Recommendations for names of town planners in Burwood/Mount Waverley/Glen Waverley, VIC

Hi there

Any recommendations for a good town planner who know the suburbs and the council rules well for Burwood, Mount Waverley and Glen Waverley

I am looking to get advice for 2/3 townhouse development in one of these suburbs

Ideally someone from these suburbs as they would have personal contacts in the Monash and Whitehorse councils also

Cheers

 

This is a question often asked.

I don't believe that dealing with someone "local" or "experienced in the area" is necessarily advantageous. There are a number of reasons for this.

Personal contact - will the consultant go hard? Maybe they will fear damaging a relationship/friendship they have. Maybe they won't want to upset planning staff fearing what happens with the next application they look after. Maybe the loyalty is with the relationship and not necessarily to the client

Personal knowledge - Council planners change, or go on leave. There one minute, gone the next, and if one is relying on a relationship for an "edge", that relationship disappears in a puff of smoke. There is also no guarantee as to which Council planner will be allocated the application, so any "special relationships" again disappear

Knowing the area - again a fallacy. The planning rules are the same throughout the State, with some minor variations/tweaks. The principles are the same and consistent. A planner with wider knowledge and experience is better placed to challenge or argue on a client's behalf, taking a wider, more holistic approach and knowing what works in all locations and what VCAT's attitude might be. Someone with wider and broader experience is more likely to do a better job, than someone working "just" locally

The solution, in my view, is to source consultants with expertise. Those who have wide and broad experience. Someone who has a reputation for getting things done ON BEHALF OF THE CLIENT (not just getting things through). Someone who you can work with, who is open to discussion, someone who can explain what's going on, and who can think strategically about an application. Someone who likes to win and will not be put off by Council negativity. Someone who understands both planning and building regulations and design (so they can talk properly with your architect/designer). Go boutique rather than corporate - they are more inclined to do the job rather than focus on the fee

Finally - ask if they are a planner registered with the Planning Institute of Australia (assuming of course they are a qualified planner, not just someone who says they do planning applications)

Hope that's helpful

 

It’s really helpful

But still looking for recommendations

Cheers

 

Tufans a planner, why dont you contact him

 

I am in touch with him

Cheers

 

Terrain Consulting is reputable and cost effective

Also experienced in VCAT hearings although you should be able to avoid it for a small project

 

Will contact them also
BTW really impressed with the guidance being given by Tufan

Cheers

 

Thanks....nice to know I'm being helpful!

 

Couldn’t agree more, great advice!