Fast-turnaround, DA-compliant landscape drawings and specifications for residential projects across NSW. Designed for builders and architects who need a clean approval, not a design exercise.
Submit a ProjectSee the Process
5 day
Typical turnaround
NSW
Council compliant
Flat
Fee structure
◆ DA Compliant Drawings◆ Species Schedules◆ Council Submission Ready◆ Stormwater Compliance◆ BASIX Landscape◆ Arborist Coordination◆ Soft & Hard Landscaping◆ Site Coverage Calculations◆ Permeable Paving◆ NSW Councils◆ DA Compliant Drawings◆ Species Schedules◆ Council Submission Ready◆ Stormwater Compliance◆ BASIX Landscape◆ Arborist Coordination◆ Soft & Hard Landscaping◆ Site Coverage Calculations◆ Permeable Paving◆ NSW Councils
Process
Five steps to a lodgement-ready landscape set
01
Submit Your Docs
Upload your survey, house plans, and complete our brief online form — takes under 10 minutes. No calls needed to get started.
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02
Payment & Confirmation
We confirm scope and send a secure payment link. The 5-day delivery clock starts once payment is received.
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03
Compliance & Design
We review council DCP and BASIX requirements, then produce your full landscape package — plans, schedules and specification.
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04
Receive & Lodge
Your DA-ready package is delivered within 5 business days. One round of amendments included if council requests changes.
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05
Amendment Round
If council requests changes, we turn around one included amendment round within 3 business days at no extra cost.
See the full process in detail →
Deliverables
Everything councils actually need
Drawings Package
Landscape Masterplan (scaled to survey)
Planting Plan with species zones
Hard landscape & materials plan
Sections and elevations where required
Site coverage and permeability calculation
Tree protection zones (where applicable)
Documentation
Planting schedule with sizes and quantities
Landscape specification report
BASIX landscape compliance statement
DCP compliance checklist
Stormwater and drainage notation
One amendment round post-council review
Pricing
Flat fees. No surprises.
Standard Lot
$1,895
+ GST / per project
Single dwelling, up to 600m²
Full drawings package
Planting & specification
BASIX compliance
5 business day turnaround
Most residential DAs
Medium Lot
$2,450
+ GST / per project
Single dwelling, 600–1,200m²
Full drawings package
Extended planting schedule
BASIX + DCP compliance
5 business day turnaround
Most popular tier
Duplex / Torrens
$2,950
+ GST / per project
Dual occupancy, battleaxe, Torrens
Shared and private zone plans
Full documentation set
BASIX + DCP compliance
7 business day turnaround
Multi-lot or complex sites
Why GroundWork DA
Built for professionals who need it done right
⚡
Speed is the product
No lengthy briefing sessions. Submit your docs, receive your package. Our streamlined intake removes the usual back-and-forth.
✓
Council-literate design
We know what NSW councils want. Our drawings meet DCP requirements and are formatted the way assessors expect to see them.
$
Predictable cost
Flat fees mean your project budgets stay intact. No hourly rates, no scope creep. You know the cost before you submit.
📋
Compliance-first approach
Every project is checked against relevant DCP chapters, BASIX requirements, and council conditions before design begins.
🔁
Amendments included
One round of council-requested amendments is included in every package. We stand behind the work we produce.
🤝
Trade-friendly service
No consumer hand-holding. We speak the language of builders and architects and respect your time accordingly.
Get Started
Your next DA. Sorted in five days.
Submit your documents and brief online. We'll review within 24 hours and deliver your DA-ready landscape package within 5 business days.
Tell us a little about your practice and we'll be in touch when we launch. Early registrants receive priority access and a launch discount.
No obligation to proceed
20% off your first project
Priority access at launch
How It Works
From survey to lodgement- ready set
We've stripped out everything that slows down the typical landscape DA process. No design reviews, no concept presentations, no back-and-forth. You submit the docs, we produce a compliant package — built around what NSW councils actually ask for.
