Newcastle building approvals top $1 billion

Newcastle's building boom continues unabated after the value of construction approvals topped $1 billion for the first time ever in a financial year.
 
Council approved $995 million in development applications in 2016/17, with $83 million in complying development certificates issued in the same period.
 
The combined $1.078 billion total was up from $875 million in 2015/16.

"Commensurate with the increasing number and value of private developments, the nature and complexity of applications have also increased," Newcastle City Council Interim CEO Jeremy Bath said.
 
"Our building and development team has done a fine job keeping processing times steady despite the growing demands on them.
 
"While evidence of the building boom is clear to see in the CBD's rapid transformation, other indicators and new efficiencies we're introducing point towards a sustained period of unprecedented growth for around the next 18-24 months."
 
Council will continue the city's infrastructure renewal and revitalisation under a sustainable budget as the building boom rolls on.
 
The 2017/18 delivery program and operational plan features a record $90.3 million program of projects focused mainly on addressing the city's infrastructure backlog.
 
"Amid this strong growth, Council aims to achieve a sustainable infrastructure backlog by 2022," Mr Bath added.
 
"We reduced it from $117 million in 2011 to $99 million last year and we have scheduled eight years and $8.8 million of civil works in Newcastle East leading up to the inaugural Supercars event.
 
"Council has also prioritised upgrades in the city’s suburbs through flood-mitigation improvements in Wallsend and Carrington and road and public space improvements there and elsewhere."