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

Wollondilly - Averaging 61 days for approval
Blacktown - Averaging 78 days for approval
Camden - Averaging 81 days for approval
Lane Cove - Averaging 88 days for approval
Hornsby - Averaging 95 days for approval
Fairfield - Averaging 98 days for approval
Penrith - Averaging 98 days for approval
Northern Beaches - Averaging 113 days for approval
The Hills - Averaging 116 days for approval
Blue Mountains - Averaging 117 days for approval

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

Woollahra - Averaging 184 days for approval
Strathfield - Averaging 186 days for approval
Bayside- Averaging 192 days for approval
Parramatta - Averaging 215 days for approval
Liverpool - Averaging 215 days for approval
Hunters Hill - Averaging 216 days for approval
Willoughby - Averaging 238 days for approval
Sutherland - Averaging 258 days for approval
North Sydney - Averaging 266 days for approval
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.

/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).

FY 2023–2024

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