Project Radar — every Western Sydney DA, tagged for tradies.
A free weekly feed of Development Applications lodged with Western Sydney councils. See exactly where new builds, renos, pools and commercial jobs are landing — weeks before your competition quotes.
Project Radar is a free weekly tracker of Development Applications lodged with Western Sydney councils — pulling live data from Penrith, Blacktown, Liverpool and Camden — built for local tradies who want to quote work before it reaches the open market. Every Monday, Project Radar pulls real DA data from PlanningAlerts and tags each application with the trades likely to be needed: builder, electrician, plumber, tiler, painter, plasterer, landscaper, fencer or concreter.
A DA is lodged with the council weeks or months before the first trade arrives on site — making it the earliest possible signal of upcoming work. Filter the live feed below by your trade, scan the hot suburbs, or subscribe to free weekly email alerts.
What we're seeing this week.
The 60-second editorial: where the volume sits, what the standout projects are, and which trades should be making calls right now.
Blacktown had its biggest single day of the month. A 30+ application batch landed across Rouse Hill, Melonba, Grantham Farm and Riverstone, dominated by new dwellings, vehicular crossings and driveways. The crossing/driveway volume is the tell — those usually lodge after the main build DA, meaning these sites are weeks from breaking ground. If you're a concreter, fencer or landscaper, the Blacktown North West corridor is the sharpest signal in the dataset right now.
The marquee project remains Civic Place, Liverpool — a 17-storey mixed commercial tower paired with an 8-storey co-living building, sharing a three-level basement. That's a multi-year pipeline for every trade, and it sits alongside two fresh Austral subdivisions (a 30-lot at 205 Fifth Avenue and a 28-lot at 305 Thirteenth Avenue) plus a 6-lot LRHDC subdivision at 35 Longstaff Avenue, Chipping Norton. Austral is still the densest single-suburb pipeline we track.
Camden's Leppington corridor is the surprise this fortnight. A 48-home exhibition village at 15 George Road, Leppington has been lodged — that's 48 display homes plus a sales office and car park, all to be built in a single phase. Add the 3 Cross Street Doonside S4.55 (11 retail premises + 21 extra basement carparks + mezzanines) and there's serious commercial fit-out work landing in late 2026. Penrith stayed quiet — the 84 Links Road, St Marys $11M warehouse modification is still the LGA's biggest active commercial signal.
Three DAs worth picking up the phone over.
Each of these creates either an unusually long pipeline, an unusually large pipeline, or an unusually fast one. All trade-relevant.
17-storey mixed-use tower + 8-storey co-living building
A 17-storey commercial tower paired with an 8-storey co-living accommodation building, sharing a three-level basement. Formwork, structural concrete, full electrical and hydraulic packages, fitout for every floor. The single biggest construction pipeline lodged in Western Sydney this quarter.
48-home exhibition village + 2 display homes
Establishment of an exhibition village comprising 48 exhibition homes, sales office, car park, signage and landscaping. 48 builds in one phase from project-home volume builders — the densest single-site residential pipeline on the radar.
S4.55 mod — 11 retail premises + 21 extra basement spaces
Section 4.55(2) modification to approved 11-retail-premise development, adding two mezzanine tenancies, extending the basement for 21 extra carparks (97 total), and façade/signage changes. The 4.55 means construction is imminent. Heavy fit-out work for finishing trades.
Current DA approvals across Western Sydney.
Filter by trade. Showing real applications lodged in the last 30 days. Source: PlanningAlerts.
205 Fifth Avenue, Austral NSW 2179
30-lot Torrens Title subdivision. Civil works, internal roads, drainage, then long-tail new-dwelling pipeline. Major opportunity for early-stage trades.
305 Thirteenth Avenue, Austral NSW 2179
28-lot Torrens Title subdivision. Sister project to 205 Fifth Avenue — same week, same area, same pipeline of follow-on dwelling DAs.
35 Longstaff Avenue, Chipping Norton NSW 2170
6-lot Torrens Title subdivision under the Low Rise Housing Diversity Code (LRHDC). Smaller infill project, tighter timeline than greenfield work.
