Specialists In Swimming Pools & Landscape Designs On Slopes & Large Acreage Blocks
Landscape Design +
Project Management
Expert Council Approval Landscape Plans for Newcastle, Hunter & Central Coast
From Concept to Occupation Certificate (OC): Your Build Starts With Certified Compliance Documentation.
Securing development consent in the Newcastle, Hunter Region, or Central Coast demands technical precision. Your project—whether a single dwelling, a commercial development, or a complex multi-residential design—requires meticulous landscape documentation to satisfy local Council’s rigorous planning controls.
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Struggling to ensure your Landscape Plans meet the strict requirements of the NSW SEPPs and local Council DCPs?
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PARC Concepts specialises in technical landscape documentation and design, creating comprehensive, compliant landscape architecture drawings that meet the specific requirements of the NSW State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs), including the Housing SEPP, and all local Development Control Plans (DCPs). We provide certified Council Approval Landscape Plans that guarantee compliance with your Local Environmental Plan (LEP), Development Control Plan (DCP), and specific developer guidelines, ensuring fast-tracked approval for your project.
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We deliver compliant, architecturally-aligned landscape design solutions across all local government areas, including the City of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie City Council, Maitland, Cessnock, and Port Stephens.
The Complete Scope of Our Council Approval Services
Mandatory Documentation for Structural & Site Integrity
Any development that significantly alters the site, impacts stormwater, or sits near boundaries requires a certified landscape plan to prove compliance and structural integrity. We produce comprehensive plans for applications involving the following key structural components:
Structural Application | Development Triggers |
|---|---|
Swimming Pools & Swim Spas | Required for all new pools (DA or CDC) to document surrounding paving, fencing compliance, drainage, and soft landscaping ratio requirements. |
Retaining Walls | Mandatory for walls over 600mm in height (or a cumulative height) and necessary for sloped sites to prove geotechnical stability and site drainage. |
Decks, Patios & Pergolas | Required when structures exceed floor space ratios (FSR) or alter the soft-to-hard surface ratio (e.g., decks over 25m2 or over a certain height). |
Outdoor Kitchens & Fireplaces | Required if permanently attached, plumbed, or wired, as they contribute to the total impervious surface area and FSR. |
Driveways & Hardstand Areas | Documentation is mandatory for new or altered driveways to confirm materials, manage run-off, and ensure compliance with street setback and verge controls. |
Courts & Fencing | Required for permanent recreational structures like Basketball Courts or Tennis Courts, and often for boundary fencing in new estates or high-impact zones. |
Landscape Documentation for New Housing Estates
Many greenfield estates across the Hunter and Central Coast operate under a Design Review Committee (DRC) or specific developer covenants. Your standard Council application often requires an additional set of plans to satisfy these aesthetic and environmental guidelines.
Region | Key Estates We Service |
|---|---|
Maitland / Hunter | Sophia Waters (Chisholm), Lochinvar Ridge, Heritage Parc, Huntlee, Avery's Rise (Heddon Greta). |
Cessnock / Pokolbin | The Vintage (Pokolbin/Rothbury area). |
Lake Macquarie | Billy's Lookout (Teralba), Trinity Point (Morisset). |
Port Stephens | Pacific Dunes (Medowie), The Bower (Medowie). |
Central Coast | Murrays Beach, Crangan Bay, Catherine Hill Bay. |
Our plans ensure strict compliance with developer-mandated planting palettes (often native-first), fencing materials, and driveway setbacks.
