Accelerated Lodgement Ready

Check if your development application is eligible for Muswellbrook Shire’s free Accelerated Lodgement Ready (ALR) pathway. Get a fast-tracked DA review and determination in as little as 28 days.

What is the Accelerated Lodgement Ready pathway?

The Accelerated Lodgement Ready (ALR) pathway is facilitated through the submission of an ALR request.

The ALR request service is provided free of charge and involves a preliminary review of your proposed development prior to lodgement in the NSW Planning Portal. Once reviewed, you will be provided with a Review Letter in 7-14 days. If deemed satisfactory, a lodgement ready application will be eligible for assessment as an Accelerated Development Application (ADA), generally receiving determination within 28 days of lodgement in the NSW Planning Portal.

Before proceeding to submit an application through the Accelerated Lodgement Ready pathway, please carefully review the eligibility criteria.

Council will typically only accept the following development types as lodgement ready development:

  • Single storey dwellings
  • Single storey dwelling alterations and additions.
  • Residential ancillary development carports, sheds, swimming pools and other modest residential extensions
  • Minor modifications to an approved development

Development requiring public notification and/or referrals to external Government Agencies are unlikely to be accepted.

How do I submit an application for review?

Top

  • Complete the ADA checklist: ADA Residential Development – Checklist

    Note: if you answer “Does not meet criteria” to any of the questions, your application cannot be considered as an ADA.

  • Complete a Statement of Environmental Effects template relevant to your development type:

  • Accelerated Lodgement Ready Form

    Use this form to submit a request for an Accelerated Lodgement Ready (ALR) review.

    Applicant Name(Required)
    Email(Required)
    Property Address(Required)
    Max. file size: 10 MB.
    Please ensure that you have completed the relevant template. Templates are available in step 2 above.
    Max. file size: 10 MB.
    Including site, floor, elevations/sections, shadow diagram, landscape & demolition plans
    Drop files here or
    Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 10.
      Max. file size: 10 MB.
      Drop files here or
      Max. file size: 20 MB, Max. files: 10.

      Only one ALR request is permissible per proposed application. Council will not review amendments made to previously considered ALR requests.

      You may wish to seek a further review of a proposed development via a Pre-DA meeting (a fee applies for this service). Any development application lodged following a Pre-DA meeting will progress through the standard development assessment process and standard assessment timeframes will apply.

      What happens following a review?

      Following Council’s review, you will receive an ALR review letter that will confirm if your proposed development:

      • is satisfactory and ready for lodgement as an ADA,
      • is not eligible for Council’s ADA service, or
      • requires further changes.

      Further information on how to proceed will be included in your ALR review letter.

      Once you have completed any steps advised by your ALR review letter, the development application is to be lodged with Council online through the NSW Planning Portal.

      Note – the ALR review letter does not authorise the commencement of any building work related to your development. It remains necessary for the development application to be lodged through the planning portal, a Notice of Determination to be obtained from Council and a Construction Certificate obtained from either Council or an Accredited Certifier prior to any work commencing.

      Page last updated: 23 September 2025 | 11:09 am

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