Council Approval Group

Great team and easy to work with. They understood my plans and helped them become a reality. I will definitely be working with Council Approval Group for my future projects.

Great quality of report when we got the preliminary report done for highest and best use of space. In order to get 5/5 stars i would like to see some greater clarity in the entire process and the associated costs, as it wasn't clear what cost would be moving forward from the report. Best case scenario this is the company breaking down a complex… Read more

process into bite-size manageable pieces, worst case scenario this can feel like the company is leaning on the Sunk Cost Fallacy to push customers fuether down the pipleline.

An excellent team getting us through to the end goal! We have been supported and guided through the process of obtaining the appropriately zoned property for our business. We have exactly what we want now. Thank you team!

We are currently half way through the DA process and we cant rave enough on how great Julie and Giuseppe have been on our Project , we will definitely be using Council Approval group for our next project Andrew and Kylie - Longbeach NSW Show reply

I’m currently working with the team to convert my dual occupancy into a strata title. We’re still progressing through the process, but so far the communication has been clear and helpful. Everyone I’ve dealt with has been friendly, responsive, and genuinely keen to assist. Show reply

Don't bother with the "free consult". It went for 5 mins and they just said they can't legally give any tips or advice unless I request a $2,500 report which takes 14 days. I know the report they're referring to because I've seen it on a ithe property and it's just screen grabs from NSW Planning Portal and the local council map layers.

After spending $5266, I was thoroughly disappointed with the service and overall treatment from CAG. Unreturned phone calls, long response times and vague answers to my questions. After dealing with a difficult individual during this process, I asked to be put in contact with a higher level manager about the prospect of a credit or refund and… Read more

was told her details could not be shared with me but she would be in touch.

I did get a response from the director of operations to say that no refund would be provided but a partial credit towards another project potentially via email. I responded with acceptance of this outcome but also expressed my disappointment with poor treatment up to that point and asked a couple more questions about my project. Although the email said don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, I never did receive a response back and was back to communicating with the same difficult individual indicating to me that I was not a valued client.

When I asked further clarifying questions to determine whether to pause the project for various reasons related to the site or continue to pursue, I was told I was incurring further costs through email communication and I had to decide whether to proceed with the project and pay the next deposit. I was simply asking for some more clarity on previous responses which were not clear. Given the >$5K spent and limited time on communication for my project up to that point, this was the tipping point of dissatisfaction.

I finally did get clearer answers to my questions via phone but only after I suggested walking away and leaving this review. It shouldn’t have come to this point.

I definitely plan to proceed with splitting land title in the future for my property but will not proceed with CAG after the way I was treated.

Early 2025, I needed to obtain a DA approval for a Granny Flat in Wollongong. After a quick Google search, I came across this company. The initial impression was average to good. I was asked to pay $2500 + GST for a Preliminary Planning Assessment. Unfortunately, the report I received offered no real value—it mostly contained generic building and… Read more

council information that I already knew. It felt like it was either written by someone overseas or generated by AI.

I then had a meeting with one of their planners. While the person was friendly, they couldn’t even clearly advise whether I needed a DA or a CDC. And they couldn't advise what was actually possible with the property. It was very strange. I followed up many times. Then I got an invoice for some planning work.

I asked some questions and then got an email saying due to capacity they couldn't take my job on.

I'd steer clear of this business.

They led me to believe they could help me and gave me a BPC and a WPC estimate of how much their costs would be. I then had to pay a non refundable $2,500 for their advice which amount would be deducted from their costs if I went ahead. They eventually sent me a standard form containing many points that were not relevant to my case. In a zoom… Read more

meeting I was told I just needed a surveyor and they would project manage the submission for a price much higher than the worst possible case estimate I had been given. I asked them if they could find me a well priced surveyor. They said yes, but I never heard back from them.

Outstanding service from start to finish and possibly the most valuable consulting engagement we have ever purchased. Working with Council Approval Group uncovered high value development options we would never have considered. Show reply

Council Approval Group (CAG) has been assisting me with a development application for several months. The CAG representative, Jane, is amazing. Very professional, understanding, and knowledgeable. Jane has coordinated every aspect of the DA (including finding subject matter experts) flawlessly and has provided excellent advice. I am very pleased… Read more ·  1

with the service provided and highly recommend CAG if you have a difficult issue to resolve with your local council.

Council Approval Group have been good to work with. Has been some chasing but that is expected with a company dealing with many clients. Overall a good experence. Would use them again. Show reply

My partner and I are currently working with council approval group on our first home building project. We've completed our initial consultation meeting Justin, who presented as professional, knowledgeable and reassuring. I can't wait to work alongside Council Approval Group and build our dream home. Show reply

I have been engaged with COUNCIL approval Group, for some months now. I would not recommed them. I had to terminate my contract and raise a dispute to get my money back. The Town planner assigned to me was so rude, never said hello and lacked basic manners. Beside, half way thriugh the peoject they started highlighting there are more costs and… Read more

projects that I had to pay. They said rhe intial quote is just for limited project. So they trap you into the process. Besides, their terms and conditions are so bias. Eventhough, I never agreed or signed any contract, they tried to forced it on me. Stay away from them, they are so over priced and not worth it.

Outstanding Service and Expert Guidance! Working with Council Approval Group has been an incredibly smooth and rewarding experience. From our very first consultation, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in helping us navigate the often complex council approval process. They clearly understand local planning… Read more ·  1

requirements and provided tailored advice that helped us avoid costly delays. Their communication was prompt and clear throughout, and we always felt informed and supported at every step.

