Well its has been a fantastic and exciting year for Fast Track Plans & Permits with some challenging and spectacular projects that we have done, we are currently updating our project portfolio and over the next couple of months you will be able to view some of these fantastic projects. Below are some of the projects that we have been engaged to complete in December 2011.

One of Our Current Beach Side Projects

39 Elizabeth Street, Bentleigh East – Construction Drawings for a  landscaping and external alterations to an existing dwelling project

1 Cummins Lane, Mt Eliza – Town Planning and Construction Drawings for an extension to an existing dwelling.

539 Hampton Street, Hampton - Town Planning and Construction Drawings for a multi usage commercial and residential development.

29 Vale Street, Glen iris – Construction Drawings for a Sub- Terra Multi car garage, full size tennis court and pavilion, swimming pool and outdoor activity area.

8 Blackbutt Court, Frankston North - Town Planning for a Dual Occupancy Application to council for a clause 55 development.

455 Main Street Mordialloc – Town Planning for a 3 level Dual Occupancy Application to council.

Fast Track Plans & Permits wish all our staff and clients the best new year you can imagine and that 2012 exceeds your expectations.

1200 Center Road, Clarinda - successful Town Planning Proposal for a New Restaurant, including liqueur license, car parking waivers and external signage. Also Fit Out drawings for the construction and extension of the new restaurant.

4 Salisbury Court, Heathmont – Construction Drawings for a conversion of a single storey dwelling into a renovated two storey dwelling

151 Railway Parade, Chelsea – After a successful dual occupancy development application through council, the client re-engaged us for the construction drawings of the new rear dwelling and all supporting documentation.

2/2 Stanis Street, Eumemmerring – Construction drawings for new garage

21 McIntosh Road, Altona - Construction drawings for new dwelling renovation and additions

Currently our company has been engaged to do some of the following projects this month.

36 Mark Street, Rosebud - construction drawings for an extension to an existing dwelling and an addition of a garage in an area that is designated flood zone.

166 – 172 Barkly Street, Footscray – fit out drawings for a new proposed dental surgery.

498 Elgar Road, Box Hill North – Town Planning for a proposed Thai Buddhist Temple.

41 Stewart Street, Richmond – Town Planning for a commercial change of usage, including green travel plans, heritage zone. We are also doing the construction documentation administration.

47-49 Bevnol Road, Langwarrin – Documentation for a artist studio in a low density zone, design and development overlay schedule 4, development plan overlay schedule 1, environmental significance overlay schedule 1 and significant landscape overlay schedule 1

Currently our company have been engaged to do the following projects in Melbourne.

1/70 Chifley Drive Preston – A fitout for Fernwood Fitness Centre on their new development site. our company is compiling the designs, town planning documentation and planning application process.

39a Canterbury Road, Hughesdale – A modern new single dwelling on a lot in a period neighbourhood, our company compiled both construction drawings and building documentation- approx cost of construction 300k

17 Arnold Street, Noble Park – Dual Development proposal, our company compiled both Town Planning design and development documentation and Application process through council – approx cost of construction 300k

108 Cranbourne Road, Frankston – A new modern dental surgery, our company compiled both Town Planning design and development documentation and Application process through council – approx cost of construction 300 – 500k

35 Eugenia Street, Rye – A new modern stagger level development in the rolling sand dunes of Rye, Our company compiled all town planning documentation and building documentation for this project – approx cost of construction 300-500k

8 Kardinian Avenue, Cheltenham – Dual Development proposal, our company compiled both Town Planning design and development documentation and Application process through council – approx cost of construction 600k

6 Canterbury Street, Cranbourne – Dual Development proposal, our company compiled both Town Planning design and development documentation and Application process through council – approx cost of construction 300k

As many of you are aware, since black saturday, Local councils have initiated a new planning overlay called WMO, Wildfire Management Overlay. This is basically assessing your proposal against the local CFA and council recommendations for a wildfire management plan to avoid loss of life during a bushfire.

Obvioulsy this is just a new planning overlay, with very few speacilists available to write WMO management plans and reports, the waiting time for approvals is increasing.

Fast Track’s planning department are specialists in preparing both WMO managements plans and BAL, building action levels. We gaurentee that your proposal will be approved and completed by our team within a week, also, as we specilize in these reports, we provide all the information that the local council and CFA require for a quick and successful application, allowing you to get on and obtain your building permit.

