Valued Client

Testimonials & Reviews

Reviews

So, what do our clients have to say about Council Approval Group?

Many state it’s our professional, honest approach which sets us apart from the rest. Others recognise it is our extensive experience and deep understanding of the planning law which enabled their project approval.

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harry maher profile picture
harry maher
25 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Seo
9 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Charles Corby
9 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
samantha mah
9 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Richard buck
8 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Maree Reay
7 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Jodie K
7 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Angela Grigoryan
7 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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.
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Dee L profile picture
Dee L
6 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Ely Jahjah
6 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Jenny Herdman
6 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Rob Harvy
6 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Graeme Gillbanks
6 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Joey Ashby
5 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Chris Heath
5 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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 profile picture
Cameron
24 June 2026
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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.
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Tegan profile picture
Tegan
19 June 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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.
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Hans profile picture
Hans
16 June 2026
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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 profile picture
Michael Tuckerman
15 June 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Great service
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Dianna McDonald profile picture
Dianna McDonald
31 May 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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.

What people say about working with us...

Click below to read just some of our valued client reviews…

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The team at Council Approval Group guided us through the processes and gave us confidence with the detailed DA for an Attached Dual Occupancy. The team were highly professional, respectful and honest in their opinions and options on the table. Would highly recommend their services. – Anthony Lisica

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Honest advice, professional service and guidance, trustworthy. They took great care when we needed help and didn’t know the way forward.
We will not hesitate to use their services for future projects, and would highly recommend the Council Approval Group to anyone needing help. Thank you. – Ramona F

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We needed a town planner as a matter of urgency in order to equip us to confidently bid on a property at auction. I engaged them and received a thorough assessment within 2 days! I was very grateful for their honest approach. 
– Gina Guiguis

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Fantastic company, very friendly and lovely people. They looked after everything from A to Z and they got the job done and the final result was achieved smoothly. Highly recommend this company, excellent results. 
– Zeina A

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Hesitant at first, we now are nearing a DA completion and are overwhelming surprised at how unexpectedly valuable contracting Council Approval Group has been towards getting our DA completed. Our representative was able to anticipate council requests, have reply drafts ready, was always fantastic to deal with regardless of how many questions we threw at her and was always contactable. We recommend engaging CAG and will be using them again in the future when embark on our next development. – Corie Ross

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The team at Council Approval Group have been amazing. The level of service has been outstanding especially during the difficult times that (COVID19) lockdowns have created. Would recommend to any to take the step to engage their help as they make the process a breeze.
– Geoff Quibell

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They had the skills, knowledge and experience to get a better outcome on our Subdivision than I had hoped for. I would recommend them for any development application whether the project is straightforward or more complicated.
– Russell Rodrigo

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Council Approval Group was referred to me by someone who gave a glowing reference. And I’m over the moon about the result. They gave me confidence throughout the whole process. They were honest from day one and that gave me a lot of certainty about my subdivision. I couldn’t be happier.
– Chris O’Neill

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The Council Approval group have taken all the hard work out of subdividing our block of land. They know exactly what needs to be done and how to do it. It has been a long and arduous task and I’m glad we engaged the Council Approval group to get it done. Highly recommended. ​
– Mike Suann

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They handle all the paperwork, liaise with Council and deal with any issues directly, taking away all the stress. Everyone is professional & eager to help with all queries.
– Paula De Romanis

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We can’t thank Max and Lauren enough for making us feel confident in guiding us through the process of applying for a DA for our Granny Flat. – Tony Messina

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I can’t recommend Council Approval Group highly enough, right from my first contact with Anthony through to the PPA meeting with Ken & Betsy. I had already applied for a DA for a granny flat which was rejected by council. Both Ken & Betsy fully reviewed my application and gave me all the necessary information I needed to lodge an updated DA.
– Wayne Cornish

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I did quite a bit of research before engaging with Council Approval. I am glad that I went with them as the team was responsive and process was very smooth. I received my feasibility report within expected timelines and was impressed with the detailed research provided therein. I am quite pleased with the outcome and look forward to engaging with the team for next steps of my project. Thank you and keep up the good work. – Ashim Prabhakar

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Being from a non-English speaking background it was particularly important for me to find someone who took the time for me to understand the vision I had for the project. Through every part of the process they are honest, keen and gave good technical knowledge. ​
– Feng Liang

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I have found Council Approval group to be very professional, understanding, knowledgeable and helpful. I would recommend them to anybody who needs help with the complex issues of DA approvals and all thing connected to them. – Brad Bishop

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A very professional, experienced, and knowledgeable group of people to deal with. They offered ideas outside the scope of what I initially inquired about which was useful information. I would highly recommend the services of the Council Approval Group, money well spent. ​
– Maria Rundell

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The Council Approval Group, and Tania van Dyk in particular were fantastic in helping us to get our renovation respectively approved by our local Council. We had renovated our property 20 years ago but had not sought the appropriate approval from our local Council. We approached the Council Approval Group, who immediately understood what needed to be done. They prepared all the necessary paperwork including the submission of the formal application to our local Council. Whilst these things do take time, they kept us informed all the way and ultimately the DA and Building Certificate were formally approved by our local Council. The whole process was done very professionally and we are ecstatic at the result. We highly recommend this company. ​
– Karen Potts

