Council Boosts Pre-Lodgement Meeting Access
Published on 03 June 2025
Bathurst Regional Council is making it easier for anyone, from first-time home builders to large-scale developers, to navigate the sometimes complex development application (DA) process with greater confidence and less risk.
Following a successful motion brought by Deputy Mayor Ben Fry, Council has begun improving its Pre-Lodgement Development Meeting service. The initiative focuses on lifting the visibility and accessibility of these early advisory sessions, which connect applicants with Council’s planning, engineering and environmental teams before lodging a formal application.
“This is about giving people the map before they enter the maze.
“If you’re putting in a DA, you want to avoid costly errors. That starts by asking the right questions early,” said Cr Fry.
Updates to the service will include an online booking request form, better digital promotion, a clearer name and purpose, and a reviewed fee structure that balances access with sustainability.
Local builder Fitzpatrick Built welcomed the move, noting that even seasoned operators benefit from Council advice when tackling more complex DAs.
“We’re familiar with the system, but on the trickier jobs we absolutely ask more questions and tap into Council’s expertise.
“Anything that streamlines that early advice and encourages people to ask the right questions first is a smart move, for everyone,” said Nathan Fitzpatrick, Director of Fitzpatrick Built.
The revamped service is expected to be particularly useful for small developers, owner-builders and businesses unfamiliar with planning regulations, groups that can often face delays or redesigns from missing key compliance requirements at the outset.
“We want to help people get it right the first time. That saves applicants money, saves Council time, and delivers better projects for the city,” said Cr Fry.
The motion received unanimous support from Council and reflects a broader push to make Bathurst more open to investment, while maintaining high standards in planning and compliance.
Media contact: Genevieve Green Media and Communications Officer