Reno rules – even Planning Dept isn’t sure

If you need to go to a DA, then it can’t be a simple renovation for a strata. And given the level of reports and plans you mention, it must be some renovation.

Im sure your architect would be capable of project managing your renovation and getting you through the red tape.

For people unfamiliar with the building process the whole exercise looks very disjointed.

The opening poster’s point is that thanks to the Class 2 Reforms, a simple apartment renovation can require a whole new level of documentation and expense, even if the renovation doesn’t require a DA.

For example, we only want to remove one short non-loadbearing wall in our apartment kitchen but to do that we need to complete a CDC application, which is a mine field. The CDC application requires an engineer’s report and plans drawn by an Architect certified for Class 2 – which we’ve done.  But now we’ve been told additional documentation is needed, but no one seems to know what exactly.

If you want to hire a certifier to help with the process, good luck, because we’ve found most Class 2 certifiers won’t touch CDC applications for apartments.   We did receive a quote for $8,000 from one certifier who clearly didn’t want the job.  Interestingly I’ve called the offices of a few certifiers and found each one gave me differing details on what documents are required.  I have left a message with a building certifier in my local council to see if they can tell me exactly what is needed.

Just wanted to clarify the original poster’s comment about tradesman being specially certified for Class 2 buildings – this is not a thing. The builder and head contractor must have a Class 2, however trades nly need to be certified within their respective disciplines.

The main problem for apartment owners, is that there is no central location that outlines exactly what documentation is needed for a CDC application. While trying to get to the bottom of all of this, I called the NSW Dept Planning and found the staff were vague on the details and when pressed for more information told me to go to the portal – which is also unclear as to what is needed.  I think the problem is they haven’t been properly trained on the new reforms.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by .

been through all this recently.  most strata managers weren’t up to speed on this 6 months after the legislation began.  i was led to understand that if a common property wall etc was involved any change had to be done under a class 2 license and I was also led to believe this included waterproofing  however our strata managers wrote and said that any waterproofing had to be done by a tradesperson who was a master builder and not all master builders hold the class 2 licence.  the general rule seemed to be that only if it was an internal reno say a new bathroom or kitchen a class 2 license wasn’t required but what if say a hole needs to be knocked into an outside kitchen wall for an exractor fan.  THE WHOLE THING IS A MINEFIELD AND NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED.  When I originally contacted FT in Jan this year they knew nothing about it.