Recent Projects

Testimonials

Waterfront owner

"You’re good at what you do."

Sydney/Central Coast Client

"Helen – thanks very much for your email and all your hard work. It’s a tremendous result. I agree with you that working together ... gave us much leverage!"

Approval despite objection

“It sounds like we are heading towards a fantastic result” “Thanks again Helen on assisting us hitting a major milestone – DA approval.”

Waterfront owners with [...]

"...we do appreciate all you have and are doing for us re this situation. It has not been an easy task for you, and your preparation for Tuesday's site meeting was great, as has been all your other work."

Hawkesbury client proposing [...]

Great result!!!! Well done!!!

Sydney/Central Coast Client

"This is such great news! Thank you so much to Helen for the hard work and the quality of the submission and follow through that I have no doubt significantly contributed ... Collaborating made such a difference."

Subdivision after a refusal

“I never thought we’d get it approved, but you persisted with both the staff and Councillors and we got there. Thank you.” The land was immediately sold at a big profit with the Development Consent!

Central Coast client [...]

"Helen, thanks again, you were the best thing to come out of this whole episode I really appreciate what you did for us."

Central Coast business person [...]

"Thanks again for a great, concise report."

A builder and separately an [...]

"We love the way the newsletter keeps us informed"

Another satisfied client [...]

"thank you very much Helen for meeting with us in Sydney and for all the great work you’ve done so far. You’ve put us in a strong negotiating position with our neighbour."

Experienced multi-region [...]

"... You have patiently and skillfully sent info on the Central Coast Property issues for years, thank you.

You provide a great service to the area .... and for free!"

Central Coast client, selling [...]

"Thank you for your knowledge, focus and clear direction: you gave us confidence to stick with the process and do what it took to achieve our sale."

(Update...) "Thank you again for your kind assistance. Yes, we settled on ... We’re relieved, because it was such a drawn out stressful experience and now we can move on."

Architect for off-grid house [...]

Architect for off-grid house at Lower Portland

You have done a great job.

Dual Occ. Consent

“Thank you for getting us where we are today … approval. We are very appreciative of this and we know we probably wouldn’t have got there without your skill and expertise.”

New Central Coast owners of [...]

"We have total faith in your work and service."

Central Coast new waterfront [...]

"We are glad to be back on track, look forward to seeing this through, and are grateful to have you on the team."

Waterfront owner seeking 2 [...]

"You really know what you are doing"

Central Coast Client (retail [...]

I trust you.

Central Coast waterfront [...]

"Thank you for your expertise in helping us to understand the workings of the Central Coast Council and your advice on the various options open to us."

Building a portfolio

“You gave me strategic advice that I hadn’t heard in any of the investment seminars I’d paid good money for. It was well worth while having a couple of planning sessions with you.”

Central Coast property owners [...]

"I appreciated your involvement. ... You came highly recommended and we realize why."

Subscriber

"A phenomenal job done with this newsletter, and right up to date with the Federal Budget."

Lower Portland off-grid house [...]

Lower Portland off-grid house developer (with steep land, Flame Zone, Koalas, flooding, incorrectly claimed EEC)

Brilliant response. Brilliant. … solid, watertight, fair but firm.

Central Coast client (lapsing [...]

"I can't thank you enough for the huge effort you personally put into achieving the successful outcome in the last two weeks. It was stressful for me but from the first time I spoke with you I knew I was in the most capable of hands. Your professionalism and never say die attitude is a very calming influence on your clients and I look forward to referring other people to your consultancy."

Central Coast client on [...]

"Thank you again for such prompt service and high quality work. We will definitely be in touch soon to discuss the next steps"

Privacy protection

“You did a fine job for us and we are most grateful to you for your efforts. We would happily recommend you to other interested parties.”

Central Coast client [...]

"You gave us a lot to think about and the background research and information was really helpful. You have a thorough knowledge of all the planning and legal requirements, and are very professional"

Pre-purchase uncertainty [...]

"you've overachieved, we can buy it now" "you have been an amazing help."

Central Coast Business

"Many thanks for lodging the S4.55 application in such a short time frame and I am very impressed with your explanation in the letter which covers everything.

The 2 piece of good news is all because of you and thanks again for your assistance."

Central Coast acreage owner

“You have done it! ... (Council) said you hit the nail on the head.” (‘Challenging’ neighbours... Threatened Council breach action to cease.)

Central Coast activist for [...]

"Once again a well structured Newsletter and important for pulling urban planners and public interest groups together."

