South Australia development assessment times: slowest councils
New data reveals how just how slow some councils are at approving development applications – with some projects taking a whopping 32 weeks to be assessed. FIND OUT THE WORST OFFENDERS
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Some South Australian councils are taking as long as 32 weeks to assess development applications and in some cases, taking more than 70 days to approve a shed.
New data, exclusively obtained by The Messenger, reveals Burnside, Barossa and Walkerville councils are the worst offenders over the past two years.
Figures show Barossa Council took a median of 32 weeks to approve category 1 developments – those that are allowed on merit and do not require public consultation, such as land use changes – in the third quarter of 2018.
The latest figures show it stills take nearly 150 days to approve plans.
It should only take 56 days – or eight weeks – under current rules.
Now, the State Government wants to pull councils into line and slash the assessment time on applications to just 20 business days.
At Barossa, staff also took 59 days to assess complying development applications, such as sheds, pergolas and carports, at the end of 2018.
Under new rules, projects like these will be expected to be assessed within five days.
Data also reveals Burnside Council took nearly 20 weeks to assess category 1 applications last year and 50 days for complying developments. This was an improvement year on year after peaking at 72 days to assess complying developments in 2018.
Walkerville took nearly 18 weeks to give developments the green light in 2019 – and is still exceeding the eight week limit.
Adelaide City and Playford councils have also breached the limit in the past two years.
Playford is one of the worst offenders for approval of sheds and pergolas, with staff taking 58 days to assess these last year.
Over the past two years several other councils have taken weeks to assess and approve complying developments, including Alexandrina (26 days), Onkaparinga (44 days), Port Adelaide Enfield (49 days), Unley (22 days) and West Torrens (25 days).
Under rules to be introduced in the new planning code, wait times will be slashed to 20 business days for category 1 developments and just five days for complying applications.
A countdown clock will be available for compliant developments and they will be given automatic approval if nothing is done within five days.
Planning Minister Stephan Knoll said the new system would allow people to get on with construction in “a fraction of the time”.
“In many instances, we will see development approval times slashed by weeks so people can get on with building that new carport, shed, house or even multi storey building at the other end of the spectrum,” Mr Knoll said.
Barossa Council said approvals were delayed when staff had to wait for more information from applicants.
They could sit in the system for up to two years before lapsing, as the council did not generally exercise its right of refusal for “non-provision of information” after three months.