About Development Reports

One of the surprisingly difficult parts of property development is simply working out what specialist information you need.

A council checklist might ask for an Arboricultural Impact Assessment. A consent condition might require a dilapidation report. An architect may recommend geotechnical advice. A certifier might raise an access or Building Code issue.

Unless you already work in development, it is not always obvious:

• what the report actually is;
• why it has been requested;
• when it should be commissioned;
• what type of specialist prepares it;
• what qualifications or experience may be required; or
• where to find an appropriate consultant.

The information is often spread across council websites, planning documents, government guidance, technical standards and individual consultant websites.

Development Reports brings that information together in one place.

You can use the site to:

• Understand what a specialist report or assessment is.
• Learn when it may arise during a development project.
• Understand the type of professional who typically prepares it.
• Check important terminology and common points of confusion.
• Read relevant NSW and Australian guidance where available.
• Find consultants offering the relevant service.
• Compare publicly available information about providers.
• Visit a provider directly to discuss your project.

Development Reports currently covers:

• Dilapidation Reports
• Geotechnical Reports
• Traffic Impact Assessments
• Arborist Reports
• Acoustic Consultants
• Building Code of Australia Reports
• Section J Reports
• Access Consultants

These categories are not intended to represent every report or consultant that a development project may require. Additional categories can be added as the directory develops.

Provider profiles are compiled from publicly available business information. We aim to publish factual information that helps users understand what services a business offers without turning directory profiles into endorsements or reviews.

Where information is not supported by an available source, we do not deliberately fill the gap by guessing.

Business owners can claim their profile, correct inaccurate information and provide updated business details.

For more detail about how businesses are included and how listing information is handled, see our Listing Standards.

Development Reports is a directory and information service. We are not a consulting firm and we do not recommend one provider as being the best choice for a project.

Provider listings are not currently ranked according to payment.

Development Reports does not receive a commission simply because a user chooses to engage a listed consultant.

If commercial listing features or other paid services are introduced in future, they should be clearly identified and should not be presented as independent editorial endorsement.

Our goal is to make the distinction between factual directory information, editorial guidance and commercial features clear to users.

Our guides are designed to explain development-report terminology in plain English while keeping important technical distinctions intact.

Where practical, key factual and regulatory information is checked against authoritative sources such as:

• NSW Government and NSW Planning guidance.
• Transport for NSW.
• NSW Environment Protection Authority.
• Australian Building Codes Board.
• Commonwealth legislation.
• Local council development guidance.

Relevant sources are linked from individual guides so users can check the underlying guidance themselves.

Professional and regulatory requirements change, and requirements can differ between councils and projects. Information on Development Reports should therefore be treated as a starting point rather than a substitute for checking the requirements that apply to a particular development.

Development Reports is being built in Australia, with the initial provider database focused primarily on New South Wales and Sydney.

Some listed businesses may service broader areas, but location coverage is only shown where our source information supports it.

We intend to expand both geographic coverage and report categories over time based on the usefulness and demand we see from the platform.

Development Reports does not replace advice from:

• your local council or consent authority;
• a town planner;
• architect;
• registered certifier;
• engineer;
• lawyer; or
• another professional involved in your development.

We also do not determine which reports your individual project requires.

The requirements for a development can depend on the site, planning controls, building classification, proposed use, development type and conditions imposed by the relevant authority.

If you have been asked to provide a particular report, the safest starting point is the exact wording of the requirement.