Listing standards

A business should only appear in a category where available information supports that it genuinely provides the relevant service.

For example, a business listed under Arborist Reports should have evidence that it provides arboricultural reporting or assessment services — not simply general tree-maintenance services.

Likewise, a business appearing under Geotechnical Reports should have evidence that it provides relevant geotechnical investigation or reporting services.

We do not deliberately add businesses to categories simply to increase the number of listings.

Where a provider offers more than one relevant service, the same business may appear in multiple categories while retaining a single provider profile.

If you believe a business has been placed in the wrong category, you can submit a correction.

Some Development Reports profiles are created before the business itself has claimed the listing.

Information may be compiled from publicly available business sources such as:

• The provider’s own website.
• Public business profiles.
• Professional or industry directories.
• Professional-association information.
• Public registers where relevant.
• Other publicly accessible sources that reasonably support the information shown.

We aim to record factual business information rather than create promotional claims on behalf of providers.

We do not deliberately invent missing:

• Locations.
• Service areas.
• Qualifications.
• Accreditations.
• Association memberships.
• Project experience.
• Pricing.
• Turnaround times.
• Services.

Where reliable information is not available, the relevant field may simply be omitted.

Category inclusion means that our available source information indicates the business provides that type of service.

It does not mean:

• Development Reports has assessed the technical quality of the provider’s work.
• The provider is suitable for every project requiring that report.
• The provider satisfies every council or consent-authority requirement.
• Every employee of the business holds the same qualifications.
• The service scope is identical between providers.

Development-report requirements can be highly specific.

Users should check the actual project requirement and confirm with the provider that they have the qualifications, experience and scope needed for the particular engagement.

Location information is only shown where our available data reasonably supports it.

A provider’s business address and its service area are not necessarily the same thing.

For example, a consultant based in one Sydney suburb may work across Greater Sydney or NSW — but we do not deliberately assume that unless the available information supports broader coverage.

Similarly, a generic reference to servicing NSW is not automatically treated as evidence that the provider services every NSW city or locality.

Location pages and filters should therefore use the most specific supported information available.

This means some providers may appear on a statewide category page without appearing on a more specific Sydney page until we have sufficient information to support Sydney coverage.

A business owner or authorised representative can claim an existing provider profile.

Claiming allows the business to submit corrections and updated information about the listing.

A claimed profile means that a representative of the business has completed the Development Reports claim process.

It does not mean Development Reports:

• endorses the business;
• recommends the provider;
• guarantees its qualifications;
• guarantees its services; or
• considers the business more suitable than an unclaimed provider.

An unclaimed profile is not inherently less credible or less active. It simply means the listing has not yet been claimed through Development Reports.

Providers can submit corrections or additional factual information.

Submitted information may be checked against supporting information before being published.

We may request clarification or supporting evidence where a proposed change involves matters such as:

• Qualifications.
• Professional accreditations.
• Association memberships.
• Service areas.
• Specialist services.
• Business identity.
• Other information that could materially affect how users interpret the profile.

Submission of information does not guarantee that every requested statement will be published.

Development Reports may edit, omit or decline information that is:

• unsupported;
• misleading;
• excessively promotional;
• unrelated to the directory;
• inaccurate;
• defamatory;
• inappropriate; or
• inconsistent with these Listing Standards.

Claimed and verified are different statuses.

A claimed listing means a representative of the business has completed the claim process.

Where Development Reports displays a separate verified status, verification should mean only that particular information has been checked against an appropriate source at a point in time.

For example, verification could relate to:

• Business identity.
• Contact information.
• A stated qualification.
• Professional registration.
• Association membership.
• Another specifically identified profile detail.

Verified status does NOT mean that Development Reports:

• recommends the provider;
• has audited the provider’s work;
• guarantees professional competence;
• guarantees regulatory compliance;
• guarantees insurance coverage;
• guarantees suitability for a particular project; or
• guarantees the result of engaging the business.

Verification is not a quality rating.

Different report types can involve different qualification requirements.

In some cases a council, consent condition, legislation, certification process or project requirement may specify the type of professional who must prepare a report.

Where Development Reports publishes qualifications, registrations or professional memberships, these should only be shown where the information is supported by an available source.

Even where a credential is listed, users should verify that it remains current and satisfies the requirements of their particular project.

A credential shown on a directory profile should not be interpreted as Development Reports independently guaranteeing that credential unless the profile explicitly states that the particular information has been verified.

Inclusion in Development Reports does not mean that:

• We recommend or endorse the provider.
• The provider is the best provider for a project.
• The provider has been independently audited by Development Reports.
• The provider is available to undertake your project.
• The provider satisfies the requirements of your council, certifier or consent authority.
• The provider holds every qualification potentially required for the service.
• The provider’s information will remain accurate indefinitely.
• Development Reports guarantees the quality or outcome of the provider’s work.

Users should make their own enquiries before engaging a consultant.

Where qualifications, registration, insurance or professional membership matter to the project, confirm them directly with the provider and, where appropriate, the relevant professional or regulatory body.

Development Reports currently displays provider listings independently of payment.

The presence, order or position of a business should not be interpreted as a rating of professional quality.

Development Reports may introduce commercial listing features or other provider services in future.

If paid or promoted placement is introduced, commercial treatment should be clearly identifiable and should not be presented as independent editorial recommendation or professional endorsement.

Business information changes.

Websites move, staff change, qualifications are updated, services change and businesses expand or reduce their service areas.

If you identify information that is inaccurate or outdated, please tell us.

We will review reasonable correction requests and update information where appropriate.

Where possible, include the listing URL and information supporting the requested change.

Businesses may contact Development Reports to request removal of a profile.

Removal requests will be considered in light of the nature of the listing, the information published, the reason for the request and any applicable obligations.

A removal request does not automatically guarantee that an accurate directory reference based on publicly available business information will be deleted.

However, we take legitimate concerns about:

• inaccurate information;
• outdated information;
• mistaken business identity;
• privacy;
• safety;
• closed businesses;
• inappropriate categorisation; or
• other reasonable issues

seriously and will review them.

Contact us about a removal request.

Development Reports does not currently publish consumer star ratings or reviews of providers.

The absence of ratings is deliberate: a specialist consultant’s suitability can depend heavily on the project, required qualification, report scope and consent-authority requirements.

If review or reputation features are introduced in future, they should be clearly distinguished from Development Reports’ own editorial or verification processes.