Multi-Residential Compliance and Landscape Plans
Multi-unit developments—including Duplexes, Dual Occupancies, Granny Flats, Manor Houses, Townhouses, and Apartment buildings—are under intense scrutiny. We ensure compliance by detailing the following key elements:
Compliance Element | Documentation Requirement |
|---|---|
Site Analysis & Context | Detailed plans showing existing trees and vegetation to be retained, site levels (AHD), and proximity to boundaries or easements. |
Hard & Soft Landscaping Ratios | Clearly calculated areas of non-permeable (hardscaping) and permeable (soft landscaping) surfaces to comply with minimum landscaped area and stormwater management requirements. |
Water Management & Drainage | Integration of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), specific details for sub-surface drainage (ag-pipe and pits), and rainwater harvesting to manage runoff. |
Structural Elements | Technical details for all built features, including cross-sections and materials for fences, pergolas, pools, and essential retaining walls. |
Planting Schedule & Canopy | A comprehensive list of proposed plants (botanical/common names, size, quantity) with calculated mature heights and canopy spread to demonstrate future tree coverage. |
PPOS & Deep Soil Zones | Calculating and designing the Principal Private Open Space to meet minimum dimensions (e.g., > 4.0m wide) and detailing the mandated areas for deep soil planting. |
Services Management | Strategic positioning of bins, clotheslines, and utilities, ensuring they are shielded from public view and comply with Waste Management Plans. |
Access & Safety | Designing common property access, lighting plans, and passive surveillance features. |
Educational & Early Childhood Space Plans
We are passionate about designing environments for the next generation. Our plans for New Schools, Primary Schools, and Early Childhood Education Centres (Daycares) meet strict compliance requirements while fostering child development. Our plans satisfy the requirements of the NSW Department of Education, local Council certifiers, and the NSW Planning Policy for Educational Establishments and Child Care Facilities.
We incorporate specific design elements for:
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Sensory & Developmental Play: Integrating natural, tactile, and varied zones for physical and cognitive growth.
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Safety & Accessibility: Ensuring all surfaces, structures, and sightlines comply with relevant Australian Standards and Work Health and Safety (WHS) requirements.
Tourism & Accommodation Landscaping
A high-quality landscape plan is a crucial investment for the growing Hunter Valley and Newcastle tourism sector, including Hotels, Resorts, Holiday Accommodation, and Wineries.
A professional landscape plan is required for consent and serves to:
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Increase Investment Value: Enhancing guest experience, staff amenity, and increasing the overall appeal and booking value of the property.
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Visitor Experience: Creating memorable arrival statements, safe and aesthetically pleasing pedestrian access, and feature gardens.
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Safety & Exposure: Strategic lighting and planting for security and clear, attractive external signage for increased visibility.
Self-Storage and Industrial Landscape Plans
Commercial and industrial developments, such as self-storage facilities, warehousing, and light-industrial parks, require specific landscape plans to manage visual impact and screening.
These specialist plans focus on:
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Boundary Screening: Developing landscape buffers and dense boundary planting plans that satisfy Council requirements for effective visual amenity screening from public roads and adjoining properties.
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Acoustic Buffer Integration: Integrating landscape zones with acoustic walls or fencing where required for noise mitigation.
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Heavy-Duty Hardscaping: Specifying durable, low-maintenance materials for large vehicle access, maneuvering areas, and fire access points.
Navigating High-Impact Development Controls
The complexity of your landscape plan escalates significantly for certain development types. We have extensive experience in meeting the heightened controls for:
Project Type | Key Compliance Requirement |
|---|---|
Multi-Residential (Dual Occupancy, Townhouses, Terraces, Duplex, Strata) | Principal Private Open Space (PPOS) and Communal Open Space. Ensuring accessibility, amenity, and solar access to all private and shared outdoor areas. |
Institutional/Commercial (Educational Establishments, Health Services, Tourism Facilities) | Compliance with the State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021 (T&I SEPP) regarding parking, setbacks, and pedestrian access. |
Landform Change / Retaining Walls | Demonstrating structural integrity, proper drainage, and managing site cut and fill. |
Seamless Integration of Pre-Construction Reports
To guarantee a smooth, fast-tracked approval process, we manage the integration and documentation of all preliminary and specialist reports necessary for a complete DA or CDC submission.
