The NSW Government is helping councils speed up development assessments and deliver the infrastructure needed to support more homes across NSW. Through the Faster Assessments Incentive Program, councils that reduce development assessment timeframes can access funding to deliver infrastructure that supports housing growth and growing communities.
The 3-year program is a $200 million NSW Government initiative that rewards medium and high-growth councils for reducing development assessment timeframes and maintaining strong planning performance. Funding supports projects such as roads, parks, open spaces, community facilities and active transport connections.
Round 2 results
Forty-four councils qualified for Round 2 of the program after meeting average development assessment timeframe performance benchmarks under the Minister's Statement of Expectations.
Successful councils achieved a combined average assessment timeframe of 78 days.
Successful councils are now eligible to progress to the next stage of the program and nominate an infrastructure project for funding consideration. The maximum value of individual grants is based on each council's housing target, or anticipated dwelling growth for regional councils without a housing target.
Projects will undergo assessment and assurance before final funding decisions are made.
Read the Round 2 competitive grant guidelines (PDF, 3.7 MB).
Helping councils improve performance
The NSW Government introduced the Minister's Statement of Expectations to set clear average development assessment timeframe benchmarks and improve planning performance across NSW.
To help councils achieve these targets, the Department worked directly with councils through targeted support initiatives, including the Expert Planner Program. Expert planners help councils identify bottlenecks, clear backlogs and improve assessment processes.
Several councils that were unsuccessful in Round 1 significantly improved their performance and qualified for Round 2 funding consideration.
Round 2 successful councils
- Albury
- Ballina
- Bathurst
- Bayside
- Burwood
- Camden
- Campbelltown
- Canada Bay
- Canterbury-Bankstown
- Cessnock
- Coffs Harbour
- Cumberland
- Dubbo
- Eurobodalla
- Fairfield
- Hawkesbury
- Hornsby
- Inner West
- Ku-ring-gai
- Lake Macquarie
- Maitland
- Mid-Coast
- Newcastle
- North Sydney
- Orange
- Parramatta
- Penrith
- Port Macquarie-Hastings
- Port Stephens
- Queanbeyan-Palerang
- Randwick
- Ryde
- Shellharbour
- Shoalhaven
- Strathfield
- Sutherland Shire
- Sydney
- Tamworth
- Tweed
- Wagga Wagga
- Waverley
- Willoughby
- Wollondilly and
- Woollahra
Round 1 successful councils and projects
In Round 1 of the Faster Assessments Incentive Program, 35 councils met the development assessment performance benchmark and were invited to nominate an infrastructure project for funding consideration.
Following project assessment and assurance, 30 projects were approved for funding, unlocking more than $106 million in local infrastructure investment across NSW through a combination of NSW Government funding and council contributions.
A further 5 councils remain eligible for funding, with their nominated projects undergoing additional assessment before final funding decisions are made.
Read the Round 1 program guidelines (PDF, 3.3 MB).
| Council | Project name | Description | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albury | Thurgoona link road stage 2 | Extend a key road connection in Albury's main growth area to support future housing development. | $1,000,000 |
| Bathurst | Lawrence Drive connection | Deliver a new road link connecting Kelso and Laffing Waters servicing land for future housing. | $1,000,000 |
| Blacktown | Melonba Park community facility | Provide a new modular community hub in one of Sydney's fastest-growing areas, giving residents access local community facilities. | $1,316,145 |
| Burwood | Linear urban playground | Transform Unity Place into linear urban playground with integrated landscaping, lighting and play elements. | $1,000,000 |
| Camden | Camden civic plaza | Create a new civic plaza for markets, events and cultural activities, strengthening Camden's town centre and community infrastructure. | $3,000,000 |
| Campbelltown | Kanbyugal Parklands mountain bike park (phase 2) | Complete a regional-scale mountain bike and active recreation destination serving surrounding growth areas and new communities. | $3,000,000 |
| Canada Bay | Livvi's Place accessible playground upgrade | Upgrade an inclusive playground with improved equipment and amenities, creating a more accessible space for children of all abilities. | $2,000,000 |
| Cessnock | Leaconfield Street bridge replacement | Replace an ageing bridge and improves pedestrian access, supporting a new residential subdivision and safer local connections. | $1,000,000 |
