Frequently Asked Questions

 When and who should I contact at Sydney Ports about preparing an application for development on port land?

Once you have determined that you want to progress a development proposal on Sydney Ports’ land or within a port area and are ready to prepare a planning application.application, please contact Sydney Ports’ Property and Asset Management Department to discuss if SPC will consider the development proposal.

Who approves my planning application?

Sydney Ports will determine most applications at Port Botany with a capital investment value of less than $30 million. Other applications will generally be determined by the Minister for Planning & Infrastructure. In other cases, the local council may be the approval authority.

Sydney Ports will be able to identify the approval authority for a development proposal once you provide initial details of the proposed development.

What initial information do I need to provide to Sydney Ports?

To assist Sydney Ports in identifying the approval authority of your proposed developments, you should provide Sydney Ports with the following information (as a minimum):

• a plan showing the location of the development
• a written description of the proposal
• a legal description of the subject land (Lot and DP) and information on ownership of the subject land
• estimated cost of the development.

Once the above information has been received, the Planning Department will contact you to arrange a suitable meeting time to discuss the planning application.

What is the purpose of the Planning Application Meeting?

The purpose of the Planning Application Meeting (PAM) is to discuss the approval process, Sydney Ports’ assessment requirements and advise you of any relevant Sydney Ports Corporation guidelines and policies that need to be considered.

Does Sydney Ports Corporation have any guidelines or policies that should be considered in preparing an application for development?

Sydney Ports has a range of planning policies, to guide the future development of port land. These guidelines/policy documents should be reviewed and complied with, when preparing an application for development on port land. They include:

General

• Green Port Guidelines (this document is relevant to all Sydney Ports' land and provides sustainable strategies for port developments and operations).
• Sydney Ports Corporation has a Section 170 Heritage and Conservation Register which was endorsed by the Heritage Office on 4 March 2009. The Section 170 Register lists all Sydney Ports’ heritage items and provides an inventory sheet for each item. To view a full copy of the Section 170 Register or to make any enquiries, please contact planning@sydneyports.com.au.

Port Botany Development Code

• The Port Botany Development Code is the principle development control document for developments being undertaken within the Port Botany Area.

Glebe Island/White Bay

• The Glebe Island and White Bay Master Plan is a deemed Development Control Plan, which must be taken into consideration by the consent authority when determining a development application.

Circular Quay – Overseas Passenger Terminal

• The Overseas Passenger Terminal Public Domain, Landscape and Signage Strategy provides guidelines to tenants for fitting out their tenancies and guidance to the development assessment authority and to SPC for public domain and building works.

In addition to Sydney Ports' policies/guidelines there are a number of planning policies and instruments that are relevant to Sydney Ports Corporation sites which have been prepared by other government authorities. When assessing a development proposal and preparing an application, you will also need to refer to these documents. As policies are constantly evolving it is always best to check with Sydney Ports, the Department of Planning & Infrastructure, other government agencies/authorities and the local Council to see if there are any new policy documents that are relevant to the proposed development.

Who prepares the planning application?

The applicant is responsible for preparing the planning application. In most cases specialists will be required to prepare the documentation and assess the potential impacts of the development proposal.

What information do I need to provide with my planning application?

The information required to assess your development proposal will vary according to the type and scale of the development. You will be provided with a list of requirements for inclusion and/or consideration in your proposal following the Planning Application Meeting with Sydney Ports on the development proposal.

How will my application be determined?

Where Sydney Ports is the determining authority for an application, Sydney Ports’ Planning Department will assess applications against legislative requirements and Sydney Ports’ guidelines such as the Port Botany Development Code 2009, many of which are available under Guidelines and Policies. Each application will be determined on its merits.

Will my approval come with conditions?

When acting as the determining authority, Sydney Ports can attach conditions to your approval. These conditions may need to be met before, during and/or after any construction works or the on-going operation of the development. Compliance with the conditions is mandatory.

What happens after I obtain planning approval from Sydney Ports?

Sydney Ports will track compliance against your conditions of approval and commitments made in the development application documentation. As such, you will be requested to supply relevant information to Sydney Ports to demonstrate compliance.

Following planning approval, you will also need to seek Sydney Ports’ approval to commence construction/fit-out works and operations, as specified in the conditions of approval.

What happens after I obtain planning approval from another consent authority?

Where Sydney Ports has provided you with a Permission to Lodge for your application with another consent authority, following approval from that authority, Sydney Ports will track compliance against key conditions of approval, commitments and Permission to Lodge requirements from the perspective as land owner.

Will I need other approvals as well?

Your development proposal may also require other approvals and licenses such as:

• Construction Certificates
• Environment Protection Licenses
• Commonwealth approvals

While Sydney Ports will assist in identifying other potential approval requirements, it will remain the responsibility of the applicant/proponent to obtain them.

How long will it take Sydney Ports to assess my application?

The length of time it may take to determine an application will depend on the complexity of the proposal and the quality of the information submitted.

Sydney Ports aims to determine most applications within 40 days of lodgement of the completed planning application (compared with statutory time frames of up to 60 days).

This timeframe may be extended should additional information or referral of the application to other agencies be required.