The Department of Planning regularly monitors the performance of the NSW planning system to ensure it is operating as efficiently and effectively as possible for the public, for small- and large-scale developers and for industry professionals such as council planners.
This monitoring, which includes analysis of local, State and industry performance, is reported in a number of different publications:
Major development monitor
This annual publication provides detailed statistical and case study information about decisions made by the Department and Minister for Planning on development proposals and local environmental plans.
Latest report
Major Development Monitor 2009-10
Previous reports
Major Development Monitor 2008-09
Major Development Monitor 2007-08 
Media Release
Major Development Monitor 2006-07
Major Development Monitor 2005-06
The Department has also released online lists of all approvals, refusals and withdrawals during 2005-06, to accompany the NSW Major Development Monitor 2005-06.
Local development performance monitoring
The NSW Local Development Performance Monitoring report provides comprehensive statistics about development in NSW, including annual information on the volume, value and type of development and council processing times. It has been compiled by the NSW Department of Planning based on the Department’s analysis of data supplied by local councils.
This report also covers issues such as use of complying development, planning staff numbers and legal appeal success rates.
Latest report
Local Development Performance Monitoring Report 2010-11 Part 1
Local Development Performance Monitoring Report 2010-11 Part 2
Local Development Performance Summary Data 2010-11 
Previous reports
Local Development Performance Monitoring Report 2009-10 Part 1
Local Development Performance Monitoring Report 2009-10 Part 2
Local Development Performance Summary Data 2009-10
Local Development Performance Monitoring Report 2008-09 Part 1
Local Development Performance Monitoring Report 2008-09 Part 2
Local Development Performance Summary Data 2008-09
Local Development Performance Monitoring Report 2007-08
Local Development Performance Summary Data 2007-08
Local Development Performance Monitoring Report 2006-07
Local Development Performance Monitoring Report 2005-06
Metropolitan and regional strategy update reports
The Regional Strategy Update Report , released in May 2009, outlines the progress made on each of the seven regional strategies. These 25-year land-use plans have been released over the past three years and cover the entire NSW non-metropolitan coastline.
The Sydney Metropolitan Strategy: Update Report was released in June 2007. It outlines work undertaken since the release of City of cities: a plan for Sydney’s future in late-2006.
Concurrence and Referrals Monitoring report
The Concurrence and Referrals Monitoring report, released in June 2010, outlines the performance of individual State agencies in responding to requests for their approval or comments on development applications.