Sydney - Middle East Times Int’l: Member for Leppington, Nathan Hagarty, has slammed Liverpool Council for their continual slow pace of DA approvals in the middle of a housing crisis.

The NSW Government have this week released a “league table,” exposing councils that are dragging their heels in approving development applications.

According to the league table, 21 councils in Sydney are taking more than an average of 115 days to approve development applications. Liverpool Council are bottom of the table with average assessment taking 256 days to complete. More than double the average.

Liverpool lags significantly behind faster neighbouring councils like Wollondilly and Camden, which take 53 and 89 days, respectively.

Liverpool Council also place second of total development cost with just over $2 billion, following City of Sydney’s $2.9 billion, raising concerns of how effective Liverpool Council can manage the housing goals of the State.

Minister for Planning Paul Scully stressed the need for faster DA processing to meet the target of 377,000 new homes in five years. Financial incentives and strict performance standards are set to be introduced, aiming to reduce DA approval times to 85 days by 2027.

Councils are now required to reduce their DA approval times progressively: 115 days by 2025, 105 days by 2026, 95 days by 2027, and ultimately 85 days from July 1, 2027. Non-compliant councils will face performance improvement orders, action plans, and potential intervention by planning administrators.

“256 days for approval in a housing crisis is simply unacceptable. Especially when councils next door can manage it in a fraction of the time.

“Once again, we have another example of Liverpool Council failing on the basics because it is too distracted with internal bickering.

“As we aim for 377,000 new homes in five years, Liverpool Council’s performance is a major roadblock. Faster, more efficient DA approvals are essential for our community’s future."