Wagga Wagga City Council has placed in the top 10 highest dwelling approvals in regional NSW, according to the data in the latest Council League Tables, published by NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
Council also recorded a significant improvement in its development assessment performance over the past 12 months, reducing its assessment timeframes and increasing the volume of application determinations.
The League Tables, introduced by the NSW Government in 2024, compares the performance of a group of regional councils with similar regional service roles and development assessment profiles.
Acting Director of Planning and Regulatory Services Cameron Collins said Council’s development assessment service delivered a very strong performance when compared to other large inland regional councils, including Albury, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Tamworth.
“Our Development Assessment & Building Certification team assessed 614 development applications during the 2025/26 financial year, which was the highest assessment volume among the comparison councils,” Mr Collins said.
“Our average assessment time was 51 days, which was a substantial reduction on the average of 68 days we recorded in 2024/25.
“It was also well below state average of 84 days for all councils in NSW, and the second-fastest average assessment timeframe among the comparison councils.
“We also performed strongly on the percentage of applications determined within the expected timeframe, up from 76 per cent in 2024/25 to 82 per cent in 2025/26, which was equal at the top with Bathurst Regional Council.”
Mr Collins said the outcomes demonstrate the team’s ability to manage a significant assessment workload while maintaining a high standard of service.
It also reflects the importance of continuous improvement through the implementation of Council’s 2024 Development Assessment and Building Certification Division Service Review.
Over the 2025/26 financial year, Council assessed development applications with a total value of approximately $247 million.
“The development assessment service plays an important role in supporting growth, investment and housing delivery in Wagga Wagga,” Mr Collins said.
“We are committed to continuing to improve our development assessment service and will pursue opportunities to further enhance performance through refining processes, improving workflow, increasing the utilisation of technology, and staff retention and development.”
Council’s achievement of placing in the top ten highest dwelling approvals makes it eligible to apply for NSW Government’s Better Open Spaces funding.
This program supports councils to deliver public open space improvements enabling upgrades to park amenities and facilities, waterways and riverfront areas and town squares and plazas.
