giantA Pty Ltd

02/09/2026

Big change for NSW homeowners and developers from 1 September 2026: one statewide Community Participation Plan now replaces over 100 different council plans.

What this means for you:
- Building a new house or dual occupancy (up to 2 storeys)? No public exhibition needed — your DA can be assessed faster
- Renovations and additions (up to 2 storeys)? Also exempt from public notification
- Townhouse development? Up to 5 dwellings = no exhibition; 6+ = exhibition required
- Granny flat (secondary dwelling)? No exhibition period
- Subdivision up to 5 lots? No exhibition needed

The practical upside: for standard residential projects, you could save 14-28 days off your DA assessment timeline because there's no statutory neighbour notification period to wait through.

But residential flat buildings and group homes now always require public exhibition, regardless of scale.

Read the full guide with comparison tables and real Sydney project examples: https://www.gianta.com.au/blog/approvals-9/nsw-statewide-community-participation-plan-2026-how-the-new-single-consultation-rule-changes-your-development-application-144

01/09/2026

Did you know your NSW development application now requires embodied carbon reporting? Since October 2023, every new residential DA needs a BASIX Materials Index. For commercial projects above $5M, the NABERS Embodied Carbon rating applies.

The March 2026 Technical Note added a new requirement: you must show you considered lower-carbon materials, not just measure emissions. Concrete, steel and aluminium account for 70%+ of embodied carbon. Timber can sequester carbon — the NSW Technical Note specifically recommends it.

Our latest guide covers both pathways, thresholds, costs and the step-by-step DA process:

How NSW's March 2026 Embodied Carbon Technical Note and NABERS tool change your DA process. BASIX Materials Index vs NABERS pathway, thresholds, costs and step-by-step compliance.

01/09/2026

Accessible Class 2 Apartment Design in NSW

NSW left NCC Part G7 blank — so what accessibility standards apply to your apartment development?

Our new guide explains Part D4, AS 1428.1, AS 4299 adaptable housing, council DCPs, accessible parking, and real project examples from Parramatta, Inner West and Liverpool.

Read the full guide:
https://gianta.com.au/blog/build-11/accessible-class-2-apartment-design-in-nsw-why-ncc-part-g7-is-blank-and-what-accessibility-standards-apply-instead-141

01/09/2026

Section 10.7 Planning Certificates NSW 2026: Complete Guide

Before you build in NSW, your zoning certificate reveals everything the council knows about your site — heritage, flood, bushfire, contamination, and draft planning changes.

Our new guide explains what a 10.7(2) vs 10.7(2) and (5) certificate covers, how much it costs, and how to read it before buying or developing.

Read it here:

Complete guide to Section 10.7 Planning Certificates in NSW for 2026 — what your zoning certificate reveals, 10.7(2) vs 10.7(5), costs, processing times, and how to read it before building.

31/08/2026

Renovation or knockdown rebuild for your luxury Sydney property?

The 2026 market has shifted the calculus. With Bellevue Hill medians at $9.45M and Vaucluse at $8.05M, quality of stock has become the differentiating factor.

Our new guide covers:
- Per-square-metre cost breakdowns for both options
- CDC vs DA approval pathways and timelines
- Heritage Conservation Area constraints in premium suburbs
- BASIX requirements for renovations over $50,000
- Real project case studies with value uplift analysis

If you're weighing up whether to renovate or rebuild, this guide gives you the data to decide with confidence.

Read it here: https://gianta.com.au/blog/architecture-7/renovation-vs-knock-down-rebuild-for-luxury-properties-in-sydney-2026-139

30/08/2026

Timber, light, and a view that never gets old.

Breakfast table conversations with the Harbour Bridge in the background.

29/08/2026

Natural daylight transforms a space more than any fixture ever could. Warm wood floors, linen textures, and that gentle morning light — this is what residential design should feel like.

29/08/2026

Cinematic living room at golden hour. Modern luxury with skyline views — minimal Italian design meets dramatic light.

28/08/2026

Thinking about removing gas from your NSW home? All-electric homes can save up to $4,000 a year with solar.

Heat pump hot water systems use a quarter of the energy of gas systems, and BASIX actually makes it easier to certify all-electric homes. Our new guide covers the full cost breakdown, health benefits, and step-by-step electrification plan.

From new builds to renovations over $50,000, going all-electric is increasingly the simpler compliance pathway.

28/08/2026

From cramped to connected. Australian homes deserve better design. Save this before buying land.