Sydney Housing: 10 Councils Fast-Track, 10 Fall Behind

Nouvelle

As Australia struggles to meet the ambitious goal of building 1.2 million homes by 2029, the Business Council of Australia (BCA) has pointed to underperforming councils as a significant barrier. In a new report released this week, the BCA urges the government to name and shame councils that are lagging behind in approval processes and exacerbating the national housing crisis.

In July 2024, NSW launched an online report card system to hold councils accountable for delays in Development Application (DA) approvals. However, NSW remains the only state with such transparency. The BCA's new It's Time to Say Yes to Housing report calls for this system to be expanded nationwide. It recommends publishing council performance data in every state and territory in Australia to transparently monitor DA approval times, from lodgement through to construction approval, placing pressure on sluggish councils to expedite their approvals process.

The council league tables reveal significant disparities in approval times across Greater Sydney, as highlighted in a recent report by leading Sydney renovation firm Nouvelle. The report showcases the 10 slowest and fastest Sydney councils in for DA approvals for renovations and new builds over the last three years between 2021 and 2024, exposing serious inefficiencies that are impacting the housing supply.

Nouvelle's findings reveal that Wollondilly is the fastest council in Greater Sydney, with homeowners waiting on average 61 days for DA approval, while the Georges River council comes in slowest with an average 289-day wait for DA approvals.

10 Fastest Greater Sydney Councils for DA Approvals (lodgement plus assessment times) in 2024

  1. Wollondilly - Averaging 61 days for approval
  2. Blacktown - Averaging 78 days for approval
  3. Camden - Averaging 81 days for approval
  4. Lane Cove - Averaging 88 days for approval
  5. Hornsby - Averaging 95 days for approval
  6. Fairfield - Averaging 98 days for approval
  7. Penrith - Averaging 98 days for approval
  8. Northern Beaches - Averaging 113 days for approval
  9. The Hills - Averaging 116 days for approval
  10. Blue Mountains - Averaging 117 days for approval

10 Slowest Greater Sydney Councils for DA Approvals (lodgement plus assessment times) in 2024

  1. Woollahra - Averaging 184 days for approval
  2. Strathfield - Averaging 186 days for approval
  3. Bayside- Averaging 192 days for approval
  4. Parramatta - Averaging 215 days for approval
  5. Liverpool - Averaging 215 days for approval
  6. Hunters Hill - Averaging 216 days for approval
  7. Willoughby - Averaging 238 days for approval
  8. Sutherland - Averaging 258 days for approval
  9. North Sydney - Averaging 266 days for approval
  10. Georges River- Averaging 289 days for approval

FY 2023–2024

FY 2023–2024

Position

Council Name

Average Lodgement Days

Average Assessment Days

Total Days

No. of Applications Lodged

No. of Applications Assessed

1

Wollondilly

8

53

61

517

515

2

Blacktown

13

65

78

888

909

3

Camden

6

75

81

324

276

4

Lane Cove

22

66

88

71

65

5

Hornsby

11

84

95

308

246

6

Fairfield

10

88

98

175

151

7

Penrith

6

92

98

298

221

8

Northern Beaches

12

101

113

822

710

9

The Hills

14

102

116

750

749

10

Blue Mountains

36

81

117

293

249

11

Inner West

8

113

121

626

459

12

Mosman

16

118

134

117

99

13

Canterbury-Bankstown

21

126

147

403

388

14

Campbelltown

5

148

153

208

148

15

Waverley

22

131

153

267

194

16

Cumberland

30

124

154

390

314

17

Sydney

9

150

159

326

266

18

Hawkesbury

38

122

160

200

194

19

Canada Bay

12

150

162

138

98

20

Randwick

5

157

162

305

274

21

Ku-ring-gai

18

147

165

288

245

22

Ryde

18

159

177

178

165

23

Burwood

9

172

181

39

35

24

Woollahra

8

176

184

326

253

25

Strathfield

17

169

186

70

69

26

Bayside

16

176

192

200

171

27

Liverpool

20

195

215

325

413

28

Parramatta

31

184

215

268

217

29

Hunters Hill

18

198

216

69

55

30

Willoughby

19

219

238

161

104

31

Sutherland

16

242

258

412

383

32

North Sydney

17

249

266

115

78

33

Georges River

30

259

289

183

146

Source: NSW Planning Department

The in-depth analysis underscores the varying performance levels of local councils and their significant impact on home renovations in Greater Sydney. Slow council approval times can have a profound impact on home renovations, affecting not just the timeline but hiking up costs and negatively affecting the homeowner experience.

The report also looks at the factors that can affect DA approval times, including application volume, differing application and approval processes between councils and the complexity of individual projects.

"Home renovations are stressful enough without the added burden of lengthy DA approvals. Councils that streamline their approval processes not only help homeowners achieve their dreams faster, but help them keep costs down by avoiding ever-rising material and trade costs," said Mike Turner, managing director at Nouvelle.

"Homeowners planning a renovation, such as a kitchen or bathroom overhaul, should anticipate a timeline of three to five months from sketch to approval. If DA approval is required for a project that includes an addition, demolition or a major change to the floor plan, they should allow longer – up to nine and half months' more if they live in an area like North Sydney or Georges River.

"Involving a renovation professional early in the process who is not only well-versed in spatial design and project management, but the intricacies of the council approvals process, is crucial. Handling a major renovation yourself can seem like a smart way to save money, but if you don't have the necessary experience, it can quickly result in project delays, budget blowouts and time-consuming backwards and forwards with council," he says.

Read the full report on the fastest and slowest Sydney councils for DA approvals here.

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