Town Planning Assistant - Australia

Join an Australian town planning consultancy in a fully remote role where you’ll work on real development projects across NSW. This is a stable, full-time position with genuine scope to learn planning from the inside, with training and support provided along the way.

Role Summary

The Town Planning Assistant supports the preparation and management of Development Applications (DAs) from pre-lodgement through to determination, ensuring every submission is accurate and compliant with NSW planning legislation. Day-to-day, you will help planners prepare DAs and supporting documentation, draft sections of Statements of Environmental Effects and Clause 4.6 variation requests under supervision, build compliance tables against LEPs, DCPs and SEPPs, and carry out preliminary planning research such as zoning and permissibility checks. You will also coordinate documentation from clients, architects and sub-consultants, liaise with councils on DA status and Requests for Information, and keep project files and NSW Planning Portal records in order. You will work closely with the planning team, carrying their feedback and writing preferences into each new piece of work as your plan-reading and planning knowledge grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist planners in reviewing and preparing Development Applications and supporting documentation

• Draft sections of Statements of Environmental Effects (SEEs) and Clause 4.6 variation requests under supervision

• Collect and verify documentation from clients, architects, and sub-consultants, including surveys, BASIX, stormwater, traffic, and arborist reports

• Prepare planning compliance tables against LEPs, DCPs, SEPPs, and the Housing SEPP, including Chapter 6 LMR provisions

• Conduct preliminary planning research, including zoning checks, permissibility assessments, and review of relevant planning controls

• Communicate with councils to monitor DA status, respond to Requests for Information (RFIs), and expedite determinations

• Respond to client inquiries and provide timely updates on application progress

• Maintain project files, lodgement records, and NSW Planning Portal submissions

• Assist with post-determination matters, including Section 4.55 modifications and Construction Certificate referrals

What We Are Looking For

• Previous experience in an Australian town planning or development support role

• A background in paralegal work, legal document preparation, technical writing, compliance documentation, architectural documentation, or engineering project support is highly regarded

• Working knowledge of the NSW EP&A Act, LEPs, DCPs, and State Environmental Planning Policies, or the ability to learn them quickly

• Very strong written English and comprehension, able to follow detailed instructions and draft clear, professional planning justifications while preserving technical meaning

• Careful, systematic checking skills, able to compare information across documents and identify contradictions, missing information, and incorrect references

• Numerical accuracy when checking figures, units, areas, percentages, and simple calculations

• Visual and spatial understanding, with the ability to follow drawings, layouts, and dimensions and the capacity to learn architectural plan reading

• Sound judgement, recognising when information is missing or inconsistent, explaining the issue clearly, and seeking direction where needed

• Confident document preparation in Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word, including templates, styles, tables, images, headers, pagination, and tracked changes

• Proficiency in using CRM systems, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace, with familiarity with the NSW Planning Portal and council DA tracking systems an advantage

• Ability to apply feedback, learning the principal’s writing preferences and checking requirements and carrying corrections into future work

• Tertiary qualification in Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Architecture, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline (preferred)

• Relevant work samples and demonstrated accuracy will carry significant weight

Requirements

• Stable work-from-home setup (reliable internet, laptop/desktop, quiet workspace)

• Proactive attitude, able to follow up clients, councils, and third parties without being prompted

• Able to organise your own tasks, meet deadlines, communicate progress, and raise problems early while working independently

Benefits

• Full-time, work-from-home

• Long-term, stable role with genuine scope to grow your planning knowledge and responsibilities over time

• Training and support provided

• Work closely with an experienced planning team with clear processes and regular feedback