Strong developer interest in Bathurst set to continue in 2022

Despite the pandemic, Bathurst Regional Council saw a significant increase in development applications (DA) in 2020, and that trend continued throughout 2021.

While council has yet to do a detailed analysis of development and approval data, director of Environmental, Planning and Building Services Neil Southorn said there is no evidence to indicate that lodgment will slow in the new year.

"The number of development applications continues to be strong," he said.

"This continues the trend that seemed to coincide with COVID restrictions, but there are no signs of the trend slowing."

READ ALSO: Bathurst council's development application numbers largely unchanged in COVID-19 times

During the pandemic, council introduced stimulus measures to address some of the financial impacts brought about by lockdowns and restrictions.

Among those measures were a several that related to developers and DAs, which were introduced in April 2020 and applicable for the 2020-21 financial year.

They included a 50 per cent reduction to development application fees, development application modification fees, subdivision application fees, development application subdivision release fees, development application advertising fees, Section 68 approvals fees, and Section 68 approval to operate fees.

Council chose not to continue those measures into the 2021-22 financial year, but that does not appear to have affected DA numbers.

"The final analysis for the second half of the year is not yet complete, but the weekly count of development applications remains high, suggesting the stimulus measures were welcome but not essential to development activity," Mr Southorn said.

Some significant DAs were lodged in the second half of 2021.

Among them were plans for an 11-lot commercial subdivision and extension of Corporation Avenue, a $929,500 sex services premises in Kirkcaldy Street, a $780,000 plan to increase Woolworths' "direct to boot" grocery pick-up services in the Bathurst City Centre, and a $15m medicinal cannabis facility north of Bathurst.

READ MORE: Plans for medicinal cannabis facility lodged with Bathurst council

Mr Southorn expects developer interest to remain consistent, with some more exciting projects likely on the horizon for 2022.

"There has been no apparent slowdown in development activity, whether that be applications or inspections. Further, the level of pre-lodgement discussions continues at a high level," he said.

"There are also some high profile projects that have not yet become formal applications, such as the Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre and the CSU-IBM Innovation Centre, which are expected to attract further investment interest.

"Another indicator is the strong demand for land, consistent with strong population growth. Regional infrastructure projects such as the Great Western Highway upgrade will assist position Bathurst as a premier destination for regional investment."

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