Council
25 June, 2026
Latest stats show council still lagging - but staff looking at different figures
Wingecarribee Shire Council is still languishing at the bottom of the NSW Government’s league table with only 34 per cent of development applications being assessed within the expected timeframe.
Wingecarribee Shire Council is still languishing at the bottom of the NSW Government’s league table with only 34 per cent of development applications being assessed within the expected timeframe.
It is not alone.
The latest figures show only 30 per cent of councils state-wide are meeting the Minister for Planning and Public Space’s expectations.
A small number of councils are helping to boost overall percentages with 60 per cent of applications being assessed within the expected timeframe for the year to date.
Queanbeyan-Palarang is leading the pack with 99 per cent of applications being assessed within the expected timeframe – 414 from 418.
In stark comparison Wingecarribee has assessed 127 applications within the expected timeframe from a total of 376.
The average assessment time is 174 days – well in excess of the Minister’s 105-day expectation.
However council wants ratepayers to focus on the progress being made as it works through a backlog of ‘legacy’ development applications.
In a report tabled at council’s June meeting, staff reported that 74 per cent of applications (20 from 27) had been assessed within the expected timeframe for the month of May – exceeding the state-wide average of 56 per cent.
To confuse matters, it reports that 61 per cent of applications have been assessed within the expected timeframe for the year to date (288 from 475) – well above the state average of 34 per cent.
The league table clearly shows 127 applications (from a total of 376) have been assessed within the Minister’s expected timeframe for the year to date – 34 per cent.
DA assessment times have been an ongoing issue for Wingecarribee Shire Council and have been the cause of contention between council leadership and Minister Paul Scully.
Mr Scully used his time on 2ST with broadcaster Graeme Day recently to suggest that ratepayers question council leadership on the issue of DA assessment times – prompting Mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick and General Manager Lisa Miscamble to take legal action against Mr Day and prevent him from reporting on council issues.
Mr Day has since returned to air.
Ms Miscamble told councillors at the June meeting that development assessment times were at a “record low” at 106 days – one day off the minister’s expected timeframe.
“The stats (statistics) speak for themselves,” she said.
She said assessment times were on a “positive trajectory” and council’s planning department remained focused on its goals.
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