Step by step guide to planning a rebuild

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Concept phase

This is general advice for insured properties and may not apply specifically to your property. For more detailed information on your personal circumstances please contact the Planning Unit on 5772 0333.

After you've had your site cleaned up and all hazardous materials have been removed you can assess your site properly and start making your plans.

These are just some of the questions and issues you’ll be dealing with in this phase:

  • The location of your home on your site - could you place your home somewhere else on your property that would make it safer?
  • The design of your home and its construction method.
  • Your budget for reports, design and construction.
  • How to make your home more resilient to bushfire.
  • Meeting the construction requirements for bushfire-prone areas.
  • Septic/stormwater drainage system requirements, location and connection to legal point of discharge.
  • Vegetation removal impacts/assessments.
  • Landscaping features on your site.
  • Engaging experts: e.g. builders, designers/architects, engineers and a building surveyor.

Council recently approved the Murrindindi Shire Residential Design Guidelines which shows that the municipality's housing character is shaped by an elegant simplicity that respects the rural landscape, blending functional, modest forms with generous open space, natural materials, and traditional rural features.

When thinking about rebuilding, the Design Guidelines may be a useful place to start or to provide to your planning consultant if you're using one.

It’s also worthwhile to engage with Council's Planning Unit early on by calling them on 5772 0333, before you submit any documentation. We will help you to understand what you’ll need for the job ahead.

By thinking about the issues above you will have the start of your concept plan. This will give you confidence that you have identified all the main elements you need to make it all work and you are clear about what information you need to move to the next phase: planning and building permits.

The permit phase

This is general advice for insured properties and may not apply specifically to your property. For more detailed information on your personal circumstances please contact the Building & Planning Units on 5772 0333.

Rebuilding your home may require a planning permit but will require a Building Permit.

Homes must be built to the current National Construction Codes as set by the Australian Building Codes Board. Council does not set Building Bylaws, Codes or Standards.

For complete rebuilds, a Building Permit cannot be issued unless a Planning Permit has been approved (if applicable) and a Septic Tank Permit has been issued (by Council's EHO) if your septic tank or wastewater system has been impacted.

The Building Permit process provides, upon completion of the project, either an Occupancy Permit (complete builds) or Final Certificates (partial builds/outbuildings etc). This paperwork is essential for insurance, Council bins and when you want to sell the property. 

In the permit stage, you’ll need to:

  • Provide legible plans of what you intend to build and finalise other supporting information to seek planning approval, building permit and septic tank permits (if required).
  • Lodge applications for planning, building and any other approvals that may be required.
  • Obtain final quotes, contract a registered builder (unless you are an owner builder), appoint a building surveyor and engage any other specialists if required.
  • Seek legal advice on contracts if you are unsure (ARC Justice can assist).

The Building and Plumbing Commission has information in relation to quotations, contracts and consumer protection. 

The construction phase

This is general advice and may not apply specifically to your property. For more detailed information on your personal circumstances please contact Council on 5722 0333.

This stage explains itself – but there are still several steps you/or your builder need to undertake while the house gets built. These include:

  • Mandatory construction inspections at key stages of the build to be undertaken by your Building Inspector/Surveyor (Council offers a Building Permit service).
  • Upon completion of the building, Occupancy Permits/Certificate of Final Inspection must be obtained through your building surveyor.

 

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