There were 58 development applications approved in Dubbo during September, but despite approvals remaining lower than last year, Dubbo Regional Council is not concerned.
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The number of developments approved in September 2015 was 74, 16 less than the same time period this year.
The total value of the applications also decreased from more than $16 million in September 2015, to $9.6 million last month.
For the first quarter of the financial year, Dubbo Regional Council gave 198 developments the go-ahead, however there were 234 approvals for the same three months last year.
Council manager environmental services Melissa Watkins said one of the reasons for the difference in figures was due to the number of significant commercial developments last year.
However, while there had been a decline from last year, Ms Watkins said the figures for the three months remained steady.
“I think that that is more to do with the weather and the delay of building activity in the city,” Ms Watkins said.
“Traditionally we see an upsurge around November December as developers are wanting to get their applications lodged and determined prior to the Christmas period so they can actually develop a program of work for the next year.
“There’s also been an impact from the merger of the two councils with workloads having to be spread across a larger area.”
Despite that, there was still a very positive outlook, Ms Watkins said.
“I don’t think there’s anything at this point to worry about I just think it’s a change in the market that will be rectified within the next three months,” she said.
Of the applications given the green light in September, 22 were for single dwellings, 18 were for garages or carports and five were for duel occupancy dwellings.
There were also two applications approved for retail buildings worth a combined $180,000, and another two for warehouses with a value of $1.4 million.
Council also approved nine developments in Wellington with a combined value of $418,000.