Developer briefs

NSW council planning evidence

Cessnock City Council DA tracker & development applications

7,577 development applications since 2019, proposing 11,733 new homes. A decision takes 39 days at the median.

7,577Applications
11,733Homes proposed
39 daysMedian decision time
$186kMedian cost of works
1.8%Refused, of 6,527 decided

Two registers, side by side

What is proposed here versus what is approved. These are separate government registers that nobody publishes together: the NSW Planning Portal records what people apply to build, the ABS records what is actually approved. Over the last 12 months the ABS recorded 886 dwellings approved in Cessnock City Council worth $345M. The application pipeline is running at about 2.01× that rate. Substantially more is being proposed than approved.

Applications lodged by year

Applications lodged by year06161.2k2019: applications 1162020: applications 1,0172021: applications 1,2252022: applications 1,2322023: applications 9952024: applications 9092025: applications 9642026: applications 52320192021202320252026
applications · 2019 to 2026. Select a year to see the applications lodged in that period. Lodgements are applications, not approvals or completed homes. The most recent year may be incomplete; coverage follows this council’s NSW feed.
Applications lodged by year — underlying values
Period or categoryapplications
2019applications 116
2020applications 1,017
2021applications 1,225
2022applications 1,232
2023applications 995
2024applications 909
2025applications 964
2026applications 523 (partial period)

Source: NSW Planning Portal Online DA · Source snapshot: 2026-08-22.

Types of work proposed

Type of workApplications
Erection of a new structure2,142
Dwelling1,572
Shed1,262
Dwelling house1,067
Garages, carports and car parking spaces502
Secondary dwelling467
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure409
Other397

Heritage

273 heritage-listed items, 5 on the State Heritage Register — see them all. A listing restricts what can be altered or demolished.

Latest development applications

AddressWhatLodgedStatus
153 Eglinford Lane Congewai 2325Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah21 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
69 Vulture Street Ellalong 2325Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
4 Craftsman Road North Rothbury 2335Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
47 Merion Circuit Heddon Greta 2321Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support20 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
12 Cassidy Crescent North Rothbury 2335Shed; Erection of a new structure20 Aug 2026Under Assessment
1 Northcote Avenue Paxton 2325Shed; Erection of a new structure20 Aug 2026Under Assessment
11 Cappella Street North Rothbury Nsw 2335Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
13 Cappella Street North Rothbury Nsw 2335Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
17 Majesty Street Bellbird 2325Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)19 Aug 2026Under Assessment
33 Frame Drive Abermain 2326Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
25 Comfort Avenue Cessnock 2325Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)19 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
647 Lake Road Richmond Vale 2323Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
4 Spire Road North Rothbury Nsw 2335Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
162 Aberdare Road Aberdare 2325Shed; Erection of a new structure19 Aug 2026Under Assessment
245-251 Lang Street Kurri Kurri 2327Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation facility (indoor)18 Aug 2026Under Assessment
9 Union Way North RothburyDwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
34 Government Road Cessnock 2325Subdivision18 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
69 Abernethy Street Kitchener 2325Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation18 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
51 Anstey Street Cessnock 2325Erection of a new structure; Carport18 Aug 2026Additional Information Requested
Lot 518 Dp 1289940 17 Masonry Drive North RothburyDwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 Aug 2026Under Assessment

All 7,577 applications →

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New applications as they are lodged, without visiting: RSS · JSON Feed. Both update when the nightly refresh runs.

What this council page tells you

Use the evidence in context. Applications show what has been proposed, not what has been approved or built. The figures above bring the NSW Planning Portal application feed together with the ABS approvals register and heritage data where a reliable council match exists.

Evidence boundary

Evidence found7,577 applications since 2019; 11,733 proposed homes; 886 dwellings approved in the current ABS comparison period.
Source coverageNSW Planning Portal Online DA, with ABS Building Approvals and NSW heritage registers where matched. Application data checked through 22 Aug 2026.
What this meansThis is the complete evidence currently loaded for this named council from the stated source universe.
What this does not meanZero or missing values do not prove no activity outside those sources. An application is not an approval or a completed project, and the NSW feed does not publish applicant, owner, architect or developer identity.

Applications: NSW Planning Portal Online DA API (CC-BY). Approvals: ABS Building Approvals by LGA (CC-BY 4.0). Decision time is measured from lodgement to determination on the 6,445 applications carrying both dates. Cost of works is the applicant's own estimate.