10min
To submit a brief
24hr
Compliance review
5day
Full delivery
1×
Amendment round
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01
Day 1 — You
Submit your project docs
Use our online intake form to tell us about the project — the property address, council authority, lot size, and any known constraints. Then upload your survey and house plans. The whole thing takes under 10 minutes and can be done at any time.
No phone calls, no emails, no account manager. Just a clean, structured intake that gives us everything we need to get started.
✓
Complete online briefAddress, council, lot type, site constraints
✓
Upload survey planCurrent registered survey showing boundaries, levels, existing features
✓
Upload architectural plansFloor plan, site plan, elevations — DA or CC set is fine
✓
Note any special conditionsHeritage, bushfire, flooding, tree preservation, BASIX target
Accepted File Formats
.PDF.DWG.DXF.JPG.PNG.ZIP
Pro Tip
A current registered survey is the single most important document. If you only have a sketch survey, let us know — we can work with it but may need to flag limitations.
~10
Minutes to complete intake
02
Day 1 — You
Payment & confirmation
Once your submission is received we'll send a confirmation email with your project reference number and a secure payment link. Work begins as soon as payment is confirmed — no delays, no back-and-forth.
Payment is a single flat fee based on your project tier. No deposits, no hourly rates, no surprises. The full fee covers design, documentation, and one round of council-requested amendments.
✓
Confirmation email sentProject reference number, scope summary and payment link
✓
Single flat fee paymentStandard $1,895 / Medium $2,450 / Duplex $2,950 + GST — secure online payment
✓
Work order issuedYour project is formally scheduled once payment is confirmed
✓
5-day clock startsDelivery countdown begins from payment confirmation
Payment Options
Credit CardDirect Transfer
Upfront payment
Full payment is required before work commences. We accept credit card or direct bank transfer.
Flat
Fee — no surprises
03
Day 1–2 — Us
Compliance review
Once your project is received, we review the applicable council DCP, the BASIX certificate obligations, and any site-specific conditions before any design work begins. This is the step most landscape designers skip — and it's why DAs get held up.
If we identify anything that needs clarification — a missing document, an unusual condition, or an ambiguity in the plans — we'll contact you within 24 hours before proceeding.
✓
DCP chapter reviewLandscaping, tree management, stormwater, private open space
✓
BASIX obligations confirmedLandscape area, species, irrigation and stormwater commitments
✓
Site constraints assessedEasements, TPOs, flood overlays, bushfire APZ requirements
✓
Scope confirmedWe confirm what's required and flag any scope additions needed
Missing survey, incomplete BASIX certificate, or a site with heritage or significant tree overlays. We'll tell you within 24 hours if we need anything extra.
04
Day 2–4 — Us
Design & drafting
With compliance requirements confirmed, we produce your full landscape package. Our drawings are drafted to council-standard scales, properly titled and bordered, and formatted to integrate cleanly with your architectural set.
We select species from council-approved and locally appropriate palettes, size them to meet BASIX canopy commitments, and ensure all hard landscape materials are specified to meet stormwater and permeability requirements.
✓
Landscape masterplan drawnScaled to survey, integrated with architectural site plan
✓
Planting plan producedSpecies zoned, quantities calculated, BASIX canopy targets met
✓
Hard landscape specifiedDriveway, paths, paving, fencing — materials and permeability checked
✓
Written specification draftedInstallation standards, maintenance provisions, DCP compliance notes
This is a DA compliance service, not a design consultation. We produce functional, approval-focused designs — not concept presentations.
05
Day 5 — Delivery
Package delivered
Your completed DA landscape package is delivered via a secure download link — typically by end of business on day 5. The package is formatted and ready to attach directly to your DA submission.
If council requests amendments during assessment, one round of changes is included at no additional charge. Simply forward the council's request and we'll turn around the revised drawings within 3 business days.
