AlburyCity introduced two policies designed to make development applications (DAs) clearer and faster — for both applicants and staff. These policies directly support our commitment to meet the Ministerial Statement of Expectations for planning performance and industry feedback provided during engagement sessions with The Planning Studio..

Why this work matters
In 2024, a service review by SJB Planning confirmed our Development team is performing well, processing more applications per staff member than most NSW councils and maintaining competitive turnaround times. However, the review also highlighted practical changes we could make to improve efficiency further.

In response, The Planning Studio was engaged to implement key recommendations. They focused on:

• Pre-lodgment improvements – helping applicants submit ‘assessment ready’ applications, which reduces delays.
• DA performance – setting clear expectations for both Council and applicants to streamline assessments