Council
21 July, 2026
$54 million awarded to 'high performing' councils
Three 'high performing' councils across The Southern Wire's readership area will share almost $6 million in NSW Government funding to deliver community infrastructure, while Wingecarribee Shire Council has missed out.
Three 'high performing' councils across The Southern Wire's readership area will share almost $6 million in NSW Government funding to deliver community infrastructure, while Wingecarribee Shire Council has missed out.
The Minns Government today announced almost $54 million would be distributed to 30 councils across the state through the Faster Assessments Incentive Program, rewarding councils that have reduced development assessment times and supported housing growth.
Among the local winners, Camden Council secured the maximum $3 million grant to deliver a new Camden Civic Plaza, creating a central space for markets, community events and cultural activities.
Wollondilly Shire Council received $2 million to construct a new Village Green as part of the Wollondilly Cultural Precinct in Picton.
Shoalhaven City Council was awarded $999,974 to upgrade sporting infrastructure across the northern part of the local government area, including improvements to tennis and hockey facilities and sports lighting.
Wingecarribee Shire Council was issued a Statement of Expectations by Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully earlier this year and did not receive any grant funds.
The grants were available to councils that met or exceeded the NSW Government's development assessment performance benchmarks by reducing the time taken to assess development applications.
According to the NSW Government, successful metropolitan councils are now completing assessments in an average of 89 days, while regional councils are averaging just 82 days—well below the 115-day benchmark set under the Minister's Statement of Expectations. The Government said assessment times have fallen by almost one-third since 2023.
Minister Scully said the funding was designed to reward councils delivering faster decisions and ensuring infrastructure kept pace with housing growth.
"We are rewarding councils that are cutting assessment times and helping deliver the homes NSW needs, because faster decisions mean people can move into new homes sooner," Mr Scully said.
"This funding will help councils build the community enabling infrastructure; better roads, parks, sporting facilities, and community spaces that communities need. Importantly, delivering it alongside new housing, not punishing communities, and making them wait years for it."
Mr Scully said the Government had used "both the carrot and the stick" to improve council performance and was now seeing results.
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