Town Planners and Architects

Today, after 30 years in business, our team of over 20 town planners, architects, and local government specialists have helped over 50,000 people navigate council approval. We have a collective 387 years of council approval history.

Our in-house team specialises in helping property and business owners like yourself navigate the approval process from any council.

We proudly continue the mission that Max Fragar envisioned when he started our consultancy all those years ago. You will find strength in the depth of our team and confidence in the breadth of our experience.

Council Approval Group was proud to host former Planning Minister Rob Stokes, as a honorary guest speaker at our 2024 Conference. This photo was taken at our annual 3-day retreat, which included a focus on health and wellbeing, professional development and social engagement.

People say there is no other firm in Australia that has more experience in dealing with local government approvals than we do.

50,000 +

People
Helped

387+ YRS

Collective
Experience

2.5 DAYS

How Often We
Get Approval

$500K

Potential Value
Added to Clients

Max Fragar

LIFE FELLOW PIA, REGISTERED PLANNER PLUS (EIA), FOUNDER

Max Fragar, the guru and head honcho, is our principal consultant. With over 50 years experience he is a Registered Town Planner Plus (EIA) and one of Australia’s most experienced town planners.

Colin Fragar

CO-FOUNDER

Colin Fragar is a best selling author, graduate lawyer and experienced property developer, having purchased his first investment at age 19.

Tracy

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & HR

With over a decade of experience in the property world, which includes working for the Australian Property Institute, Tracy has a wealth of knowledge and a love of all things property.

Ken

DIRECTOR OF PLANNING

Ken is a highly experienced town planner having worked for local government entities in Australia and the United States spanning the breadth of the profession including strategic planning, development planning and social planning. You will find Ken to be friendly, helpful and knowledgeable as he works pragmatically to bring your development dream to fruition.

Giuseppe

SENIOR ARCHITECT

Giuseppe Calabrese is a registered architect in NSW & Vic. Having previously worked for both boutique and major award winning firms in Sydney, he has a wide range of experience across project types. His in depth knowledge and experience with Council makes the approval process fast efficient and reliable. (Nominated Architect NSW Registration #8079, QLD #6233, Design Practitioner #DEP0003894)

Tyler

TEAM LEADER / TOWN PLANNER

Tyler has experience in Queensland and Victoria, both in the public and private sectors. He is passionate about negotiation and client satisfaction, and he works hard to balance the commercial and public interests of planning applications.

Jane

SENIOR TOWN PLANNER

Jane is a fully qualified town planner with over 20 years planning experience having worked at the local and state government levels in statutory, strategic, planning policy and research, planning law and heritage planning, in three states including New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria.

Ritta

PLANNING SPECIALIST- RETROSPECTIVE WORKS

As a registered Planner with the Planning Institute of Australia, Ritta has significant development and construction experience predominantly in residential projects and commercial projects. A passionate PIA member, she has been a mentor for young planners since 2020.

Shayne

TOWN PLANNER

Shayne is an urban planning practitioner with over 30 years' experience in development assessment & related planning policy at local and state government level.

Rebecca

TOWN PLANNER

After working across both local and state levels, Rebecca has over 13 years experience in Queensland planning. She has a strong interest in preserving heritage buildings and promoting sustainable outcomes for our clients.

Tania

TOWN PLANNER

Tania is a fully qualified Town Planner with over 30 years planning experience having worked at the local government and private sector. She has a strong knowledge of the legislative process, and clear understanding of New South Wales and Queensland planning legislation and policies.

Albert

TOWN PLANNER

Albert has 5 years of experience as a statutory development assessment officer. He enjoys listening to people's ideas, providing innovative solutions, and resolving problems to help them achieve great planning outcomes.

Rupert

TOWN PLANNER

Rupert is a fully qualified Town Planner with over 10 years experience working with the Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian Planning systems. He is passionate about planning and enjoys working with people to help them achieve their desired outcomes.

Julie

TOWN PLANNER

Julie began working as a Town Planner in 2004. Her academic qualifications and project experience have enabled her to understand the planning approval process deeply. Julie collaborates and strives to build strong relationships to achieve optimal client outcomes.

Grace

TOWN PLANNER

Grace has over six years of experience in the property sector. Her diverse range of expertise across real estate and town planning gives her a strong understanding of the property lifecycle, from planning and approvals through to development and delivery. With a Masters degree in Urban Planning and experience working for local government in both NSW and QLD, she brings a comprehensive skill set that supports innovative and well-considered development outcomes

Michael

ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTSMAN

Michael is a passionate and creative architectural designer with 10 years experience in the design industry, along with international project experience.

