Contact a planner

Zoned land: development and land use complaints

This page explains how to make a complaint about a failure to follow the Northern Territory (NT) Planning Scheme and zoning laws, development permit conditions, or endorsed plans.

Who can complain

A complaint may be made by a member of the public, local councils or other government agencies.

You can complain to the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics about another person or party who has not complied with the Planning Act 1999, a planning scheme or a development permit.

There may be further legal action against the other party by Development Consent Authority or the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics as a result of your complaint.

Confidentiality when making a complaint

If you make a complaint, your identity will be kept confidential unless:

  • it’s necessary to investigate the matter
  • you give written permission to disclose your identity
  • your identity has already been disclosed:
    • to the complainant or
    • in a public document
  • it’s required under the Information Act 2002
  • it's required to follow procedural fairness
  • the matter proceeds to court.

How to complain

You must make the complaint in writing by filling in the section 78 planning complaints form.

Section 78 planning complaints form  PDF (159.9 KB)
Section 78 planning complaints form  DOCX (63.1 KB)

Once completed, send the form to Development Assessment Services by email or post:

Compliance officer
Development Assessment Services
GPO Box 1680
Darwin NT 0801
das.ntg@nt.gov.au

After you submit your complaint

Your complaint will be investigated by the department's compliance team.

The compliance team conducts inspections of approved projects, responds to reports and complaints, investigates potential breaches and carries out enforcement action.

If the complaint is about a breach of the law, the compliance team may negotiate an outcome between parties, send warning letters, send penalty notices or take legal action.

If the court finds the person or party has gone against the law, it may issue a fine and order work done to fix the breach of the law.

Meet with a planner

Before you submit a development application, you can book a meeting to get advice from either:

  • a Development Assessment Services planner
  • the Development Consent Authority.

These meetings are not a substitute for consultation with individual agencies or qualified consultants.

How and where meetings are held

Your meeting with a planner will usually be an hour long and is confidential. You can bring a consultant or other representative.

You may arrange meetings with planners or the Development Consent Authority as many times as you need before submitting your proposal.

Meetings are held on business days at department offices in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs.

Meetings are voluntary unless you are submitting a concurrent application.

For more information, including about compulsory meetings, read about concurrent applications.

How to book a meeting

You can book your meeting either of the following ways:

For a meeting with a planner, make the booking at least 2 days ahead of your meeting and up to 2 months before the date.

Meetings you can book

Read below for more information about the meetings you can book.

Pre-application meeting with a planner

You can meet with a planner for all the following:

  • to discuss upcoming proposals
  • receive feedback on your development application based on the requirements of the following:
    • Northern Territory (NT) Planning Scheme
    • the Planning Act
    • department processes.

Assistance preparing an application

You can meet with a planner if you have never prepared a development application and need help with any of the following:

  • lodging an application
  • creating an account in Development Applications Online
  • preparing a statement of effect in line with the Planning Act and the NT Planning Scheme
  • identifying the types of plans and drawings to submit with your proposal.

Once submitted, you can meet with the planner assigned to your application as it proceeds through the development assessment process.

Enquire about an existing permit

You can meet with a planner to discuss any of the following about your development or subdivision permit:

  • how to meet any conditions in your permit
  • making changes to your permit
  • extending the period of the permit
  • how to comply with your permit.

Enquire about a rezoning proposal

You can meet with a planner to talk about changing the existing zoning of your property, the assessment process and application time frames.

Public enquiry about zoning proposal or current application

Members of the public can meet with a planner to talk about a specific rezoning proposal or application that is on public exhibition.

The planner can give you advice on any of the following:

  • the nature of the proposal or application
  • the assessment process
  • how to make a submission.

To make your submission, go to Development Applications Online website.

You can also do it over the counter at a Development Assessment Services office.

Planning forum

You can meet with representatives from a range of agencies involved in the development assessment process before submitting your application.

Planning forums are chaired by a senior department employee and may include representatives from any of the following agencies or others:

  • Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
  • the relevant local government council
  • Power and Water Corporation
  • Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority.

This meeting is optional. However, it can help you consider the risks and opportunities associated with a proposed development before you apply.

Unlike other meetings with Development Assessment Services planners, forums are held fortnightly in the Darwin and Alice Springs offices on a Tuesday. This excludes public holidays and during the December to January school holiday period.

To book your planning forum, you should book at least 9 days ahead of the date and up to 2 months in advance through Development Applications Online website.

Forums last for 30 minutes or longer on request.

Pre-application forum (for subdivision)

If you want to subdivide or consolidate land, you can book a pre-application forum.

This is the same as a planning forum. It allows you to submit preliminary information, which will be circulated to relevant authorities before the forum. This ensures you get more tailored feedback and guidance.

There are 2 forums to choose from for subdivisions, based on the phase of your project:

  • initiation phase
  • development phase.

Find out how to book.

Briefing the Development Consent Authority

You can meet with the Development Consent Authority to present your proposal and receive feedback directly from the authority that will decide on your proposal.

It is suggested that you speak to a planner before booking your briefing to determine if a briefing would be appropriate for your proposal.

Pre-application briefings are held directly after Development Consent Authority meetings, at different frequencies in the following locations:

  • Darwin office - twice a month
  • Palmerston, Katherine, Litchfield and Alice Springs office - once a month
  • Batchelor and Tennant Creek office - as needed.

To view meeting locations and dates, go to the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics website.

You can book your briefing at least 2 weeks ahead of the date and up to 2 months in advance.

After you have booked a meeting with the Development Consent Authority, you should provide any documentation that you want to provide to members before the meeting.

You should provide this to a Development Assessment Services office at least 14 days before your briefing date.