What stood out the most was their attention to detail and their ability to break down technical planning terms into easy-to-understand language. I highly recommend Council Approval Group to anyone looking to streamline their approval process with a trustworthy and efficient team.

Not very impressed. Their sales person high-pressured us into forking out the initial $2000, acknowledging our urgency in getting a relative to come live with us. Of course we now feel silly for paying for a service BEFORE we got the service. For $2000 all we got was a council report, which must have not been hard to get as we received it within a… Read more

week (copy and paste, or they just one handy in their database) and a zoom meeting with a town planner and a "council expert" evaluating our plans and telling us that our proposed build wasn't viable. Since the $2000 we paid was clearly not all used for these two small services, in fact, when you read their pitch about what the $2000 covers, it should take you beyond just the "talking" stage. I therefore requested a partial refund, asking them to invoice the work they did do and give back the difference. Of course, they refused. I'm going to take this to fair trading, but they probably have some section in their terms and conditions that covers them for this, so I thought I would save someone else the pain and suffering in writing this review and insist you go instead with a local building and development group, who will provide the same service at a fraction of the cost and will only charge you AFTER they provide the service.

We receive prompt and well considered advice. We found the CAG to be flexible and collaborative in assessing our project which has some unique aspects they may not come across every day. Show reply

We’re just at the beginning of our journey with the Council Approval Group, and already we feel confident we’re in great hands. The team has been incredibly professional, responsive, and knowledgeable—taking the time to understand our goals and clearly explain the steps ahead. They’ve made what initially felt like a daunting process much more… Read more ·  2

approachable, and we’re looking forward to working with them as we progress through the approvals. So far, we couldn’t be happier with the support and guidance we’ve received!

Council Approval Group demystified my complex development application, delivering clear, actionable planning advice that saved me time, stress and money. Their professionalism, prompt communication and deep technical knowledge were outstanding. I highly recommend them to anyone needing expert town planning guidance, an invaluable partner for navigating council approval hurdles with ease. Show reply

Felt pressured into signing up and paying my $2000.00 to proceed to the next stage of having an interview with a 'town planner'. Heard nothing for two months. Two months later, I had decided not to go ahead with the development - a granny flat at an existing property. I emailed Council Approval Group to advise this and asked if I could have a… Read more

refund of at least part of what I had paid, as I assumed there had been some work done by the group in preparation for the next stage. Within 24 hours I received an email advising me that the next group seminar /discussion was within the next week or so, and asked me to respond with a booking to attend. Sorry what???? !!! Coincidental don't you think that this was the first response in almost two months, and only after I had advised that I was no longer going ahead with the proposed development. Then, just today - one week after my email to Council Approval Group to advise that I was no longer going ahead with the development - they sent me an email advising me, that according to their Terms and Conditions, there are no refunds. At NO TIME was that explained to me in my 'FREE' first consultation. Nor was it advised that I had 24 hours cooling off. Very, very poor customer service! Super happy to take my money on the spot - but then........crickets (nothing)!! DO NOT HAND OVER YOUR MONEY - you will never see it again. I'm not even sure they could have helped in getting an approval for my development! But of course they were very quick to advise that without their assistance any REAL council approval would be difficult and drawn out! Extremely disappointed with their attitude and total LACK of contact with me with any advice moving forward with the initial project. And, only WHEN I made contact with them to advise that the project was no longer happening, then and ONLY THEN did they make contact with me about a preliminary discussion, and THEN days later to advise SORRY NO REFUNDS!!

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BUSINESS!

Each member of the team were helpful and reassuring. Action was timely and efficient. They took time to answer my questions and explain our situation clearly. The report they provided was excellent and contained information that has helped me to answer questions on several other projects. Show reply

We used council approval group to prepare our DA application for a development in northern nsw. Their communication and processes were excellent and although we are still waiting on an outcome, we are well informed and expect a favourable outcome. Show reply

Outstanding Expertise & Professionalism – Highly Recommend – I had an excellent experience with Council Approval Group. They conducted in-depth research on my duplex site, carried out comprehensive feasibility studies, and helped maximize my investment potential. Their team was highly knowledgeable, professional, and efficient in navigating the complexities of council regulations and development approvals. … Read more ·  1

Thanks to their expert guidance, I now have a well-structured property development plan that optimizes the value of my land. Their insights into maximizing returns and ensuring a smooth approval process have been invaluable. If you’re looking for a reliable team to help with property development, I highly recommend Council Approval Group!

Long standing professional relationship – We have worked with Max and Colin for over 14 years on several projects. The Council Approval Group is now a formidable and highly regarded expert team of consultants focused on your success. You would be hard pressed to find a better, more dedicated team to support your next project. Show reply

PPA Report Worthwhile – The Preliminary Planning Assessment Report was excellent especially for a first timer undertaking a building project. Communication from all parties was professional, efficient and knowledgeable. In particular Kens years of experience with local Council helped cut through the legislation requirements . From this information I am now on a new path and building on my sons rural property. Highly recommend this service. Show reply

Professional and friendly – Council Approval group had good communication with emails and phone calls and with the initial consultation that was over the phone they explained things in a way so we could understand.They know their stuff and are friendly and professional, we would not hesitate to recommend them. Show 3 replies