Ojie

ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTSMAN

A Computer Engineering Technology Graduate and Data Researcher, Ojie has been applying his skills as an Architectural Draftsman for over 5 years. Ojie's driven to deliver all-inclusive project plans to meet clients property needs.

Rey

ENVIRONMENTAL MAPPING OFFICER

Rey's lends his expertise as our Environmental Mapping Officer, providing comprehensive EMC Reports on client properties for our Town Planning Team.

Klara

CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATE COORDINATOR

Klara brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in Building & Construction, predominantly across New Homes, Subdivisions, Renovations & Extensions. Her background in Project Management shines through in her coordination of the Construction Certificate process.

Justin

PROPERTY CONSULTANT

Justin takes great pride and satisfaction working in an environment where he has the opportunity to help people. His extensive property experience and positive attitude allow him to guide clients through the often complex approval process with ease.

Emily

PROPERTY CONSULTANT

Emily brings a wealth of customer service experience to our team, coupled with a passion for property development. With her understanding and empathetic nature, she finds fulfillment in helping people navigate the council approval journey.

Kate

PROPERTY CONSULTANT

With a strong background in business development, Kate is passionate about helping clients bring their visions to life. Her experience, combined with a genuine interest in seeing others succeed, allows her to guide projects from idea to execution with purpose, clarity, and a focus on real results.

Angelique

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Angelique has been with the Council Approval Group for over 10 years, providing exceptional service for both our team and clients alike.

Eden

ASSISTANT TO THE CEO

Eden has over 10 years combined experience in Customer Service, Sales and Operations. Her goal is to provide efficient support and excellent customer satisfaction.

      GOOD  
   Based on 458 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   harry maher 
 25 August 2026
 
 
  I have worked alongside Grace on many occasions, Grace and Council Approval Group are very professional. I have always had a good experience.
  
 
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   Seo 
 9 August 2026
 
 
  Highly recommend Council Approval Group! Thanks to their team, we successfully received our council approval. Coming into this with zero experience, I was initially unsure of what to do, but they walked me through everything step-by-step. Their deep expertise and clear communication kept the project moving seamlessly. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the whole team, especially Grace. Grace demonstrated true professionalism with clear guidance and effective solutions at every critical point, which built immense trust. Without a doubt, 100 out of 100 service. Wishing the team continued success, and I hope many others benefit from their great service as well!"
  
 
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   Charles Corby 
 9 August 2026
 
 
  We’ve now completed three projects with Council Approval Group and they’ve been fantastic every time. The team is professional, responsive, and genuinely easy to deal with — they make the approval process far less stressful. Highly recommend them to anyone doing renovation or development work.
  
 
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   samantha mah 
 9 August 2026
 
 
  Council Approval Group has been excellent to work with. Jane and Tash took full ownership of our DA — from strategy through lodgement and council liaison — and made a complicated process feel manageable. Highly recommend.
  
 
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   Richard buck 
 8 August 2026
 
 
  We chose Council Approval Group for our subdivision because we needed the professional guidance to achieve our goal, Council Approval Group have a proven track record and as we needed a certain amount of hand holding Rupert the town planner has been a perfect match for our project and communication has been prompt and informative right through the project. We would recommend Council Approval Group for anyone going through this process it’s been a very positive experience for us and a clear and transparent  process. Richard and Wendy Buck
  
 
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   Maree Reay 
 7 August 2026
 
 
  We have engaged Council Approval Group to   assist us with applying for a DA which involves three adjoining properties, two requiring subdivision in order to provide access to a  building site for a family member. The Town Planner assigned to our project has been fantastic. He has given clear advice and  understanding of the particular dynamics of this project. We are still in the early stages of getting information needed for lodgement of the DA and feeling confident.
  
 
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   Jodie K 
 7 August 2026
 
 
  We have only just started our journey with Council Approval Group after receiving a Show Cause Notice for a retrospective build, but we couldn’t be happier with their help so far. They have been incredibly professional, knowledgeable and supportive, taking the time to explain everything clearly and, most importantly, helping to relieve so much of the stress and uncertainty we were feeling. We already feel confident knowing we have Council Approval Group guiding us through the process. We highly recommend them and look forward to continuing this journey with their support.
  
