How Much Does a Town Planner Cost in NSW?

A town planner in NSW typically charges $600 to $3,000 to prepare a Statement of Environmental Effects, depending on the complexity of your project, where you are located, and how quickly you need it. Most homeowners pay between $800 and $1,500 for a standard residential SEE.

The cost varies with three main factors. First, the type of development: a simple alteration or granny flat costs less than a new two-storey dwelling or dual occupancy. Second, site complexity: a standard suburban lot with no constraints is cheaper than a heritage conservation area or bushfire-prone site. Third, location: planners in metro Sydney charge more than those in regional NSW.

For a straightforward single-storey alteration on a standard lot in greater Sydney, expect to pay $600 to $900. A new dwelling with moderate complexity typically runs $1,100 to $1,700. A complex dual occupancy with multiple constraints in metro Sydney can cost $1,800 to $3,000.

Most town planners take one to three weeks to deliver a completed SEE. Rush jobs usually attract a premium of 20 to 50 percent.

instantSEE generates a complete, DA-ready Statement of Environmental Effects in 10 minutes for a fixed $299. The report covers the same section 4.15 matters a planner would address, is tailored to your council, and includes editable Word and PDF formats. If your council rejects the DA because of the SEE, we refund or rebuild it for free.

A town planner in NSW typically charges $600 to $1,200 to prepare a residential DA — knowing what that fee covers and where you can save helps you decide whether to outsource the work or do parts of it yourself.

How to Get the Best Value

Get quotes from two to three planners before committing. Ask each planner whether their fee includes a site inspection, how many revision rounds are included, and what their turnaround time is. Confirm the total fee including GST. For straightforward residential projects, a guided tool like instantSEE can deliver a comparable result at a fraction of the cost and time.

The Bottom Line

A town planner provides professional expertise and handles the entire SEE process, but the cost and wait time are significant. For straightforward residential DAs, instantSEE delivers a DA-ready SEE in minutes for $299 — saving you hundreds of dollars and weeks of waiting.

Skip the wait — generate your SEE in 10 minutes for $299 → https://instantsee.com.au/report/new