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 $300 + 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.

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:

  • $200 + GST per hour during business hours.

  • $300 + GST per hour for meetings or work outside business hours (9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday).

8. Meetings & Site Access

• Once an inspection or meeting is booked, 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 $300 + GST during business hours, or $400 + 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.