Document/Plan Name | Purpose & Integration |
|---|---|
Site Survey (AHD) & EGL | Provides the Existing Ground Levels (EGL) and boundary data, essential for structural design and accurate cut/fill calculations. |
Geotechnical & Structural Engineering | Assesses soil stability and provides certified designs/footing details for all retaining walls and structural elements, ensuring BCA compliance. |
Arborist & Tree Protection Plans (AS 4970) | Details Tree Protection Zones (TPZ) and management of existing vegetation impacted by construction. |
Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Plans (AS 3959) | Documents the implementation of Asset Protection Zones (APZs) and specifies low-flammability plants and materials. |
BASIX-Compliant Plans | Documents shade trees, water-efficient planting, and irrigation systems to meet BASIX requirements for new builds. |
Engineer Condition/Forensic Reports | Establishes the necessary remediation strategy for sites with existing structural damage (e.g., failed retaining walls or land slip areas). |
Securing Your Project: Risk and Compliance Assurance
The Consequences of Non-Compliance
Submitting non-compliant or inadequate landscape plans will inevitably lead to a refusal or a Request for Further Information (RFI) from the council, resulting in significant delays and additional costs to your project. Crucially, a failure to meet your landscape conditions will result in the refusal of your Occupation Certificate (OC).
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Common Reasons for Refusal/Delay in NSW:
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Inadequate Canopy: Failure to demonstrate how the mature plant selection will achieve the minimum required tree canopy coverage for the site.
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Missing Structural Details: Absence of cross-sections or lack of clarity on how retaining walls and earthworks will be stabilised and drained.
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PPOS Breach: Non-compliance with the minimum area or dimension rules for Principal Private Open Space in multi-unit developments (e.g., Duplex, Townhouses).
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BAL Conflict: Landscape elements, such as planting or mulch types, conflicting with the requirements of the Asset Protection Zone (APZ).
The Building Information Certificate (BIC)
What is Building Information Certificate and why do you need it?
A Building Information Certificate (BIC) is what you need when an unauthorised building or structure has been constructed without prior Council approval. Having to apply for a BIC is often the developer or homeowner's biggest long-term regret.
It is the worst long-term subscription because it is often the final, painful step to retroactively legalise a non-compliant element—like an unapproved retaining wall or deck—that should have been approved during the original consent phase. It involves significant costs, engineer reports, and regulatory stress.
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The BIC's true cost lies in the ongoing uncertainty and depreciation:
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Affects Resale Value: A BIC often forces the seller to disclose the unauthorised status, leading to major complications during conveyancing. This can significantly devalue the property or result in a lower sale price as buyers factor in the cost and risk of future rectification.
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Limits Marketability: Depending on the severity of the non-compliance, the existence of a BIC can make the property very difficult or impossible to sell to a buyer seeking finance or certainty.
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The Recurring Cost: The certificate is not permanent. You are required to periodically renew the BIC (often every seven years), forcing you to pay fees and potentially commission new engineer reports, effectively turning the non-compliant structure into a recurring expense.
Don't risk costly delays or the need for a BIC. Engage a professional to ensure your landscape vision meets all local council and state planning requirements from day one.
Why Choose PARC Concepts?
Site-Sensitive Design
From sloped acreage to coastal zones, every site is carefully assessed for climate, soil, sun direction, and structure.
Sustainability at the Core
Water-wise plant choices, native selections, and optional smart tech integration for irrigation and lighting.
DA/CDC Ready Documentation
Full drawing sets, planting schedules, and engineering-ready documentation where required.
Architectural Integration
our outdoor spaces will feel like a natural extension of your home’s architecture, never an afterthought.
Let’s Design Your Landscape with Purpose
Stop waiting for design amendments. If you are an architect, builder, developer, or homeowner in the Newcastle, Hunter, or Central Coast area, trust PARC Concepts to deliver compliant, certified, and buildable landscape documentation.
Contact us today to secure your Council Approval Landscape Plans and keep your project moving forward.