Certain development applications need input from a NSW Government agency (approval body) before a determination can be made by the local council (consent authority). These applications are called integrated development. It is an efficient way to assess proposals that require:
- a permit under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 for harm to Aboriginal objects and places and/or
- an approval under the Heritage Act 1977 for impacts to an item listed on the State Heritage Register or subject to an interim heritage order that has not been imposed by the local council, and
- development consent issued by a local council under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
In these instances, a development application can become an integrated development application (IDA).
Some IDAs are placed on public exhibition. The local council decides if the IDA involving the Aboriginal cultural heritage will be exhibited. All IDAs involving State Heritage Register listed items will be exhibited.
We recommend following the integrated development application process when a proposal needs development consent and heritage approval. This allows issues to be identified and resolved before you lodge an application with us.
Below, we have set out the application process from lodgement to outcome.
Gather your essential documents
For Aboriginal cultural heritage, these include:
- statement of environmental effects
- Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment report prepared in line with the Guide to investigating, assessing and reporting on Aboriginal cultural heritage in NSW and Heritage NSW requirements. See our Aboriginal objects and places webpage for details.
- existing and proposed drawings with drawing schedule.
For environmental heritage, these include:
- statement of environmental effects
- statement of heritage impact (following the 2023 guidelines)
- heritage conservation management plan (if one is available, also check in the heritage online library)
- existing and proposed drawings and drawing schedule.
When there is known or suspected historical archaeology to manage also include:
- excavation director details, CV and response to the Criteria for assessing excavation directors
- archaeological assessment report
- archaeological research design and excavation methodology.
Request pre-lodgement comments
Consider requesting pre-lodgement comments on your proposal.
See Pre-lodgement service for more information about this free service.
Lodge your application to council
Lodge your application online through the NSW Planning Portal.
The local council refers the application to us within 14 days.
We will do a preliminary assessment for completeness within 48 hours.
Application assessment
Once accepted as complete, your application is allocated for assessment and the application clock starts. The timeframe is 40 days (if the application does not need to be advertised).
Integrated development relating to the Heritage Act 1977 must be advertised for 28 days. We must provide a response within 21 days after we receive public submissions.
The application is assessed to consider the:
- impact on the significance of the heritage item or
- nature and extent of harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Internal specialists may provide input.
You may be contacted to discuss your application, request additional information, or clarify details. The application clock stops until requested information is received.
We can refer an application for environmental heritage to the Heritage Council if:
- there would be substantial change that might reduce or remove heritage values
- it is potentially in the public interest or high-profile, or the proposal is large (for example, it covers an extensive area like a precinct, suburb or town, or infrastructure).
We prepare an assessment report with recommendations for general terms of approval or reasons for refusal.
Application outcome
We submit the general terms of approval or reasons for refusal through the NSW Planning Portal.
If we advise that a heritage approval for the proposal won’t be granted, the local council cannot issue development consent under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
If we provide general terms of approval, we must grant the AHIP or heritage works approval when you later apply.
Lodge your application for a heritage permit or approval
If the local council grants consent, you then need to apply for either:
- an Aboriginal heritage impact permit (AHIP) under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, or
- a heritage works approval (section 60) under the Heritage Act 1977.
You need to lodge your application for an AHIP or section 60 approval within 3 years of development consent from the local council. Attach your development consent and approved stamped plans.
How to modify a development consent or heritage approval
To modify a development consent granted under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or an approval granted under the Heritage Act 1977, you should first lodge a section 4.55 modification application with the local council.
Once determined, attach the development consent to a section 65A modification application under the Heritage Act 1977.