 
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   Angela Grigoryan 
 7 August 2026
 
 
  I had a consultation with the Justin and found them to be very helpful, supportive, and genuinely interested in assisting me. They took the time to understand my situation and provided clear guidance on the approval pathway that would best suit my needs at this stage. I really appreciated their professionalism, patience, and willingness to help.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Dee L 
 6 August 2026
 
 
  A big thank you to Shayne and the team at Council Approval Group for helping us get our development application submitted to Council. It’s been a long journey getting to this point, and after more than a year of trying to get everything sorted, having our application finally submitted has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. We really appreciate Shayne’s time, effort and guidance throughout the process and all his help in getting us to this stage. Looking forward to a great result with Council. Highly recommend!
  
 
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   Ely Jahjah 
 6 August 2026
 
 
  Really great communication and support from RUPERT as ni am building a warehouse and he has supported me through the whole process making it quite smooth.
  
 
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   Jenny Herdman 
 6 August 2026
 
 
  We have been working closely with the team to help us navigate all things we need for our permits. They have been patient, thorough and very professional.
  
 
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   Rob Harvy 
 6 August 2026
 
 
  I've had a really positive experience with Council Approval Group. I have an open development issue with the Council for unapproved works (unfortunately bought the property warts and all) which we've been able to determine the best way forwards in what is a pretty stressful experience! (Having the council chasing you with potential fines etc.). Having the experts take over for you makes a difference. Justin, Shane and Max have been very engaging!
  
 
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   Graeme Gillbanks 
 6 August 2026
 
 
  I thought that their presentation was really helpful and the team have a great understanding of the council processes and I would recommend them to anyone seeking council approvals. We did not proceed as our circumstances changed and everything was sorted out. Thanks anyway, Regards Graeme.
  
 
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   Joey Ashby 
 5 August 2026
 
 
  Colin, Lauren, the numerous senior town planners, and the entire team at Council Approval Group are amazing people. If you’ve ever wished that someone in the property investing/development world would truly care about your project and you as a person and not just a number, then these are the kind of people you want to be working with. The genuine care is amazing. They have assisted us in doing a dual occupancy subdivision on a standard residential block - something I thought you couldn’t do. But this is what they specialise in; finding ways to maximise your project. If you have an existing property and are wondering what you might be able to do with it, or are looking at purchasing something as an investment and want to know what additional value could be added to the block, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t have a chat with these guys.
  
 
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   Chris Heath 
 5 August 2026
 
 
  I have had a great experience so far with Council Approval Group. They have given me some great advice as to how to progress my building plans which had been in limbo for nearly 2 years with several roadblocks. More recently I have engaged them to revisit my architectural plans and have been working with Giuseppe Calabrese who has been very responsive to my requests and come up with some great ideas to progress my plans though council.
  
 
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   Cameron 
 24 June 2026
 
 
 Verified 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.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Tegan 
 19 June 2026
 
 
  Rupert was very helpful in having weekly meeting with our company. He guided us in the right direction and steps to take to move forward in our property development process.
  
 
     Posted on Product Review  
   
   Hans 
 16 June 2026
 
 
 Verified 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!
  
 
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   Michael Tuckerman 
 15 June 2026
 
 
  Great service
  
 
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   Dianna McDonald 
 31 May 2026
 
 
  The process was smooth and professional right from the start. I hadn't used a service like this before but they took their time to take me through the steps and explained what they would /would not be delivering.

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<br />

Meet Our Team

Max Fragar

LIFE FELLOW PIA, REGISTERED PLANNER PLUS (EIA), FOUNDER

Colin Fragar

CO-FOUNDER

Tracy

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & HR

Ken

DIRECTOR OF PLANNING

Giuseppe

SENIOR ARCHITECT

Tyler

TEAM LEADER / TOWN PLANNER

Jane

SENIOR TOWN PLANNER

Ritta

PLANNING SPECIALIST- RETROSPECTIVE WORKS

Shayne

TOWN PLANNER

Rebecca

TOWN PLANNER

Tania

TOWN PLANNER

Albert

TOWN PLANNER

Rupert

TOWN PLANNER

Julie

TOWN PLANNER

Grace

TOWN PLANNER

Michael

ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTSMAN

Ojie

ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTSMAN

Rey

ENVIRONMENTAL MAPPING OFFICER

Klara

CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATE COORDINATOR

Justin

PROPERTY CONSULTANT

Emily

PROPERTY CONSULTANT

Kate

PROPERTY CONSULTANT

Angelique

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Eden

ASSISTANT TO THE CEO