Two Clarence Valley Council projects aimed at boosting housing supply and speeding up development approvals have been named finalists in the 2026 Planning Institute of Australia Awards for Planning Excellence.
The nominations recognise Council’s efforts to make it easier to build new homes while planning for the region’s growing population.
Council’s Accelerated Development Application Service has been shortlisted in the Performance and Innovation in Development category, while the Clarenza Urban Release Area Structure Plan and Development Control Plan is a finalist in the Strategic Planning Project category.
Acting general manager Adam Cameron said both initiatives were helping address the region’s housing challenges.
“There isn’t one simple solution to housing. We need to make it easier to deliver homes that are ready to be built today, while planning carefully for the communities we’ll need in the decades ahead.
“These two projects demonstrate the practical work Council is doing at both ends of that challenge.
“It’s fantastic to see the innovation and expertise of our staff, and the work we’re doing with our partners, being put forward for recognition at a state-level.”
Introduced in July 2024, the Accelerated Development Application Service has reduced approval times for eligible applications to an average of eight to nine days, well below Council’s 20-day target.
The service prioritises straightforward, fully compliant applications, allowing suitable developments to progress more quickly while complex proposals continue through the standard assessment process.
Developed using existing Council resources, the initiative has not required additional funding or fees for applicants and ratepayers.
Its success prompted an expansion in February 2026 to include construction certificates, minor modifications, subdivision certificates and selected rural developments.
Meanwhile, plans for approximately 1,000 new homes at Clarenza, near Grafton, are also gaining recognition.
Developed in partnership with De Groot and Benson, the Clarenza Urban Release Area Structure Plan and Development Control Plan provides a framework for a future community of around 3,000 residents on flood-free land.
The project aims to overcome infrastructure and servicing challenges that have restricted development since the area was rezoned in 2009.
Supported by funding from the NSW Government’s Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund, the planning work addresses road access, water infrastructure and the staged delivery of housing.
The development framework also includes two future village hubs, pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods and measures to protect existing vegetation and natural drainage corridors.
Council says the plans will provide greater certainty for developers and landowners while supporting sustainable housing growth across the Clarence Valley.
Both projects are finalists in the 2026 state planning awards.
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