The total value of development application works in 2017-2018 to date sits at $212 million.

The 2016-2017 total of $300 million is likely to be surpassed well before year end, a Port Macquarie-Hastings Council report says.

Council noted the development activity and assessment system performance report for the second quarter of 2017-2018.

The report outlined development assessment, building certification and subdivision certification activities for the October to December 2017 quarter. 

The monthly average number of development applications received for 2017-2018 to date is 94.

That is up from the monthly average of 89 DAs in 2016-2017 and 85 in 2015-2016.

A similar trend is evident with plumbing and drainage approvals, with the 2017-2018 monthly average at 101, up from 87 in 2016-2017 and 72 the previous year.

A report to the February council meeting said the greater number of plumbing and drainage applications, compared to development applications, could be attributed to Small Village Sewerage Scheme connections as well as the increase in the complying development certificates issued by private certifiers.

The monthly average building and plumbing inspections for 2017-2018 is 534, significantly greater than the monthly average of 455 in 2106-2017 and 407 the previous year.

Council-processed complying development certificates and building construction certificates remained relatively steady over the last few years with the private sector taking up the additional work generated by the overall increase in activity, the report said.

Infrastructure construction certificates and subdivision certificates have also remained steady over the past few years.

“This can however be deceptive given the large number of lot releases proposed per application compared to previous years,” the report said.

Extra staff resourcing in development assessment is being pursued, noting the continued trend for increased development activity, coupled with recent large land releases in Port Macquarie and Lake Cathie/Bonny Hills.