Council
5 August, 2026
DA disaster: Wingecarribee ranked worst in NSW
Wingecarribee Shire Council has chalked up another year as the slowest council in New South Wales for assessing development applications
Wingecarribee Shire Council has chalked up another year as the slowest council in New South Wales for assessing development applications, with new figures revealing council took an average of 174 days to determine applications during the 2025-26 financial year.
The results, covering the period to 30 June 2026, place Wingecarribee well behind the NSW Government's benchmark expectation of 105 days.
The figures also show the council lagging significantly behind neighbouring local government areas.
Camden recorded an average assessment time of just 58 days, while Shellharbour also averaged 58 days. Upper Lachlan Shire, which includes Crookwell, took an average of 69 days, while Goulburn Mulwaree averaged 85 days. Yass Valley Council and Shoalhaven also recorded an average assessment time well below Wingecarribee Shire Council.
The comparison with neighbouring councils highlights the extent of the delays, with Wingecarribee taking around three times longer than Camden and Shellharbour to assess development applications during the reporting period.
The figures come just weeks after NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully intervened in the council's planning operations, issuing an action plan aimed at improving performance.
As previously reported by The Southern Wire, the Minister's action plan requires the council to implement a range of measures to improve the efficiency of its planning department, reduce assessment delays and strengthen accountability.
While the latest figures reflect performance up to 30 June 2026 and pre-date the implementation of the action plan, the NSW Government expects the reforms to deliver improved assessment times in future reporting periods.
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