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EXTENSION
We were referred to Council Approval from a friend and we were very happy with the result. They prepared a pre-planning assessment report for us before we submitted our DA to council and I have no doubt that report helped us get a speedy approval from council for our build. 100% worth the investment! Colin is a true professional, very passionate about what he does and is incredibly knowledgeable. – Trudy Gilbert

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EXTENSION
The team were very professional well informed on all regulations, they were quick to get back to me when I asked questions, they always kept to the time line they set out and were always available to discuss my project from start to finish, I was very happy with the service they provided. Would recommend them to any one.
– Ken Garden

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CARPORT
At all times from the moment we connected, I was made to feel that they would do their absolute best for me. They didn’t let me down. Emma, Tom and Betsy constantly kept me updated, displayed understanding, empathy, professionalism and above all listened to what I had to say. I thank the team and highly recommend you.
– Julie Pak

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DECK & PERGOLA
We reached out to Council Approval Group to get help on an application for work we want done in our backyard. Essentially we wanted a ‘one stop shop’ to take care of the council approval process from start to finish. The end-to-end process dealing with Council Approval Group was fantastic. I found Lauren and the team at Council Approval Group to be extremely personable, thorough and professional throughout this process and demonstrated commitment to achieving the best possible outcome on our application. Highly recommend Council Approval Group and definitely worth paying that little bit more for!
– Kasey Graham

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GYM
The Council Approval Group have worked with me every step of the way on my DA application to open my new business. They took a task that I viewed as near impossible and put together a fantastic application on my behalf, keeping me up to date with all the details and always making sure I was happy before going ahead with anything. Very knowledgeable people at what they do! – Jake Connolly

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GYM
The DA process seemed very confusing and stressful before I started working with the team… they’ve taught me valuable skills to feel confident and in control of this and any future council processes. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to get help from this amazing team!
– James Ferguson

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CAFE
Thanks to Council Approval Group we now have council approval for our café… If it wasn’t for them we probably wouldn’t be trading right now or wouldn’t have the approval we needed. I would recommend Council Approval Group to any business owner needing council approval to operate their business. They know the rules of the game and keep you informed along the way as your application progresses. ​
– Old Church Cafe

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DOG GROOMING SALON
Can’t thank Jane and the team enough. They did an amazing job with my development application and got it done as quick as they could. Highly recommend. ​
– Kirsten Gomes

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HAIRDRESSING SALON
I cannot thank Anthony Peters enough, he was the most helpful, encouraging, and supportive town planner I have dealt with. It was a very long journey, and many times I could have given up if it wasn’t for Anthony. He made the whole process a lot more bearable, giving me that constant hope there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who needs a council approval! ​
– Mario Moniaci

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WATER TREATMENT PLANT
The team at Council Approval Group are currently helping us with a DA approval for our newly leased building. Betsy has been extremely helpful and fantastic at keeping us updated every step of the way. ​
– Julie Kljaic

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CAR WASH
I found the Council Approval Group to be very knowledgeable and professional when it came to explaining the council approval process for us to build our car wash. This was such a daunting task as we have never done this before, they explained the process in layman’s terms for us to understand. Thank you.
– Wayne Sheridan

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MECHANIC
Fantastic communication through out the whole council approval process for our facility. They are reliable and the team definitely know what they are doing! Thanks so much! ​
– David Pacor

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We are using Council Approval group to help us navigate our small Snowy Mountains Eco Accommodation Development. The process in regards to getting all the reports organised has been a very long and tiring process due to the waits on the busy construction industry. However, Council Approval Group have been very patient with us and extremely helpful. I did not know where to start when preparing a DA for a new development – so it is nice to put it in the hands of people who know the industry and know what the regional councils are looking for in their local areas. Definitely worth the investment. – Claire Charters

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A very massive thank you to Max and your team at Council Approval Group for a great job on our Council Approval for our Cook Island Christian Church. God Bless. – Danny Taia

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Thank you so much for finally approving our church plans, it has been a very long journey but I am very glad to say that we can now build our church. Thank you and God bless.
– Rangi Marsters

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We received our DA approval for our church within 3 months, just like they communicated from the start of the process. It is a great pleasure to work with the team. I would highly recommend them to anyone that is applying for a DA.
– Herry Wiputra

Just Some of The 50,000 Properties We Have Advised on to Date...

50,000 +
People
Helped
387+ YRS
Collective
Experience
2.5 DAYS
How Often We
Get Approval
$500K
Potential Value
Added to Clients

To Get Approval, Call 1300 008 138 Now

Or click below to schedule a time to chat to our team

We Make Council Approval as Easy as...

1
Claim Your FREE 30 Minute Consult with one of our Property Consultants
2
Let’s Us Conduct a Preliminary Planning Assessment (PPA)
3
We Prepare & Submit Your DA or CDC with a 98% Success Rate*

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