The first quarter review of Council’s 2024-25 operational plan shows development applications (DAs) are still not being assessed in line with targets.
At the end of September, it was taking an average of 142 days for a DA to be assessed.
That is more than double the target.
The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has even more up-to-date figures that show the average figure at the end of October for the Central Coast was 156 days.
The average assessment time for NSW councils is 104 days.
Water and Sewer Director Jamie Loader, who is acting planning and environment director, said it would take some time for the figures to improve.
Speaking at the November 23 meeting, he said the older DAs were not showing up at all in the figures and so the numbers could deteriorate before they get better.
Deputy Mayor Doug Eaton had noted the figures were trending backwards
Eaton had put a question on notice to Council asking for a monthly report to the meetings on the number of outstanding development applications, the average/median time for determination and the number of DA appeals lodged with the Land and Environment Court.
In reply, CEO David Farmer said Council staff could provide the requested reports via the Councillor Newsletter “to ensure the currency and timely provision of information”.
Mayor Lawrie McKinna said a a lack of experienced staff in the department had led to a backlog.
“In the first quarter last year we were 20 staff members short in the Planning Department,” he said.
“But we are investing $8M to bring in senior staff, with nine senior positions to fill, including a new director.”
McKinna said the Council received the highest number of DA applications in the state, surpassing large councils including Sydney and Blacktown.
“We received 2,170 in the last financial year,” he said.
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