✓
PDF drawing set deliveredPrint-ready, properly titled, council submission format
✓
Native files on request.DWG and layered files available for your records
✓
Compliance checklist includedDCP and BASIX items checked off and noted
✓
Amendment round includedOne council-requested revision at no extra cost
Delivery Format
PDF A1/A3.DWGWord SpecExcel Schedule
3 day
Amendment turnaround
After lodgement
If council requests changes beyond the included amendment round, additional revisions are charged at a fixed $250 + GST per round.
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What to Submit
Three documents. That's all we need.
📐
Registered Survey Plan
The current registered survey for the lot. Must show boundaries, dimensions, easements, levels and any existing features — trees, structures, services.
.PDF.DWG.DXF
🏠
Architectural Plans
Your DA or CC drawing set. We need the site plan, floor plan and at least one elevation. Full set preferred. Doesn't need to be stamped at this stage.
.PDF.DWG.ZIP
📋
Completed Brief Form
Our online form takes 10 minutes. Property address, council, lot size, BASIX number, known constraints, and any brief notes on site character or client expectations.
Online Form
Timeline
Five business days, mapped out
Task
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6–7
Post-DA
01 Submit docs & brief
02 Payment & confirmation
03 Compliance review
04 Design & drafting
05 QA & package prep
05 Package delivered
Amendment round (if needed)
Client action
GroundWork internal
Council review period
Delivery / output
FAQs
Common questions
Can't find what you're after? Drop us a note and we'll respond within one business day.
Most residential DAs don't legally require a registered landscape architect — a qualified landscape designer is sufficient. However, some councils or complex sites (heritage, significant trees, high conservation value) may request a statement from a registered practitioner. We'll flag this during our compliance review if it applies to your project.
What if my council has unusual requirements?+
We review the DCP for your specific council before starting any design work. If there are unusual or onerous requirements that take the project outside our standard scope, we'll let you know upfront and quote accordingly. We don't surprise you with scope creep after the fact.
Can you handle BASIX landscape commitments?+
Yes — BASIX compliance is included in all packages. We'll ask for your BASIX certificate number in the intake form and make sure the landscape plan meets the canopy, permeable area, and species commitments. Our specification includes a BASIX compliance statement.
What happens if council requests changes?+
One round of council-requested amendments is included in every package. Simply forward us the council's assessment letter or request, and we'll turn around the revised drawings within 3 business days. Additional amendment rounds beyond the first are charged at a flat $250 + GST.
Do you work on duplex or multi-dwelling projects?+
Yes — our Duplex / Torrens tier covers dual occupancy, battleaxe lots, and Torrens title subdivisions. These projects require separate treatment of shared and private landscape zones, and are priced at $2,950 + GST with a 7 business day turnaround.
Can I get native files (.DWG) for my records?+
Yes. DWG and layered PDF files are available on request for all projects. Just note this in your brief or request it when we deliver the package.
What if I have a heritage-listed property?+
Heritage sites require additional consideration — specific species, materials, and sometimes a heritage impact statement from a qualified consultant. We can produce the landscape drawings to heritage standards, but will identify during our compliance review whether a separate heritage statement is required and who needs to provide it.
A few final details to guide our designer, your fee tier confirmation, and a summary to review before you submit.
Design Brief
Fee Tier Confirmation
Suggested tier — based on lot size & project type
You can adjust if your project type differs from the suggestion.
Please confirm the fee tier
Review & Confirm
✓
I confirm the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge, and authorise GroundWork DA to proceed with a DA-compliant landscape package for this project based on the submitted documents and brief.
Please confirm before submitting
Step 5 of 5
✅
Submitted
Project received.
Your brief and documents have been submitted to GroundWork DA. A confirmation has been sent to your email address.
Reference No: —
We'll review your submission within 24 hours and confirm scope, any questions, and a delivery date. You don't need to do anything else right now.
What happens next
1
Compliance review
We check your council DCP, BASIX obligations, and site constraints. If anything is missing or unclear we'll contact you within 24 hours.
2
Design & drafting
Your landscape package is produced — typically days 2–4 after confirmation of scope.
3
Package delivery
Your complete DA-ready drawing set and documentation is delivered via secure download link by day 5.