Good news for Coasties planning a new build or renovation—getting consent is finally getting quicker.

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says consent and compliance delays have dropped noticeably since the Government started publishing council performance data last year.

And while the changes are nationwide, the impact will be felt right here on the Hibiscus Coast.

“One of the most common frustrations I’ve heard from tradies and aspiring homeowners is how long it takes to get the paperwork sorted,” Penk said.

In early 2025, 92.7% of building consents and 96.8% of code compliance certificates were processed within the statutory timeframe.

That’s a clear improvement from a year ago, when the figures sat at 88% and 93.6% respectively.

Nearly 32,000 consent-related applications were handled in just the first three months of this year—almost 1,000 more than during the same period in 2024.

The Government believes that public accountability is helping councils lift their game.

But it’s not stopping there.

Two big changes are on the way:

1. Trusted professionals may soon be able to self-certify their work, cutting down the number of consents needing council sign-off.
2. Councils will soon be required to inspect 80% of builds within three working days, helping reduce delays on-site.

Both changes are expected to take pressure off overwhelmed Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) and speed things up for everyone involved—from builders to homeowners.

For Coast-based builders and families trying to get into new homes faster, this is a welcome shift.

MBIE’s full quarterly data is available online, and new legislation enabling the self-certification scheme is expected by the end of 2025.

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