| Cumberland | Duck River Parklands active transport link | Complete a missing section of the Duck River cycleway, improving links between neighbourhoods, parks and public transport. | $3,000,000 |
| Eurobodalla | West Rosedale housing infrastructure project | Upgrade key intersections on George Bass Drive and deliver new shared pathway connections to support residential growth in the Rosedale–Tomakin area. | $1,000,000 |
| Fairfield | Brenan Park transformation project | Enhance a major regional park through accessibility upgrades, new facilities and urban greening to support growing communities. | $2,000,000 |
| Hornsby | Westleigh mountain bike trails | Formalisation of mountain bike trails, expanding recreation opportunities for local and regional riders, including new beginner-friendly tracks. | $2,000,000 |
| Inner West | Wicks Park upgrade | Upgrade to existing tennis courts, recreation facilities, playgrounds and community spaces to support new housing in the Victoria Road Precinct. | $2,000,000 |
| Ku-ring-gai | Canoon Road recreation building redevelopment | Provide modern amenities, meeting spaces and changerooms to support local sporting organisations and community groups. | $2,000,000 |
| Lake Macquarie | Charlestown to Whitebridge Corridor upgrade (stage 1) | Construct part of a major walking and cycling corridor linking growth areas, schools and community facilities. | $2,000,000 |
| Lane Cove | River Road shared user path (stage 1) | Deliver a missing active transport link connecting schools, recreation facilities and key cycling routes. | $1,000,000 |
| Maitland | Max McMahon Redevelopment (stage 2) | Create a multifunction community facility to support sporting clubs, events and residents in Maitland's growing western precinct. | $2,000,000 |
| Mid-Coast | Wylie Breckenridge Park upgrade | Deliver a new district playground and public amenities to improve local recreation facilities. | $1,000,000 |
| Newcastle | Union Street streetscape renewal | Revitalise the Wickham town centre with safer, more accessible streets and improved public spaces to support housing growth. | $3,000,000 |
| Northern Beaches | Miller Reserve upgrade | Expand sports field capacity and recreational facilities to accommodate growing demand from nearby housing growth areas. | $2,000,000 |
| Orange | Murphy Lane and Mitchell Highway intersection upgrade | Upgrade and signalise a key intersection, unlocking access to land capable of delivering up to 1,300 housing lots. | $1,000,000 |
| Parramatta | Parramatta River foreshore upgrade | Enhance access, safet and public space along the Parramatta River to support CBD growth and cultural activity. | $3,000,000 |
| Port Stephens | Ferodale/Peppertree road intersection upgrade | Improve road safety and traffic flow while supporting planned growth in the Medowie town centre. | $1,000,000 |
| Ryde | Regional Route 04 – Chatswood to Burwood shared user path | Deliver a strategic cycling and walking link, completing a missing section of a major regional active transport route. | $2,536,000 |
| Shellharbour | Jock Brown sportsfield redevelopment | Upgrade sporting facilities with new amenities lighting and infrastructure to create 2 high-quality community sports fields. | $1,000,000 |
| Shoalhaven | Northern Shoalhaven regional sporting infrastructure upgrade | Upgrade tennis, hockey and sports lighting infrastructure to meet growing community demand and improve safety. | $999,974 |
| Sydney | Traffic signals at Epsom Road and George Julius Avenue | Install new traffic signals and pedestrian crossings to improve safety, accessibility and active transport connections. | $3,000,000 |
| Wagga Wagga | Estella Road and Boorooma Street roundabout | Construct a new roundabout to improve safety and capacity in an area experiencing significant residential growth. | $1,000,000 |
| Wollondilly | Wollondilly cultural precinct village green | Deliver a new multipurpose public green space as part of the Picton town centre cultural precinct. | $2,000,000 |
| Wollongong | Crown Street west precinct upgrade | Improve footpaths lighting and public spaces in the CBD to support increased residential development and activity. | $2,000,000 |
| Total funding | $53,852,119 |
Frequently asked questions
Councils are eligible based on housing growth and performance under the Faster Assessments Incentive Program. To qualify for Round 2, councils were required to meet development assessment performance benchmarks under the Minister's Statement of Expectations and improve planning performance.
Successful councils will be invited to nominate an infrastructure project for funding consideration. Projects will undergo assessment and assurance before final funding decisions are made.
Round 3 will open in 2027. Eligible councils will be assessed against the next performance benchmark under the Minister's Statement of Expectations framework.