These grants reward councils that are getting the basics right, cutting red tape and turning around development assessments faster, so young people, families, and key workers can move into new homes in the communities they choose sooner.
Round One of the Faster Assessments Incentive Program provides grants of between $1 million and $3 million to councils that are cutting development assessment timeframes while supporting new homes in their communities.
Combined with council co-contributions, the funding will deliver more than $106 million in local and infrastructure projects to make sure growing neighbourhoods have the facilities they need, delivered alongside housing growth.
Projects funded in this round include road upgrades, community facilities, accessible playgrounds, mountain bike trails, and sporting infrastructure in communities from Western Sydney to Albury.
Councils earned their share of the funding by cutting red tape and speeding up assessment times, either meeting or beating the 115-day benchmark set out in the Minister's Statement of Expectations in FY 2024–25.
The results speak for themselves. The successful councils are now turning around assessments in an average of 89 days in metropolitan areas and just 82 days in regional NSW, well ahead of what was asked of them. This is up to 30 per cent faster than when the Minns Labor Government came to office in 2023.
Councils assess nearly 85 per cent of housing development applications in NSW, making efficient assessment processes critical to removing bottlenecks, and delivering new homes sooner.
The Minns Labor Government has made cutting through planning delays a central pillar of its planning housing reform housing agenda.
Since the Minister's Statement of Expectations Order was introduced in 2024, the average assessment timeframe has fallen from 116 days to 82 days – a reduction of almost a third - a clear sign that the Government's planning reforms are delivering results.
Performance is monitored through the published Council League Table, providing targeted support to councils that need it, and rewarding those making strong improvements.
Eligible councils are now being assessed for Round Two of the program, with $67 million available for councils that met or exceeded the 105-day benchmark and improved assessment times in FY 2025–26.
To be considered for funding, the scoring criteria for the second round will be weighted towards those councils that have continued to reduce their assessment timeframes in the last financial year.
The $200 million Faster Assessments Incentive Program is supporting councils in high and medium growth areas over the next three years, and complements the Government's broader investments in liveable communities, including $520 million for open space and active transport in Transport Oriented Development precincts, and $40 million through the Better Open Spaces program for parks, sports fields, swim spots, and town squares.
For more information about the Faster Assessments Incentive Program, visit NSW Planning.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:
"We are rewarding councils that are cutting assessment times and helping deliver the homes NSW needs, because faster decisions mean people can move into new homes sooner.
“This funding will help councils build the community enabling infrastructure; better roads, parks, sporting facilities, and community spaces that communities need. Importantly delivering it alongside new housing, not punishing communities, and making them wait years for it.
"We have applied both the carrot and the stick, and now we are seeing results. Councils are stepping up and cutting assessment times and are being rewarded for it.
"This is what a proper functioning planning system looks like. Councils doing the work, getting rewarded, and communities getting the homes and the infrastructure they need at the same time."
List of successful Round One councils and projects
|
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, safety 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 two 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 |
