Council streamlines the Development Assessment process for faster turnaround times

Central Coast Council processes more than 3,000 development applications each year with a value of more than $1 billion.

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said that at the Council Meeting on 26 October 2020 Council resolved to investigate measures to assist in the fast tracking of DA assessments, and at the Meeting on 3 February 2021 resolved to draft a process to make it happen.

“It is pleasing that the ‘Policy on the Assessment of Development Applications’ is now adopted following community feedback. It shows Council’s approach to development assessment functions,” Mr Hart said.

“The development and construction sectors are significant for our local economy. Construction and housebuilding is the third largest employment sector on the Central Coast (after health and retail) so it is vital that applications are submitted with the required information and we ensure assessments are undertaken in a consistent, equitable and timely manner.

“The high level of development is to accommodate the region’s growing population, and with well-defined and consistent practices for the assessment of applications Council will assist in more streamlined and responsive development assessment processes and show that the Central Coast is an area worth investing in.”

Changes to waterfront addressing adopted

Council has resolved to adopt waterfront addressing for 550 properties along the Hawkesbury River and associated tributaries to comply with the Australian and NSW Government standards and policies.

Currently these properties are addressed as Lot # Hawkesbury River, which has been problematic for owners and residents, and made it difficult for service providers and emergency services to find.

Consultation was open to all affected property owners and several Government Departments. Discussions were also had with the NSW Department of Customer Service, Spatial Services section to determine outcomes consistent with the NSW addressing direction and advice.

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the change will ensure a system suitable for timely identification of properties and emergency response.

“Council was able to make some minor changes to proposed numbering based on community feedback, however our numbering is governed by the Australian/New Zealand Standard – Rural and Urban Addressing, the NSW Address Policy and the NSW Retrospective Address Policy and we must provide clear, consistent and compliant numbering for waterfront properties in our Local Government Area,” Mr Hart said

“The new addressing will ensure compatibility with other governmental and organisational databases, allow properties to be included in Australia’s authoritative Geocoded National Address File which will give them geographic coordinates and assist with emergency response, and give properties a “complete address” which is now a pre-requisite for many business transactions.”

Letters will be sent to all affected property owners advising of their new address. Council will also advise Australia Post, the Australian Electoral Commission, NSW Department of Customer Services, NSW Roads and Maritime Services, Valuer Generals, Telstra, Ausgrid, Jemena, National Park and Wildlife Services as well as local emergency services of the new addresses.