Application for a relocated [...]

"Thanks."

Rezone then subdivide

“You protected our interests throughout. … Tactically skilful and technically knowledgeable, and you know the system. We relied on your skills and knowledge and we’ve obtained the desired result.”

Central Coast client

Consummate professional

Client

"We like your work on our subdivision. Would you work on another one for us, elsewhere?"

Central Coast Lawyer

Thanks. Great report.

Central Coast tradesperson

"Very impressive ...." Kindest Regards

CC resident, national [...]

"You really know what you are talking about, and I deal with many Councils for our company’s properties"

Central Coast waterfront [...]

"Thank you so much for your work. ... You have been a blessing to us and we could not have done this without you. ... [We] ... have always believed in finding the most skilled specialists for each project, and through [a local real estate agent] we found you. You led us along this journey, told us how to connect and who to connect to and through listening to your advice we reached our goal today ..."

Sydney client looking to buy [...]

"... Your report was very useful in defining the risks and we sought this [extra specialist] ... advice to clarify things."

Contribution requested for [...]

"Thanks so much Helen. You're a champion."

Central Coast Real Estate [...]

"Awesome."

Central Coast client [...]

"Thank you so much Helen for bringing this to a positive conclusion. ... If you ever require a reference for your outstanding work I am very happy to provide it."

Central Coast subdivider

"Thanks Helen for the information. You are certainly organised."

Subdivision battle

“You kept the Council staff honest by not letting them get away with a sloppy assessment that wasn’t fair and that had errors of fact. Then you tackled the Councillors! Well done.”

Central Coast developer ($6m [...]

"Thank you Helen for your efficiency: you promised the short-notice reports by c.o.b. today and they arrived during the morning, full of information."

Central Coast client [...]

"A quick email of thanks for your time today. You certainly do know your stuff!"

Central Coast client with [...]

"Excellent thanks very much Helen!"

Sydney acreage buyers

"Your guidance about where to look, and what to look for, really crystallised our thinking. We are very happy with the waterfront 30 acres we have just bought."

Apparent breach by a [...]

"Once again I can’t thank you enough for your interest in this situation. It is certainly very distressing (and could have become very expensive)."

Satisfactory resolution

“May I take this opportunity to thank you for involvement in this complicated matter which is now at a conclusion. There is no doubt that your assistance has been of immense help.”

Property protection

“Helen, this is fantastic thank you. Please do submit to Council, and I would be delighted if you would continue to monitor the situation.”

Commercial site search

“Even if it was uncomfortable news for us, you told it like it is, so we could make our own decisions about taking the risk or walking away. You saved us money by avoiding a big mistake.”

Long-term Central Coast [...]

Would you stand for the Board?

