Why Council Issues a Request for Further Information (RFI)
Once a planning application is submitted, Council’s planning department begins a preliminary assessment of the proposal. During this stage, the assigned planner reviews the documentation to make sure it includes all the necessary information and complies with the relevant planning scheme requirements.
The review process
As part of this early assessment, the planner may refer your application to other departments within Council, such as engineering, traffic, drainage, heritage or environmental services, for specialist advice. In some cases, external authorities like the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Department of Transport or local water authorities are also consulted.
What is a Request for Further Information?
After reviewing your application and feedback from these internal and external departments, the planner may issue a Request for Further Information (RFI). This document outlines any additional details, reports or clarifications Council needs before continuing with the assessment.
An RFI can be quite short – perhaps just one or two items- or more extensive, depending on the complexity of the proposal and the level of detail required.
Why it’s a normal part of the process?
Receiving an RFI is a very common part of the planning process. In fact, it’s rare for an application to proceed without one. It simply means the planner and other departments need more information to make a fully informed and transparent decision.
An RFI doesn’t mean your application is in trouble — it reflects Council’s obligation to ensure your proposal meets all relevant planning controls, policies and technical standards.
How to respond
Addressing the RFI carefully and promptly helps keep your application on track. Providing complete and clear responses will reduce delays and help Council finalise its assessment more efficiently.
If you’re unsure what the requested items mean or how best to respond, we can help interpret Council’s feedback and prepare the necessary information or reports to satisfy each RFI requirement.