Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Enter your details below and create a login
Send me exclusive tips, early access to new launches, and special offers. I can change my mind at any time.
By clicking Get started now you agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy.
“One of the key challenges is the complex approval system that leads to protracted approval timeframes, higher approval costs and negatively impacted housing affordability, said Craig Jennion, HIA Hunter Executive Director.
The NSW government launched in 2024 a council league table to monitor performance of development application lodgement and determination.
“Pleasingly in the past financial year 9 of the 11 councils across the Hunter and Central Coast, are lodging development applications within the league tables phase 1 goal of 14 days.
“Maitland City Council in particular is applauded for being the leading council across the state, with an average lodgement of 2 days, performing twice as quick as the next best group of councils.
“The league table also measures development assessment times, with the fastest councils in the Hunter being Singleton (average of 55 days), followed closely by Port Stephens Council (57 days) for the 2024-25 financial year.
“In addition to ensuring closer scrutiny and accountability the league table provides an incentive for councils to adopt best practices and improve services. An example of this is the Accelerated Development Applications initiative that the City of Newcastle has developed. They are commended for developing a faster, less bureaucratic approvals process for straightforward developments, saving time and council resources.
“Despite this there is much more that can be done to address the housing crisis. A solution to this is the "One House One Approval" (OHOA) initiative developed by the HIA.
“OHOA advocates for a single, unified approval process for building a new house on residential land—replacing the current fragmented system where separate planning and building approvals are often required.
“Whilst NSWs complying development process is a partial step toward OHOA, the fact that such a large percentage of approvals are diverted to councils for a traditional development assessment means many households still face a lengthy complex approval process.
“Additional support is needed to see more councils, who have the desire, look at alternative approaches to see single dwellings approved closer to the 40 day statutory time period. Having assessment goals like we do that can be up to average of 115 days post lodgement via the league tables is simply not fast enough.
“In addition to amending the assessment process to ensure single dwellings on residential land exempt or code assessable, HIA would like to see councils lean further into AI & private certification (delegated assessments) to reduce approval delays further.
“We need comprehensive reform and One House One Approval can be a key driver to unlocking the housing that Australia desperately needs by simplifying and accelerating the building approval process for single-dwelling homes” concluded Mr Jennion.
View the One House One Approval report
With NCC 2025 scheduled to commence in Tasmania from 1 May 2026, given the legislation has not passed the Tasmanian Parliament yet, CBOS is offering to HIA’s members a short webinar to explain what this means for your projects and business.
HIA provided a submission in response to the Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) today joins organisations across Australia in recognising the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, highlighting the critical importance of both physical and psychological safety in the workplace.
Tasmania’s construction industry is facing significant uncertainty as the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 is set to commence on 1 May 2026, despite near nil engagement from the regulator and outstanding state based variations yet to be publicly released.