Group Development Services

08/09/2026

The Sydney Plan is now in force. GDS Planning team attended the NSW PIA Briefing Session for The Sydney Plan and NSW Land Use Plan.

With Sydney's population forecast to exceed 6.6 million people by 2046, the NSW Government has introduced a new 20-year strategic land use framework that will shape housing, jobs, infrastructure and investment across Greater Sydney.

For developers and landowners, the Plan signals a stronger focus on housing delivery, feasible housing capacity, housing diversity and future rezoning opportunities. It also requires councils to plan for 30 years of feasible housing capacity and investigate opportunities for additional housing growth.

For clients involved in land subdivisions, rezonings and development projects, these reforms may create new opportunities to unlock development potential and increase yield in the right locations.

If you're considering a subdivision, planning proposal or strategic landholding opportunity, now is the time to understand how the Sydney Plan may impact your site's future potential.

📞 Contact the GDS team to discuss the subdivision and development opportunities arising from these planning reforms.

25/08/2026

Project Momentum...

📍Site: 8-10 Hynds Rd, Box Hill
🏢 Council: The Hills Shire Council

🏡 Description: 38 lot residential subdivision
☑️ Status: DA approved, SWC activated!

13/08/2026

It was a privilege to attend the Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner 2026 as a guest and celebrate the achievements of our industry.
Congratulations to all the finalists and award winners. The evening showcased the innovation, collaboration and commitment that continue to shape thriving communities across NSW.
A sincere thank you to UDIA NSW for hosting such a wonderful event and to my hosts for the kind invitation. It was a pleasure to reconnect with familiar faces, make new connections, and spend time with so many passionate professionals from across the development industry.
Events like these are a great reminder that the best outcomes are achieved through strong partnerships, shared knowledge and a collective commitment to delivering better places for future generations.
Congratulations once again to everyone recognised on the night. I look forward to seeing the positive impact our industry continues to make in the year ahead.

Kareena Prado
Strategic Alliance Manager
GDS - Group Development Services

28/07/2026

250-260 Bringelly Road, Austral — Project Update 📈
Site possession for this 85 lot residential subdivision with 2 x super lots in March 2026 - 1.5 years of civil works close to reaching practical completion at the end of July 2026.
The project has delivered new public roads, all utilities and stormwater infrastructure complete with rain gardens and a masterpiece drainage swale, bringing new life to the Austral growth precinct, setting the stage for the residential lots to come online.
Getting here wasn't without its hurdles — a lengthy DA, SWC and Sydney water approval process and a run of challenging weather conditions tested the program at every turn.
Credit to the collaborative efforts of the Planning, Engineering, PM team and Civil contractor – to bring this one to a strong finish.
With civil works now complete, focus turns to the next stage of delivery – Subdivision Certificate and Registration.
Keep them coming, ready for the next one!

21/07/2026

Our team recently came together for our Half-Yearly Presentation Day - an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past six months, share insights from projects across the business, and look ahead to what's next. It's a valuable chance to celebrate successes, learn from one another, and ensure we're aligned as we continue delivering practical, high-quality engineering solutions for our clients and communities.
The team building 'Spaghetti Marshmallow tower Challenge' and the Ai movie produced by Roge our in-house Ai expert were definite highlights from the day 💫

14/07/2026

The current market may be challenging, but it's also a time to think strategically. Well-planned projects are the ones best positioned to succeed when opportunities arise.

Whether you're considering a residential subdivision, commercial development or civil infrastructure project, investing in quality engineering early can help reduce risk, streamline approvals, and identify smarter, more cost-effective solutions.

Our engineering team partners with clients from concept through to construction, delivering practical, innovative designs that keep projects moving forward.

If you're planning your next development or simply want to explore what's possible get in contact with our team at Group Development Services or (02) 9980 1000.

02/07/2026

Site meeting. Different kind of pitch ⚽
💚💛 Good luck to the Socceroos tomorrow!

16/06/2026

We’re proud to announce that Group Development Services has been successfully appointed to the Local Government Procurement (LGP) T12.08-5 Consulting Services Panel as an approved contractor, further enhancing our capacity to deliver quality outcomes for local government clients.

This recognition highlights the strength of our teams and our commitment to delivering practical, high-quality outcomes for councils and communities.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this achievement possible.
lgp.org.au
gdsland.com.au

19/05/2026

👋 NSW Planning Update | DCA from July 2026

From July 2026, the Development Coordination Authority (DCA) steps into its next phase — changing how NSW Government agency input is handled across the planning system.
In short?
👉 Fewer agencies to chase
👉 One coordinated state response
👉 Less back‑and‑forth
👉 Greater certainty for housing and complex projects
The idea is to take the pain out of fragmented referrals and streamline how concurrences, integrated development and post‑consent approvals are managed.
At Group Development Services (GDS), we’ve been following the DCA rollout closely and are already adjusting how we approach:
• pre‑DA strategy
• SEEs and referral pathways
• post‑consent risk and delivery programs
Planning reform only really works when it translates into smoother approvals on real projects — and that’s where clear strategy and coordination make all the difference.

If you’re working through a DA, modification, or post‑consent approvals and want to understand how the DCA might change the pathway, we're happy to chat.

14/05/2026