Structural, Civil, Stormwater and Remedial

Fees depend on project complexity, size, and scope. After reviewing your plans and documentation, we provide a clear written fee proposal outlining services and deliverables.

Timeframes vary depending on project size and complexity. We will confirm an estimated timeframe when providing your fee proposal.

You will typically require a structural engineer if you are:

Building a new home or extension, Removing or altering load-bearing walls, installing structural steel beams, Constructing retaining walls, Building a deck or balcony, Experiencing structural cracking or movement, Applying for council approval (DA, CDC, or CC)

A civil access plan is an engineering drawing that details the design of a driveway and its connection from the public road to your property. It typically includes long sections, cross-sections, a civil access layout plan (geometry, kerb crossing etc), a contour and grading plan (finished surface levels), and identification of existing services. The design is prepared in accordance with the relevant standards & council specifications.

A civil access plan is generally required for council approval (DA or S138) for any works that affect public road infrastructure, including new driveways, widened crossings, or relocated kerb and gutter. It ensures the driveway design complies with AS 2890.1, council's Vehicular Crossing Policy, and relevant Roads Authority standards. It also confirms adequate sight distance, appropriate gradients, headroom clearance, and prevents damage to existing services.

Fees vary depending on site-specific factors including the length of the driveway, site gradient and earthwork complexity, number of bends or geometric constraints, location of existing services, and council requirements. We provide a clear written fee proposal after reviewing your plans and site information.

Generally 3–5 weeks from acceptance of the fee proposal, subject to current workload, design complexity, and any required correspondence with council or service authorities. Timeframes will be confirmed in the fee proposal. Engagements involving staged approvals, or coordination with Roads and Maritime Services (TfNSW) & Flood/Stormwater Engineers may extend this timeframe.

An OSD system temporarily stores stormwater on your property and releases it at a controlled rate into the council drainage system. It helps prevent local flooding by ensuring post-development runoff does not exceed pre-development levels.

Stormwater engineering involves designing systems that safely collect, manage, and discharge rainwater from a property. This includes drainage layouts, on-site detention (OSD) systems, absorption trenches, pits, pipes, and connections to council infrastructure.

Fees depend on the size of the development, site complexity, council requirements, and whether OSD is required. We provide a clear written fee proposal after reviewing your documentation.

You may require a stormwater design if you are:

Building a new home or duplex, Adding an extension or granny flat, Increasing hard surface areas (driveways, patios, roofs), Lodging a Development Application (DA), Applying for a Construction Certificate (CC), Required by council to provide an OSD system. Most councils require stormwater documentation as part of the approval process.

Remedial engineering is a discipline of engineering that focuses on identifying, analysing, and resolving defects in existing buildings.  Remedial engineers investigate defects such as cracking, concrete deterioration, structural movement, façade issues, water leaks, and moisture ingress.  The work is designed to extend the lifespan of the building by improving its safety and function, ensuring defects are addressed to industry standards so the structure remains compliant and reliable.

Our expert team manages the full remediation process from initial assessment to completion.  We are primarily engaged on Class 2 residential apartment buildings by Strata Managers.  We begin with a site inspection and a limited condition report that outlines defects and recommended next steps.  Where required, we organise and oversee targeted investigations to confirm the underlying causes.  We then prepare a remedial scope of works and DBPAcompliant drawings, issue the project to tender and evaluate contractor submissions.  Once works begin, we supervise and coordinate between the builder and strata plan and oversee quality, compliance, and progress.

The Design and Building Practitioners Act (DBPA) is a New South Wales legislative framework that regulates design and building work to improve quality, safety and accountability across the construction industry. It requires certain remedial work, particularly involving structural, waterproofing or façade elements in Class 2 buildings, to be designed and declared by registered practitioners. Under the DBPA, regulated designs must be prepared, documented, and certified to ensure compliance with current standards. The Act protects building owners by ensuring remedial work is carried out by qualified professionals and that repairs meet required levels of safety, performance, and durability. NB Consulting Engineers have Design Practitioners that are able to perform these tasks in remedial engineering projects.