Project status: Closed

How you had YourSay:


In 2016 and 2017, the ACT Government sought your feedback on draft guidelines to help developers of significant projects engage meaningfully with the community early in the process.

Early and effective community engagement can significantly benefit the planning and development outcome of a project and allow for genuine feedback to be incorporated into the design of a proposal prior to lodging a Development Application (DA).

Your views shaped the development of the Pre DA Consultation Guidelines that were released in November 2017.

What happened next:


The ACT Government undertook an implementation review of the guidelines after they had been operating for 12 months. The review included targeted consultation with the users of the guidelines, including members of the community and industry. The review report, dated December 2019, recommended a range of changes, including amendments to the Planning and Development Regulation 2008 and the guidelines.

In September 2020, the ACT Government implemented the recommendations of the review. It released the Pre DA Consultation Guidelines 2020, which will replace the pre DA Consultation Guidelines 2017 on 1 January 2021. Changes to the Planning and Development Regulation 2008 will also take effect on 1 January 2021.

Developers who lodge a DA before this date must comply with the Pre DA Consultation Guidelines 2017 and those who lodge a DA on or after this date must comply with the Pre DA Consultation Guidelines 2020.

For updates:


For more information, go to our Pre DA Consultation Guidelines webpage.

To find current pre DA community engagements, go to active consultations.