Richmond Valley Council processes DAs under the Richmond Valley LEP 2012 and DCP 2015. For standard residential development in the Casino townsite, the assessment process is generally more streamlined than in the coastal shires — most straightforward residential DAs move through council within 40–60 days of lodgement. Sites with flood, bushfire, or heritage constraints may take longer, particularly where specialist reports are required or council referrals are triggered. Good preparation before lodgement is the most effective way to keep the process on track, and that’s where we focus our energy.

Yes — flood affectation from the Richmond River applies to parts of the Casino townsite and surrounding low-lying land. Depending on your site’s flood planning level under the Richmond Valley LEP, this can affect your minimum floor height, construction type, and what uses are permitted on the lot. Flood mapping is available on request, and in areas outside current flood modelling, a localised flood assessment may be required. We assess flood affectation at the pre-design stage so your concept reflects what Richmond Valley Council will actually approve.

Richmond Valley Council applies a drinking water catchment overlay for the Casino township area, which can trigger additional assessment requirements for certain development types — particularly where earthworks, wastewater, or stormwater are involved. We check this as part of our standard feasibility assessment so it’s factored into the design and DA preparation from the outset.

Many do. Bushfire-prone land mapping applies across a significant portion of Casino’s rural and rural-residential fringe, and any new dwelling, secondary dwelling, or substantial addition on affected land requires a Bushfire Risk Assessment as part of the DA. The Bushfire Attack Level assigned to your site determines your construction specification — and has direct implications for design and budget. We assess this at feasibility stage and factor it into the design from the start.

It depends on the site, but commonly required reports include a Statement of Environmental Effects, BASIX certificate, bushfire assessment, and potentially a flood assessment or acid sulfate soils management plan depending on site conditions. We coordinate all required reports through our established network of competitively priced specialists — so nothing is missing at lodgement and you’re not sourcing them independently.

Every stage is clearly scoped and priced before we start. Your fixed price covers all design and documentation work for that stage, including Richmond Valley Council submission requirements and BASIX compliance. External consultant and council fees are itemised separately and outlined upfront — no open-ended billing, no surprises mid-project.