and ensure all documents are consistent with the design.

03

Council Pre-DA Liaison

For complex projects, we attend a pre-DA meeting with council before lodgement. This means we know what the council planner's concerns are before they become a formal RFI.

04

Lodgement

We lodge the application via the NSW Planning Portal and manage the lodgement confirmation and reference number.

05

RFI Management

When council issues a Request for Information, we respond. We coordinate the additional information and manage the response within the statutory timeframe.

06

Determination Follow-Up

We track the determination timeline and follow up with council when required.

Councils We Work In

Our director has navigated DA processes across Western Sydney and Greater Sydney councils, including sites in Blacktown, The Hills, Liverpool, Parramatta, Cumberland, and Campbelltown. We understand how each council's planning team operates — and what they pay attention to.

Council list to be populated with actual councils from director's project history.

Blacktown
The Hills
Liverpool
Parramatta
Cumberland
Campbelltown

What Causes DA Delays — and How We Prevent Them

The most common causes of DA delays are predictable. We address every one of them before lodgement.

Common Delay How R2G Prevents It
Incomplete application at lodgement Pre-lodgement checklist — nothing lodged until the package is complete
Missing consultant reports All reports confirmed received before lodgement
Poor RFI response time RFIs tracked and responded to within the statutory window
Inconsistent drawings and consultant reports Our director reviews every consultant report against the drawings before submission
Under-informed council planner Pre-DA meeting strategy; Statement of Environmental Effects designed to pre-answer likely questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a DA take?

Council assessment times vary by LGA and project complexity. Simple residential DAs take 3–6 months. Complex projects or councils with high caseloads can take 9–18 months.

Can you guarantee approval?

No — council determination is a statutory function and we don't control it. What we can guarantee is a complete, well-prepared application.

What consultants do you use?

We maintain a register of vetted consultants across all required disciplines.

Ready to get your approval moving?

Talk to us about your project and timeline. We'll tell you which pathway applies, what it will take, and what to expect at every stage.

Start Your Approval Process →