Accelerated Development Application System

ASK:

Support the state-wide adoption of the CN-established Accelerated DA System to streamline and accelerate determinations of development applications across the local government sector.

BACKGROUND:

City of Newcastle (CN), via the Regulatory, Planning and Assessment (RPA) team, has created and introduced the ADA System to streamline the determination of low-risk decision ready Development Applications (DAs).

The Accelerated DA System presents an innovative approach to facilitating timely development outcomes, with some of the onus on the applicant to provide a quality submission that reduces the double-handling of information and speeds up the process. It still ensures that applicants are able to expect the same standard of professional review for each application.

Only simple, decision ready and low risk DAs are eligible to be assessed under the ADA System. All other DAs are assessed and determined via CN’s existing processes.

The ADA System provides three new lodgement pathways for simple, decision ready and low-risk DAs to be identified and determined, as outlined below: i) Authorised Consultant Pathway –5-day determination timeframe. ii) Lodgement Ready Pathway – 10day determination timeframe. iii) Well-made Pathway – 15-day determination timeframe.

A successful trial of the ADA System occurred between 12 May to 31 August 2022 with 89 low-risk DAs determined with an average processing time of 5.8 days. The ADA System formally launched on 1 October 2022.

In respect to NSW, a 5% increase in total development activity has the potential to lead to:

Total direct annual output in the construction sector increasing by $2.5 billion annually (i.e. 5% of $50 billion).

The $2.5 billion increase to annual development activity, including all direct, supply-chain and consultation effects, has the potential to increase total economic activity by approximately $5.4 billion and create up to 12,000 additional NSW jobs. Increased building development will also open opportunities for further economic growth due to more commercial and industrial sites being operational sooner, and more available residential accommodation for an expanded workforce. The flow-on effects have the potential to increase overall economic activity by billions of dollars per annum.