NSW Planning Portal: What Northern Beaches Unit Owners Need to Know for Balcony Repairs

planab55
Aug 3, 2025
3 min read

If you own or manage a multi-residential building on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and you're planning to repair or upgrade damaged or substandard balconies, chances are you’ll need to use the NSW Planning Portal.

At Plan A Builders, we specialise in helping strata and unit owners navigate this process — from assessing balcony safety to managing building approvals and remedial works.

This guide explains how the NSW Planning Portal works and how it affects your building project.

🏗️ What Is the NSW Planning Portal?

The NSW Planning Portal is an online system used for lodging development and building applications with local councils and private certifiers.

For many projects in Northern Beaches suburbs — including balcony repairs, balustrade replacements, or waterproofing — the portal is mandatory. This includes:

Development Applications (DAs)
Complying Development Certificates (CDCs)
Construction Certificates (CCs)
Occupation Certificates (OCs)

It streamlines communication between owners, builders, certifiers, and councils like Northern Beaches Council.

🛠️ When Do Balcony Repairs Require Lodgement?

You may need to use the NSW Planning Portal if your balcony project involves:

Concrete slab repairs or structural upgrades
Replacing old or non-compliant balustrades
Changes to waterproofing membranes
Visible changes to the building façade
Works in a heritage or coastal protection area

We always recommend checking with a certifier — and we can help coordinate that for you.

📍 Common Scenarios on the Northern Beaches

We frequently help clients in Manly, Narrabeen, Dee Why, and Mona Vale who are facing:

Balcony cracking or concrete spalling
Rusted steel reinforcement and unsafe handrails
Leaks causing internal ceiling or wall damage
Balconies not meeting current Building Code of Australia (BCA) height or strength requirements

In these cases, using the NSW Planning Portal is the first step to carrying out compliant and safe repairs.

🔍 How to Use the NSW Planning Portal (Step-by-Step)

Create an AccountHead to www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au and register for free.
Select the Application TypeChoose between a DA or a CDC, depending on the scale and type of work. We’ll help you determine which one fits your project.
Upload Required DocumentsTypical documents include:
- Engineering drawings and scope of works
- Site plans or elevation diagrams
- Builder’s contract or quote
- Owner’s consent from the owners corporation
Submit to Council or CertifierThe portal sends your application to Northern Beaches Council or a private certifier for review.
Track and RespondLog in to check progress, respond to any council requests, or upload extra documents if needed.

✅ Our Role at Plan A Builders

We’re not just builders — we’re here to guide you through the entire process:

Coordinate with strata managers, engineers, and certifiers
Provide all technical documentation needed for submission
Recommend whether DA or CDC is suitable
Assist with lodgement and application tracking
Complete balcony works in line with compliance approvals

We ensure your balcony upgrades are safe, compliant, and future-proofed.

🧱 Example: Balcony Restoration in Narrabeen

In 2024, we completed a major balcony repair for a 12-unit block in Narrabeen, where rusted balustrades and cracking concrete created a safety risk.

Using the NSW Planning Portal, we: