Mr Sherley was responding to the latest housing approval figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which showed Bathurst had 250 new houses approved to be built in the 2016-17 financial year to the end of April.

That number was eclipsed, however, by North Orange alone, where 266 new homes were approved.

Mr Sherley said there was more land in the pipeline.

“Council has approved a 275-lot residential subdivision at Limekilns Road, Kelso and a further 180 residential lots at Windradyne/West Bathurst expected to be ready for sale by mid to late 2018,” he said.

Both subdivisions – Sunny Bright Estate at Kelso and Windradyne 1100 Estate – will be built on land owned by council, though council will contract the development out via a tender process.

Mr Sherley said private developers, as well as council, developed land in Bathurst, and its release depended on a number of factors, “including cost of developing the lots and planning - a regulatory process that needs to be complied with for both council and private developers”.

“The timing of the land release is dependent on the approval process for subdividing residential blocks, which is subject to meeting strict standards from several regulatory bodies and service providers so time frames will vary depending on approvals,” he said.

Orange City councillor Jeff Whitton said his council had sought to plan ahead to ensure there was sufficient land for housing developers.

“It’s about always staying ahead of the game, having a 25-year plan for development,” he said.

“It shows what we’re doing at the moment is working.”

​The ABS figures showed 142 homes were approved for Bathurst, 75 for the city’s east and 33 in Bathurst regional areas in the 10 months to the end of April for a total of 250.

There were 46 homes approved in Orange, 266 in North Orange and 31 in Orange regional areas for a total of 343.

The gap between the two cities narrowed considerably once units were included, however, with 90 units approved throughout Bathurst compared with 25 in Orange.

That gave Bathurst 347 houses and units approved (for a total value of almost $90 million) compared with Orange’s 368 (for a total value of around $95 million).

Lithgow had 89 new homes approved for the financial year to the end of April, Mudgee 21, Dubbo 220 Cowra 37 and Parkes 21.

Mr Sherley said Bathurst Regional Council approved 419 new dwellings and units last financial year.