Skip to content Know Your Council

Surf Coast Shire

Profile Performance
Performance Summary
    Download

    Statutory Planning

    Provision of land use and development assessment services to applicants and the community including advice and determination of applications

    Time taken to decide planning applications

    Median number of days taken between receipt of a planning application and a decision on the application

    Surf Coast Shire (2019-2020)

    76 days

    Similar Councils (2019-2020)

    61.66 days

    All Councils (2019-2020)

    65.41 days

    Performance Trend

    Table view Graph view
    Reporting Period Surf Coast Shire Similar Councils All Councils
    2016-2017 48 days 59.88 days 72.54 days
    2017-2018 48 days 56.79 days 69.69 days
    2018-2019 63 days 62.24 days 69.6 days
    2019-2020 76 days 61.66 days 65.41 days

    Surf Coast Shire Council Says...

    There were a number of large complex applications in the year that took longer to process and pushed out the median number of days taken to decide planning permits.

    Planning applications decided within required time frames

    Percentage of VicSmart planning application decisions made within 10 days and regular planning application decisions made within 60 days

    Surf Coast Shire (2019-2020)

    80.88%

    Similar Councils (2019-2020)

    77.58%

    All Councils (2019-2020)

    73.97%

    Performance Trend

    Table view Graph view
    Reporting Period Surf Coast Shire Similar Councils All Councils
    2016-2017 71.02% 76.73% 70.06%
    2017-2018 78.73% 75.63% 69.63%
    2018-2019 83.93% 77.78% 70.17%
    2019-2020 80.88% 77.58% 73.97%

    Surf Coast Shire Council Says...

    The improvement in service performance is due to IT system improvements, allocation of resources and training provided over a 5 year period as part of a Planning Customer Service Program.

    Cost of statutory planning service per planning application

    Direct cost to council of the statutory planning service per planning application received

    Surf Coast Shire (2019-2020)

    $2,716.98

    Similar Councils (2019-2020)

    $2,253.70

    All Councils (2019-2020)

    $2,645.65

    Performance Trend

    Table view Graph view
    Reporting Period Surf Coast Shire Similar Councils All Councils
    2016-2017 $1,141.63 $2,211.57 $2,311.71
    2017-2018 $1,480.98 $2,097.80 $2,459.07
    2018-2019 $2,909.65 $2,255.93 $2,615.43
    2019-2020 $2,716.98 $2,253.70 $2,645.65

    Surf Coast Shire Council Says...

    The decrease is driven by a reduction in overall expenses in the Statutory Planning department of $40k, mainly attributed to a $30k reduction in legal fees. Total planning permit applications increased from 532 to 573.

    Council planning decisions upheld at VCAT

    Percentage of council planning application decisions subject to review by VCAT that were not set aside

    Surf Coast Shire (2019-2020)

    80.00%

    Similar Councils (2019-2020)

    60.43%

    All Councils (2019-2020)

    50.61%

    Performance Trend

    Table view Graph view
    Reporting Period Surf Coast Shire Similar Councils All Councils
    2016-2017 80.95% 66.30% 58.73%
    2017-2018 50.00% 65.41% 61.19%
    2018-2019 46.15% 49.83% 52.64%
    2019-2020 80.00% 60.43% 50.61%

    Surf Coast Shire Council Says...

    During 2019-20 Council received a total of 573 planning applications. Of these 10 matters were referred to VCAT for review. This is the lowest number over the last four years, however the impact of COVID restrictions saw a number of matters deferred by VCAT until after the reporting period. Due to the variable nature of matters it is difficult to use percentages reported as a reflection of Council's performance.
    Download