Application Delays

Delays are currently being experienced for all Development Applications.

We apologise for the inconvenience and frustration this is causing, and wish to assure you that our staff are working hard to assess all applications as efficiently as possible. We are also actively reviewing our business practises for continual improvement, in line with applicant feedback.

We understand the importance of timely assessment to allow applicants to meet their own project deadlines, limit inflation of material and labour costs, and to help maintain employment and economic activity in our region, particularly with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the last two years, application numbers have increased, while our usual complement of planning staff has significantly been reduced. This, combined with various changes to legislation relating to biodiversity, bushfire, and heritage, requires more detailed assessment measures.

This increase in developments and renovations has also coincided with the mandatory transition to the NSW Planning Portal which has presented another set of changes and challenges for both applicants and staff.

Top ten reasons why applications get delayed

  1. Insufficient information (use our helpful DA/CC Self Help Guide on our forms page to check if you have all the required documents)
  2. Poor quality plans or Statement of Environmental Effects
  3. Poor compliance with development rules
  4. Poor designs having unacceptable impacts
  5. Objections
  6. Unsatisfactory stormwater, earthworks, flood, drainage designs
  7. Unsatisfactory impacts on vegetation loss (Trees)
  8. Multiple requests for information.
  9. Complexity required in assessment reports
  10. External referral delays

Help us reduce delays

There are several ways you can assist our assessing officers process your application as quickly as possible:

  • Make sure your application has all necessary documents and all plans before lodgement.
  • Use the NSW Planning Portal as the main source of information relating to your application's progress once it is lodged. 
  • Limit the number of times you contact the assessing officer about your application's progress.
  • Limit contact with the assessment officer to a single representative (either the applicant or owner).

Your understanding, patience, and cooperation is appreciated while we assess your application.  We are committed to maintaining open communication with applicants, developers, and the community, and are working hard to reduce assessment times. 

 

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