Services

Our approach is straightforward and cost effective. We take the time to understand your objectives, explain the planning requirements clearly and provide practical advice that protects your interests.

We will undertake a thorough review of your project (at any stage) and provide you with tailored planning advice to help you understand what’s possible and how to achieve it (and where to save you costs and time).

We’ll guide you through the opportunities, risks and where our expertise and industry networks can benefit your project no matter how simple or complex. And the next steps, so together, the project keeps moving forward.

What we can provide:

• Liaison with the client on preferred outcomes. We can step in at any stage of your project. From an idea to conception to completion.
• Planning advice might also involve issues with Council, referral authorities, a permit, permit conditions, managing objections, or seeking to object to a land use and/or development.

We review and discuss, as per availability at this stage:

• Property and permit history.
• Relevant planning controls of the planning scheme.
• Title Plan.
• Any other relevant documentation, plans and mapping.

Whether you’re a property/business owner, developer, farmer, architect, consultant, neighbour, or community member, or other, we make sure your rights and best interests are protected. Either at the start, middle, or after a permit is issued, or even if the project has started – PAR Planning is here to help.

We coordinate and attend pre-application meetings with Council to clarify requirements early, address potential issues, opportunities and initial direction and level of support from Council. Including any other internal departments and external referral authorities. Setting the project up for success and a smoother approval process.

What we can provide:

• A field visit and site assessment.
• Prepare any relevant documentation and concept plans.
• Seek written planning advice from Council; or
• Attend a meeting/consultation with Council and/or relevant stakeholders.
• Follow up with clients on the outcomes and feasibility of the proposed project, strategies moving forward.

We set the application up for success by providing the information that council and all relevant authorities require. In doing so, we continue our 100% success rate on achieving planning permits with limited workable and affordable permit conditions. How we do this is a PAR Planning secret. But here is a snapshot.

What’s involved (but not limited):

• Prepare a detailed Planning Applicant Report as relevant to the project. Full assessment and discussion of relevant planning policies, permit triggered controls, particular and general provisions, relevant strategic directions, and amendments (include pending), incorporated documents and any recent Council decisions and/or VCAT cases (if required).

We provide ongoing planning application management and advocacy once it has been lodged with Council, we provide any additional information if requested, liaison with all stakeholders, including any objectors. We check that all Council and referral authority assessment is done appropriately within the statutory planning requirements and timelines.

We continue to advocate on your behalf:

• Making sure Council and/or referral authorities are not asking something they shouldn’t. Making sure public notice (application advertising) is done properly or even statutory required.
• We question, negotiate and mediate on your behalf throughout the process, often saving you 1000’s – 10,000’s (and often a lot more) along the way.
• We present your project and represent you in Objector Consultations and/or Council Meetings, VCAT (if required) and even media (when it helps) giving your proposal the best chance of a successful outcome.
• We can step in at any stage of your project. And if needed, we can also provide expert advocacy and representation at VCAT.

At PAR Planning – we can represent your planning application all the way, another something that sets us apart.

At this stage, many planning consultancies send you to an expensive lawyer or barrister – not us; we have you covered with our VCAT experience.

Who better to argue planning and the planning scheme on your behalf than a planning expert – and we would like to win!

We can prepare all documentation and represent you in all three stages of the VCAT, Compulsory Conference/s, Minor/Major Hearing and Practice Day/s.

If required for the project we can offer our professional industry networks either internally, or need be, externally. This may range from surveying, civil engineering, and project management.

We also manage and support specialist study and reports, such as:

• Bushfire Management
• Farm and/or Land Management
• Cultural Heritage Management Plans
• Others, but not limited to: relating to Native Vegetation; Ecology; Flood; Traffic; Noise; Soil Testing; Land Capability Assessments (LCA)

PAR Planning continues to be known as your local farming zone expert as we offer the unique services of helping farmers and rural property owners strategise farm succession planning, existing dwelling excisions, boundary re alignments, new dwellings and/or replacements and any other land management considerations.

Our expert advice and assistance doesn’t stop. We remain contactable at any time to help you through any stage of the planning permit and project that may entail (not limited to) working through permit conditions, amendments to plans and/or the permit or procedural matters such as Plans to Comply, Secondary Consent, Extension of Time, Section 97n or compliance issues.