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Our Planning and Development branch prepare monthly statistics for all development approvals we have issued in the reporting period. Access the latest application statistics report and a summary of key results below.
Development application statistics are categorised into application type for:
View the Regional Development Statistics Report - June 2024 (PDF)
Summary of the December 2023 Development statistics report
Reflecting on the 2023 calendar year, Council received a total of 2,674 development applications, which is lower than the 2022 numbers (3,121). Over the same period Council approved a total of 2,601 applications, which is lower than the 2,914 approvals for 2022. Nine (9) applications were refused.
For 2023 a total of 2,788 building applications were approved for a total value of $651,638,000.
Also for 2023, 1,348 new lots were approved and 444 lots were sealed and released into the market, while 670 dwellings and 177 units were constructed.
The December 2023 figures for development applications received are below the monthly average, and below the number for November 2023. The total number of development applications received during the month of December 2023 was 183, compared to 267 for November 2023 for the region (Graphs 3.0, 7.0 and 12.0). Of these applications received, 74 were planning related applications and 109 were building siting/discretion and plumbing related applications. For the last 12 months, the monthly average number of development applications received is 223 of which 80 were planning related applications.
The number of development applications approved in December 2023 is below the monthly average and below the November 2023 approvals. The total number of development applications approved during the month of December 2023 was 172 compared to 230 in November 2023 for the region (Graph 3.0 and 13.0). There was one (1) refusal for a RAL Impact application. Of the 172 approvals, 69 were planning related approvals and 103 were building siting/discretion and plumbing related approvals.[1] The annualised monthly average number of development applications approved is 217 in total with 76 being for planning related applications.
The total number of all types of building applications approved in the region for December 2023 is lower than November 2023. The total number of building applications approved during the month of December 2023, including dwellings, extensions, units, and class 2-9 applications, was 190 for the region which is a decrease on the 292 for November 2023 (Graph 14.0).
Of applications approved during December 2023, there was an increase in new lots approved (168) compared to the previous month (Graph 4.0), and 120 lots were sealed and released onto the market. In comparison, nine (9) new lots were approved and 24 sealed during November 2023 (Graph 4.0).
In the same period, 36 new dwellings and 27 new units were approved, increasing the Region's housing stock by 63 (Graph 6.0) which is lower than the November 2023 numbers of 51 new dwellings and 22 new units in the previous month. The number of units approved in December 2023 is slightly higher than for November 2023. The 36 new houses approved indicate a lower lot consumption compared to new lots released. The number of detached dwelling approvals and unit approvals are lower than the November 2023 approvals.
At the end of December 2023, there were 289 planning related applications and 123 building/plumbing related applications not yet decided and at various stages within the assessment process. Several of the planning related applications are requests for negotiated decision notices and for extensions to relevant period.
Building approval numbers have been fluctuating for the last 12 months. Overall, there is a declining trendline for approval numbers, and an increasing trendline for construction values for the last 24 months (Graph 11.0). The graph also shows that approval numbers are lower compared to the previous month.
The combined value of approved building applications during the month of December 2023 achieved $43,917,000 for the whole region (Graph 11.0 and 15.0) which is a decrease on the $47,265,000 achieved in November 2023.
Decision making periods for the month of December 2023 show that of the decisions made, 106, or 85%, were decided within the relevant decision timeframe, as determined by either the Planning Act 2016, Building Act 1975 or Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018. The average decision-making period for survey plan sealing was 4.8 days.
[1] Development applications received and approved as referred to in the Executive Summary include: Material Change of Use (MCU), Reconfiguring a Lot (RAL), Operational Works (OW), Plan Sealing, Planning Scheme Works, Environmentally Relevant Activities (ERAs), Plumbing and Drainage, Building Regulatory Siting/Discretion, miscellaneous building and plumbing applications and requests for modifications.
Development Assessment Approval Statistics 2024-2025 (PDF)
Quarterly Planning Statistics - October 2023 to December 2023 (PDF)
Master Builders Queensland - Reports and Statistics
