Recruitment to boost the council’s development assessment resources is planned early in the new year.

A report to go before the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council meeting on November 15 summarises development assessment, building certification and subdivision certification activities for the July to September 2017 quarter.

Application volumes continue to increase.

The monthly average number of development applications received for the quarter was 95.

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

A similar trend is evident with plumbing and drainage approvals.

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

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.

Meanwhile, 986 new land parcels, excluding strata lots, have been created in the Port Macquarie-Hastings in 2016-2017.

This compares to 270 in Tweed and 340 in Coffs Harbour during the same period. 

Other matters on the council meeting agenda include the 2016-2017 annual report, Town Square Port Macquarie planning proposal and the October 2017 investment report.

The meeting begins at 5.30pm on November 15 at the Burrawan Street council chambers.