Senior Planning Appeals Advisor

Blacktown City is a growing and thriving city, located halfway between Sydney City and the Blue Mountains. With 450,000 residents, we are the largest and most diverse city in NSW, spread across 54 suburbs. Blacktown City is vibrant, dynamic and multicultural, home to a large First Nations community and people from more than 180 different birthplaces and languages.

With $24.8 billion regional economy, Blacktown City is also home to 35,000 businesses. Working at Blacktown City Council provides widespread, exciting professional opportunities. Our Council is leading the transformation of Blacktown City and Western Sydney. We are implementing a vision for a modern city, full of opportunity for our residents and businesses.

Our Council is led by highly skilled and experienced professionals, working with talented and passionate teams across a diverse range of business units. We are delivering high quality, customer-focused services, experiences, and facilities, and leading a program of strategic planning, activity and investment.

Blacktown City Council strives to be an inclusive workplace for all people. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans and people with disabilities.

About the opportunity

This is a unique permanent, full-time opportunity for a passionate senior level planner. In this role you will contribute knowledge and strategic acumen as you act as advisor to the Corporate Counsel team.

You will have the opportunity to learn from and work closely with, our in house legal experts - the Executive Corporate Counsel, Senior Lawyer and our Manager of Planning. You will also liaise with external firms, developers and engineers, to support community interests and meet smart planning objectives for our city.

Blacktown City is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia and we are building the best This role is integral to good planning outcomes. You will often act as the key planning expert on appeals, review Class 1 appeals, gather data, analyse plans and DA submissions, prepare SOFACs, attend Section 34 conferences and support our lawyers and external firms in the Land and Environment Court.

The preferred candidate will:

• Ensure planning matters are correctly and appropriately assessed in relation to compliance with relevant controls
• Prepare documents including those to be filed in Court on behalf of Council
• Make recommendations on amendments to systems, processes and workflow to accommodate the needs of both internal and external stakeholders
• Manage and coordinate the work of consultants (e.g. Town Planners, Environmental specialists) to ensure the effective defence of appeals
• Ensure processes are implemented correctly and in a timely manner using Council's business process management system
• Ensure all stakeholders are appropriately consulted.

Qualifications and experience

Essential:

• Degree qualifications in Town Planning or a related field
• Extensive experience in planning related matters
• Current class C driver's licence.

Desirable:

• Superior level of knowledge of applicable legislation/regulations
• High level knowledge of New South Wales (NSW) Planning Legislation and related policies
• High level of understanding of the processes and procedures of the NSW Land and Environment Court
• Demonstrated commitment to customer service
• Ability to work within a team environment.

Remuneration and benefits

The salary and conditions of employment are in accordance with Blacktown City Council's Enterprise Agreement.

• Entry level for this position starts at $2,252.09 per week
• 35-hour working week
• Car allowance
• Opportunity to participate in Council's flextime arrangement
• Employee benefits such as leave entitlements (where applicable), 12% employer contribution payable to your nominated superannuation fund, Fitness Passport, gym membership discounts, and social clubs.

Our commitment to safety

Blacktown City Council is committed to safety. We have introduced alcohol and other drug testing at the pre-employment phase, and via a series of random and cause testing.

We are a child safe organisation that supports and promotes the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children.

Position description

Click here to view or download the position description.

Closing date: Friday 12 September 2025, 11.59 pm

**Contact officer:       Boris Koytz on

Internal ref: BCC559**