Development Assessment processing times

North Sydney Council Development Assessment Performance

North Sydney Council is committed to providing great customer service across all its operations, including Development Assessment. This commitment is deeply rooted in Council’s values, which emphasise the delivery of high-quality customer service.

In the area of Development Assessment, Council strives to uphold its core values of courtesy, accuracy, accountability, integrity, consideration, and promptness. These principles are particularly crucial in the often complex and time-sensitive process of development applications (DAs).

Minister's Statement of Expectations

On 1 July 2024 the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces made orders under the Environmental Planning and Assessment (EP&A) Act 1979 which set expectations for development performance for all NSW Councils.

This Order has set new benchmarks for Council performance on development assessment, planning proposals and strategic planning. The expectations set out in the Ministerial Order include:

  • New minimum performance standards for determining development applications;
  • New standard for DA lodgement times;
  • New benchmark time frames to complete stages of planning proposals;
  • New requirements for councils to complete and carry out local strategic planning statements and local planning strategies, with a focus on delivering housing targets within time frames that the department specifies;
  • New heads of consideration that guide how the Minister considers council performance against the expectations.

NSW Council League Table

On 11 July 2024, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure launched an interactive dashboard on its website which presents data on lodgement and assessment timeframes for DAs for all NSW Councils. The council league table monitors performance for lodgement and determination of development applications. Council’s current year performance can be viewed on the NSW Government website.

Visit the council league table

How we compare

It is important to note that monthly and annual DA performance data will fluctuate over the year with a variety of factors potentially having an impact on these results. 

North Sydney Council has a high density, well established urban environment and a highly engaged local community.  In carrying out its development assessment functions, North Sydney Council recognises the importance of community engagement and the role that development assessment plays in protecting the local environment and character as well as providing for the future needs of the community.  Community engagement in planning and decision making remains an important part in Council’s operations. 

However, Council is also reforming how we approach development assessment and is working to reduce assessment time frames in line with the Minister’s Statement of Expectations.

Annual Data

For the 2023/24 Financial Year North Sydney Council achieved an average processing time of 207 days for all development applications; excluding Modifications and “stop the clock time” and including Regionally Significant Development Applications. 

Average Lodgement days for this period was 17 days.

Current performance FY2024/25

The Quarter 1 results for 2024/25, have shown an improvement of 55 days on annual performance processing of DAs. This represents an improvement of 26.6% on average annual results in overall assessment days. While it is pleasing to have achieved this improvement, more needs to be done to achieve the required 115 day average.

Graph displaying Council's cumulative assessment days from July to October 2024

Council’s Response to further improve performance

Processing Development Applications (DAs) After Submission in the Portal

When DAs are submitted through the Planning Portal, they are reviewed by Council’s Development Assessment team to ensure all required information has been provided. Only DAs that meet the requirements of the EP&A Regulation 2021 and are ready for assessment will be accepted.

Applications that do not meet lodgement requirements under the Regulations will be returned without exception. The target time for processing lodgement is currently 14 days, reducing to seven days from 2027.

While rejected applications do not incur Council fees, resubmission may involve fees imposed by the NSW Planning Portal, which are beyond the control of the Council. Applicants are encouraged to confirm that all information is provided at the time of submission.

Payment of Fees

When your application is accepted for processing, you will receive a fee request. The fee must be paid within two (2) working days of receiving the request, or the application will be rejected. Once payment is received, the application is officially considered "lodged" for processing and determination by the Council.

Providing Additional Information After Lodgement

Once the application is lodged, the assessment process begins. This involves a comprehensive evaluation, taking into account both local and state planning requirements and controls, as well as community expectations.

If further information or amended plans are required, the applicant will be notified through the Planning Portal. A deadline, typically between 14 and 21 days, will be set depending on the complexity of the required information.

If applicants are unable to provide the additional information within the required timeframe, they may be asked to withdraw their application. Consideration will be given to partial fee refund where applications are withdrawn within agreed timeframes. If the application proceeds without the additional information, it will be determined based on the available data, with no further opportunity to amend plans or submit more information.

Council remains open to discussing withdrawn applications to enhance the likelihood of success upon resubmission.

Planning Enquiries and Guidance

Council’s planning advisory and assessment staff as well as our online planning enquiry system, are available to provide guidance on Council Development Controls and to assist with general planning enquiries. 

Guidelines for submission of all application types is also available on Council’s website.

Information on submitting a development application