Terms of Service

1. Payments & Invoicing

• Our service to you is offered on a pay-as-you-go basis. Work on each stage of your proposal is not scheduled until payment of the corresponding invoice is received.

• Invoices must be paid within 14 days of issue, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

• Overdue invoices may incur a late payment fee of 10% per month. Work on a project may be suspended if payment is not received by the due date.

• A minimum administration fee of $440 + GST applies for any activated file or project.

2. Project Quotes & Cost Variations

• Our project costs represent an expectation of total project costs and are only fixed for 60 days from the date of acceptance.

• Commencing your project with CPD does not fix the quoted amount beyond the 60-day fixed period.

• Due to the length and complexity of planning projects, expected costs may change. You will be advised of any fee increases in advance, with reasons provided.

• Government fees may change at any time, including within the 60-day fixed period, particularly at the start of a new financial year.

• From time to time, additional documentation, including but not limited to land titles, may need to be obtained. Certified Planning and Development reserves the right to procure such documentation on the client’s behalf and to levy the associated costs accordingly.

3. Nature of Proposal & Advice

• Any fee proposal, quote, or preliminary advice outlines expected costs and processes only and does not constitute formal planning advice.

4. Project Cancellation & Transfers

• You may cancel the project at any time by providing written notice.

• In the event of cancellation, you will be liable for all fees incurred for work completed up to the cancellation date, including the minimum administration fee.

• Any refunds are at the discretion of Certified Planning and Development Pty Ltd.

• Applications within Plan SA may be transferred upon written notice and payment of all fees owed for completed work.

5. Scope Changes & Amendments

• Any change in project scope, objectives, deliverables, or timelines must be confirmed in writing and may result in a revised quote.

• Certified Planning and Development will provide an updated scope and associated fee proposal before proceeding.

• Additional fees will be charged for any plan amendments, unless already included in a prior accepted quote. This fee varies depending on the scale and number of changes required.

6. Third-Party Consultants & Services

• The assessing authority may require additional information to approve your development.

• You may need to engage additional professionals, such as:

  • Architects or building designers

  • Civil engineers

  • Arborists

  • Environmental consultants

  • Wastewater engineers

  • Building surveyors

• CPD can manage and recommend these professionals, with whom we have established trusted working relationships.

• We will always quote for these services if required, and you may also source them independently if preferred.

7. Additional Work & Hourly Rates

• Any work not included in the original fee proposal, including post-lodgement work, client consultations, communications, meetings, travel, and reporting, will be charged at:

  • $220 + GST per hour during business hours.

  • $330 + GST per hour for meetings or work outside normal business hours (9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday).

8. Meetings & Site Access

• Once an inspection or meeting is booked, including by a contractor, it is the client’s responsibility to ensure access to the required property (including neighbouring properties, where applicable).

• Missed site meetings and inspections incur an administration fee of $220 + GST during business hours, or $330 + GST outside business hours.

9. Client Responsibilities

• Clients are expected to:

  • Provide timely and accurate information;

  • Respond to communications within a reasonable timeframe;

  • Ensure property access when required.

• Delays caused by client inaction may result in additional fees or timeline extensions.

10. Promotion & Use of Project Material

• Certified Planning and Development may use plans, documentation, and imagery from your project for advertising, social media, and our website.

• All personal or identifying information will be removed or not displayed.

• If you wish for any project material to be removed from public platforms, please notify us in writing.

11. Confidentiality

• We will keep all client information and project details confidential.

• We will not disclose this information to any third party without your prior written consent, unless required by law or necessary to complete your project.

12. Limitation of Liability

• Certified Planning and Development Pty Ltd is not liable for any indirect, consequential, or special loss or damage arising from:

  • Project delays

  • Government decisions

  • Third-party consultant input

• Our total liability is limited to the amount paid by the client for the relevant services.

13. Force Majeure

• We are not liable for failure or delay in performance due to events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

  • Government actions

  • Weather events

  • Illness

  • Technological failures

14. Insurance

• Certified Planning and Development Pty Ltd holds Professional Indemnity Insurance to a value of $1,000,000, with no specific exclusions, conditions, or limitations.

• All subcontractors and consultants are required to maintain a similar level of insurance.

• For a full copy of the insurance policy, please contact our office on 0477 485 844 or [email protected].

15. Acceptance of Terms

• By signing the proposal acceptance page, submitting the online commencement form (certifiedpd.au/commence), or making payment of your first invoice, whichever occurs first, you agree to these Terms of Service.

16. Governing Law

• These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of South Australia.

• Any disputes arising from these terms will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Australia.

17. Entire Agreement

• These Terms of Service constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede any prior understandings or representations.

• Any amendments or variations must be agreed in writing.