newy.com.au – City of Newcastle says it has cut almost two weeks from the average time taken to determine development applications, bringing it to 65 days, below the NSW Government’s 78-day target.
The council assessed just over 1000 applications last year. Across all consent authorities, the value of development approved in Newcastle reached more than $1.42 billion, up 47 per cent on the previous financial year.
The faster assessments have also helped the council secure $3 million under the first round of the NSW Government’s Faster Assessments Incentive Program. The money will contribute to the Union Street streetscape renewal in Wickham.
Major projects approved across the city included the $189.6 million ERA development on Bull Street, Newcastle West, with 280 apartments, and a $120.6 million mixed-use development on Hunter Street, Newcastle West, combining commercial space with 191 apartments.
An eight-storey student accommodation development on University Drive at Callaghan, incorporating 450 beds, accounted for another $128.5 million in approved development.
City of Newcastle’s executive director of planning and environment, Michelle Bisson, said shorter assessment times were benefiting the community.
“Faster assessments are helping deliver housing, jobs, investment and critical infrastructure sooner for the Newcastle community,” Ms Bisson said.
The council said its average determination time was the fastest among the six NSW councils handling the most applications. The next fastest in that group was Sydney’s Inner West Council, which determined 1053 applications in an average of 96 days.
Executive manager of planning and development Amy Ryan credited Newcastle’s Accelerated Development Application model with helping reduce assessment times.
“It delivers a streamlined assessment process for low-risk, decision-ready applications, allowing planning teams to dedicate more time to complex projects and improving overall turnaround times,” Ms Ryan said.
The approach separates straightforward applications that are ready for a decision from those requiring more detailed assessment. Ms Ryan said this allowed the council to improve overall turnaround times while managing complex proposals.
She said the NSW Government had provided a separate $2 million to develop a framework supporting the model’s adoption by other councils across the state.
The $3 million allocated towards Union Street was the maximum available under the first round of the incentive program, Ms Bisson said. That program rewards councils that reduce and maintain low assessment times, with funding directed to infrastructure supporting housing growth.
