Campbelltown Council cuts average DA determination times to 58 days
Council says average DA assessment times fell from 85 days in 2024–2025 to 58 days in 2025–2026, ranking equal second in Greater Sydney. What it means for builders and buyers in Menangle Park.
Campbelltown City Council says average development application (DA) determination times have dropped from 85 days in 2024–2025 to 58 days in 2025–2026, placing Campbelltown equal second among all councils in Greater Sydney. Average DA lodgement processing times have also halved from eight days to four days.
What it means for a household here
For households building in Menangle Park, the faster turnaround matters for any home design that cannot use complying development:
- The DA pathway is Gate 2: As detailed in our building approvals guide, a Menangle Park house plan passes Dahua’s Design Administrator first, then either a private certifier for a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) or Campbelltown City Council for a full DA.
- Custom designs and constrained lots: While many standard designs on unconstrained lots qualify for a 20-day CDC, lots with site constraints — such as bushfire ratings of BAL-40 or Flame Zone under Clause 1.19A of the Codes SEPP, or custom floorplans that exceed standard envelope controls — must go through Council via a DA.
- Holding costs: A 27-day reduction on average means roughly a month less of holding the land, and paying any interest on it, while waiting for a determination.
Subsidence Advisory NSW approval remains a separate requirement: effectively every residential lot in the estate sits in the South Campbelltown Mine Subsidence District, which requires its own clearance before Council can determine an application.
Government incentive funding
Council’s performance outperforms the benchmark targets set under the NSW Minister’s Expectations Orders. Council’s release says that as a result, “Council has been approved for $3 million in funding through the NSW Government’s Faster Assessments Incentive Program”. The release describes an approval, not a payment.
Campbelltown Mayor Darcy Lound said the faster turnaround provides “less time waiting for people building or improving their homes and greater certainty for those looking to invest in Campbelltown.” The money is earmarked for Stage 2 of the Kanbuygal Parklands Mountain Bike Park.