Contact Us

Submission about neighbour’s greedy house extension
Dual occupancy proposal for heritage house and garden
Advice about house extension to improve ocean views
Advice about “regularisation” of multiple buildings with view to achieving dual occupancy and avoidance of a demolition order
DA for rural residential property with horses and vexatious neighbours
Advice on subdivision potential for heritage-listed residence
2 applications for just-purchased non-compliant shop (Council has given incomplete advice to new owner)
Commercial and residential partial redevelopment after highway widening affects the property
Proposed addition to new industrial premises – seeking approval
Following advice about potential to expand existing house, forthcoming DA
Flood-prone site for new professional rural business
Mixed-use rural and conservation zoned land with lots of constraints, seeking approvals
Development potential report to assist an injured person return home with support (rural)
2 clients: litigious body corporates: provide professional and tactical advice
2 clients: waterfront properties breached by the State, prepare applications for approval
Expatriate couple seek services from pre-purchase onwards for rural residential with horses
Extend jetty with conservation objectives (and much bigger boat)
New dwelling on steep constrained conservation property
Industrial premises approval and additional application
Pre-purchase report with view to new second dwelling in existing non-habitable building (to be investigated)
Amendment to commercial operation in RU1 zone, Jilliby – Consent granted
Advice leading to rectification and “regularisation” of unapproved structures (2 clients)
Advice on process for unapproved buildings plus proposed building (bush + clearing)
Master site planning, mixed-zone environmental/rural bushy block
Rural worker’s dwelling on primary production land
Post-purchase/ pre-application advice on business (recreation and tourism/ post-Corona virus) on acreage, lower Hunter
During purchase: advice on highly-constrained large suburban lots (bushfire, flooding, species, large minimum lot size)
Pre-purchase advice (acreage) to match clients’ objectives (commercial and residential)
Multi-component rural residence and eco-tourist facility on acres
Pre-purchase advice for multi-faceted development (retail, residential +)
Pre-development advice on multi-lot subdivision potential (flood and bushfire prone, suburban)
Assist with breach notice (business + residential; suburban)
Serious breaches by unco-operative owner, advice provided
Waterfront owners with access and neighbour problems
Incomplete rural mixed-zone subdivision for sale: advice to prospective purchaser (who walked away); then advice to vendors
Development potential report (subdivision, multiple dwellings etc.), 2 lots, mixed zones, conservation constraints
Pre-purchase advice on purchase of an acreage for a specific business (recreation + accommodation)
Acreage rezoning potential: advice in light of postponement of Council changes
Pre-purchase report regarding commercial use of acreage (multi-purpose)
Subdivision potential (strata vs Torrens; access; retain existing dwellings) (several clients)
Advice about permissible but unconventional land uses on acreages (2 clients)
Advice about resubdividing flood-prone land awkwardly cut by drainage canals
Advice about another’s unacceptable and unfeasible Development Consent condition; tactics
Boarding house explorations (several clients)
Advice before master planning for RMS road-widening-affected property with other constraints
Advice involving lawyers and Council re claim of unlawfully-issued CDC for dunefront house
Preliminary advice about structural feasibility of proposed house and pool alterations
Pre-purchase advice for rural property for proposed tourism and/or materials recycling
Potential for seniors’ housing (geotechnical, lot too small, other constraints), not exempt from approval
Affordable housing proposal under NDIS (2 aspects of the proposal: housing development; services for clients)
Pre-purchase report on large rural R5 zoned land in 3 Titles with unformed Crown Road in another region – development potential including subdivision, tourism, residential, eco-tourist facility
Waterfront reserve owners with vegetation, heritage and Community Title issues: research, advice and advocacy
Pre-purchase report on (risky) acreage with multiple unapproved and non-compliant “dwellings” (bushfire, creek, risk of demolition orders and more!)
Pre-purchase advice on acreage with listed Threatened (flora) Species, creek, ocean views, 2 cottages – development potential?
Post-purchase advice about acreage with undersize 2 lot subdivision – dwelling entitlement?
Pre-purchase advice during residential property search – development potential? efficiency of search?
Post-purchase work for potential multi-lot subdivision on land with an Endangered Ecological Community, major flooding, bushfire and end-of-life house that straddles 2 existing lots
Pre-purchase report for industrial land with creek, bushfire, extensive (undocumented?) landfill
Serious long-standing and previously-unknown compliance issue rectified during a sale, with purchaser now able to proceed
Master site planning, mixed-zone environmental/rural bushy block
Rural worker’s dwelling on primary production land
Post-purchase/ pre-application advice on business (recreation and tourism/ post-Corona virus) on acreage, lower Hunter
Pre-purchase advice on purchase of an acreage for a specific business (recreation + accommodation)
Pre-purchase report regarding commercial use of acreage (multi-purpose)
Advice on desired change in approved building envelope to preferred location (bush acreage, steep, severe geotech, erosion and bushfire hazards, access that floods)
Advice on non-compliant building design, land with bush, geotech and stormwater problems
DA preparation: secondary dwelling, land with bushfire, endangered ecological community, unretained steep slope
Advice on rural property for tourism/recreational project
Investigation into and advice about incomplete subdivision infrastructure yet rating by Council and water authority as if it is was all constructed
Investigation and report on enclosure of a non-compliant but constructed carport; and dual occupancy potential beneath the existing house
Investigation and master site planning for subdivision of highly constrained R2 land
Townhouse development – pre-purchase advice (client bought it)
Advice on subdivision potential – bushy block with flooding, species and bushfire
Pre-purchase advice on geotech unstable suburban block, development potential
Pre-purchase report – dual occupancy potential
Pre-purchase reports on 2 E-zoned properties – development potential
Pre-purchase report on dual occupancy potential (large suburban block)
Second dwelling wanted despite unapproved dwelling, adjacent mostly bushy rural blocks
Pre-purchase reports (industrial, commercial/rural) (client bought both)
Advice re rectification of breach on suburban block (unapproved building works, master site planning)
Completion of 2 lot subdivision process (only 1st of 4 stages complete so far)
Advice on development potential (suburbia: 2 detached houses)
Meet investors to make their property search more efficient and targeted