There are a variety of different websites that you can visit for information and ideas on all aspects of your project.

NSW Dept. of Fair Trading

The NSW State government department has a Home Building Service that assists builders, consumers and the industry at large on residential building matters. They provide extensive information on building licenses, required building insurances, permits, etc.

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/building.html

NSW Office of Heritage

The work of the Heritage Office includes working with communities to help them identify their important places and objects, providing guidance on how to look after heritage items, supporting community heritage projects through funding and advice, and maintaining the NSW Heritage Database, an online list of all statutory heritage items in NSW.

http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au  

BASIX

Set up by the NSW State government, this website is the portal for generating a BASIX certificate – now required for all new-build projects and alterations and additions to existing buildings.

http://www.basix.nsw.gov.au/information/index.jsp

Local Government portal

The NSW State Dept. of Local Government has a search function that determines your local government area and provides contact details for your local council.

http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_home.asp

Environmentally Sustainable Design – Your Home website

Your Home is a suite of consumer and technical guide materials and tools developed to encourage the design, construction or renovation of homes to be comfortable, healthy and more environmentally sustainable.

http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs00.htm

Timber Development Association

The Timber Development Association of New South Wales is an industry funded, not for profit organisation representing all segments of the timber industry. They have a whole range of information resources relating to timber products in the building industry.

http://www.timber.net.au  

Sydney Building Centre

The Building Centre is a private enterprise, professional, independent, experienced and self-funding organisation that assists people through a range of fee-based, specialised, professional services. Their website can help you with your building and renovating needs and it is constantly being expanded and kept up-to-date.

http://www.buildingcentre.com.au  

Concrete and Masonry Association of Australia

The Concrete Masonry Association of Australia (CMAA) is a national organisation funded by the Australian Masonry Industry to extend and improve the masonry market. It publishes technical manuals and bulletins, maintains a web site, conducts conferences and courses and provides a technical advisory service.

http://www.cmaa.com.au  

Australian Steel Institute

The ASI is Australia’s peak steel industry association promoting the use of Australian steel in manufacturing and construction.

http://www.steel.org.au