Griffith City Council is delivering faster, more efficient development outcomes, with strong improvements in Development Application (DA) assessment timeframes over the past two years.
New data from July 2024 to April 2026 shows a clear turnaround, with Council now consistently meeting or outperforming State Government benchmarks. In recent months, average assessment times have stabilised in the 35-to-50-day range, well below the current benchmark of 80 days.
Council’s year-to-date performance for 2025–26 shows an average determination time of 48 days, placing Griffith competitively alongside, and in some cases ahead of, similar regional centres such as Wagga Wagga, Dubbo and Albury.
Mayor Doug Curran said the results highlight Council’s commitment to supporting growth while maintaining strong assessment standards.
“Efficient development approvals are essential for our local economy, and it’s great to see these improvements delivering real benefits for applicants and the wider community,” Mayor Curran said.
The improvements have been driven by practical changes across Council’s Sustainable Development teams, including streamlined pre-lodgement processes, improved coordination between technical teams, and more proactive management of complex applications.
Importantly, these faster timeframes have been achieved while maintaining assessment quality and managing a steady pipeline of applications.
Joe Rizzo, Director Sustainable Development, said the results reflect a strong team effort across Council.
“We’re really grateful for the dedication and hard work of our staff. Their commitment and collaboration have been key to achieving these improved timeframes, and it’s fantastic to see those efforts making a real difference for our community,” Mr Rizzo said.
Council will continue to refine its processes to ensure development approvals remain efficient, consistent and responsive to the needs of the growing community.