So, if your a local Melbourne builder, Melbourne designer or architect or home owner wanting a quick and cost effective result to your WMO issues, please contact our Planning Team for a fee proposal.

A new duplex design composing of light timbers and colors to reflect a more positive building outlook and presentation. Using white Alucobond to the frontage highlights the building as well as adding shadow effects during the day.

The Blue Black brickwork adds texture to the frontage along with the central full length stone feature wall, all of these cladding and effects are single designing coating, which reduces the building costings by not having to add paint, render or any other secondary design coating.

The rear and the sides have normal brushed aluminum windows to reduce the costings while maintaining the integral look.

Using tiles on the roofing gives the design a better energy rating and that solid street frontage.

One of our project this year is a modern contemporay design, the issue with the project was the extreme slope of the site. Our clients were impressed with other work we have done, especially with similar sloped blocks and engaged our company to oversee all the required preliminary foundation work through to project management.

This extreme slope also allowed for us to fashion the building to open up to the rear of the block, which is the high visual orientation highlight of the block, with 3.3m ceilings and frameless glass doors, a horizon pool and the lush nature park behind the block, we created a entry that takes all this in visually as you enter the dwelling.

Everything flows towards the rear of the block, spaces orientate and gravitate to the rear without lossing the integrity of the space usage.

The interior finishes are high doors, 2pac finishes, italian stone and feature walls, frameless glass stairwell voids, automatic sliding glass doors specially designed in italy, nutural and caring tones throughout and a 6 star finish with a 6 star energy rated building.

This project finish date is in 2012.

I constantly chuckle when asked why do we need a few fancy sketches for a building permit?, The answer is, those fancy sketches are what every building tradespersons will read and work from, so any error or non information leads to hold ups, and further building costs down the track, even disputes.

remember, the drawings you sign are part of your contract!

This is why the old saying, “you pay for what you get” is paramount, considering your investing your life savings into a project, you want to ensure that you communicate exactly how you want your project finished and built right from the start.

Obviously we are speaking from experience where we have been called into a project half way down the track, when the original drawings had in-sufficient data, details (very common),drawings hand drawn or even left things up to the builder to interpret.

If your getting 5-6 pages or less for your project, then you do not have enough information for your project, it is that simple. I have listed what you should ask for when ordering your plans

• General Notes and Regulations that are up to date including a legend on tracking alterations and current releases of the drawings, so everyone is reading the most current copy.
• Existing site conditions and levels including photos
• Proposed Site conditions and levels including site cut levels
• existing floor plan including demolishing notes
• existing elevations and photos with notations on what is being demolished
• proposed floor plans including all detailing and notations
• proposed elevations including all notations and specifications on materials (designer should recommend cost effective materials rather than generic materials to specify the finish your after) and heights
• minimum of two sections with complete detailing
• details on windows, doors material connections, eave and guttering finishes, tile finishing including schedules and specifications for all these
• cabinetry plans for all wet area and kitchen layouts
• electrical plans
• roofing and storm water plans
• landscaping plans

when you ask for plans, be specific on what your needs are, if you want cheap, with minimal details, that is your choice, or if you want control over the project from the start, then order what you need to, communicate that to all your trades and suppliers. Generally you should allow for about 3% of your budget as a reasonable figure for good set of quality drawings, anything less will usually reflect that in the quality.

Are you building in a bushfire prone area?

Are you starting a business?

Do you need a town planning permit from council for your business?

Do you need a building permit to start your business?

If you are starting a new business or if you want to change the existing business you may need a Town Planning Permit from Council or a Building Permit for the new use or for construction.  Obtaining permits from council can be frustrating and time consuming.

Contact us to find out if you need a permit rather than relying on what council tell you over the phone.  We can help make sure you get all of the permits you need so that you can start running your business without delays.  Every business is different and requires different permits, you may need one for your advertising signs or to have seating on the pavement or if you buy a business that was a Café and you are changing the use to a Bakery you will need a Change of Use permit.

Running a business without a permit can result in fines from Council or having your business shut down.  We can research the building and your business for you to make sure you get all of the correct permits and find out how much it will cost and how long it will take so that you can open your business quickly and avoid the frustrating process of getting the wrong information from council.

Whether you are starting up a new business or running an existing business it is important to find out what council regulations apply to your business. Let us help you get this right from the start call us today for a free appraisal of your business needs.