25 Macquarie Road, Rouse Hill NSW 2155
Torrens Title subdivision in the North West Growth Area corridor. Follow-on new build DAs likely within 6–9 months.
84 Links Road, St Marys NSW 2760
Section 4.55(1a) modification to an approved $11M warehouse — adjusting the stormwater management system. The 4.55 typically signals construction is imminent.
105 McAlister Parade, Marsden Park NSW 2765
Double-storey dwelling + in-ground swimming pool with spa. Two-trade-bundle in one DA — house build plus pool fit-out, pool fencing and concrete surrounds.
49 Orion Road, Austral NSW 2179
Two-storey dwelling with retaining walls. New build in the South West Growth Area — full trade list from slab through to handover.
110 Gulgong Crescent, Rouse Hill NSW 2155
Construction of a double-storey dwelling. NWGA new build — typical full-trade engagement for project-home spec.
15 Malmsbury Street, Grantham Farm NSW 2765
Single-storey dwelling with attached double garage and a detached secondary dwelling. House + granny flat combo on a new estate lot — extended pipeline for finishing trades.
38 Duncan Street, Leppington NSW 2179
Construction of a two-storey dwelling with detached garage and associated site works. Part of the heavy Leppington pipeline driving Camden volume.
28 Hirsch Street, Leppington NSW 2179
Two-storey dwelling with associated site works. Another Leppington corridor lot — full trade list.
50 Burnham Road, Gledswood Hills NSW 2557
Two-storey dwelling, swimming pool and associated site works. Premium estate lot — house + pool combo with full trade engagement.
244 Cornelia Road, Toongabbie NSW 2146
Two-storey dwelling. Established suburb infill — clean opportunity for trades servicing the Blacktown North corridor.
19 Burke Street, Oran Park NSW 2570
Construction of 2 x double-storey dwellings with two-lot subdivision and associated site works. Demolition + 2 builds + subdivision in one project.
47 Toomey Crescent, Quakers Hill NSW 2763
In-ground fibreglass swimming pool with associated safety barrier and low-level retaining walls. Pool fencing + electrical + concrete surrounds.
16–26 Geebung Close, Agnes Banks NSW 2753
New fibreglass swimming pool with wader entry and attached spa. Premium acreage installation — pool fencing, electrical and landscape works.
6 Chippenham Street, Chipping Norton NSW 2170
In-ground concrete pool. Pool fencing, electrical connection, paving and landscaping all required. Tilers may be needed for surrounds and waterline.
4 Scully Place, Mount Annan NSW 2567
In-ground fibreglass pool. Standard residential install — fencing, electrical and surround works to follow.
42–48 Kenmare Road, Londonderry NSW 2753
Alterations and additions to an existing residence, outdoor entertaining area, and a new 3-car garage. Substantial reno scope across all trades.
71 Great Western Highway, Emu Plains NSW 2750
First-floor fitout for a beauty salon, pilates studio and cafe. Triple-fitout commercial conversion — full trade engagement on cosmetic and services scope.
13 Cressbrook Drive, Wattle Grove NSW 2173
Backfilling existing pool, removing metal awning, and constructing a detached secondary dwelling. Demolition + new build combination.
8 Villiers Place, Oxley Park NSW 2760
Demolition of existing structures and construction of an attached dual occupancy with strata subdivision. Demolition + two new dwellings.
Hottest Western Sydney suburbs this month.
Ranked by total DA count over the past 30 days across active council feeds. Work is stacking up fastest in these postcodes.
Each trade, mapped to its hottest suburbs.
If you're a [trade] in Western Sydney right now, this is where you should be making calls. Updated monthly.
| Trade | Hottest suburbs (May 2026) | Volume | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builders / Carpenters | Austral, Leppington, Rouse Hill, Melonba, Grantham Farm — chase volume new-build pipelines | High | 2–6 mo |
| Electricians | Every active suburb — every new build needs you. Watch Civic Place Liverpool and 3 Cross St Doonside for major commercial. | Very high | 3–6 mo |
| Plumbers | Penrith demand strongest in St Marys, Erskine Park, Glenmore Park. Camden + Liverpool growth corridors drive volume residential. | High | 3–6 mo |
| Concreters | Subdivisions in Austral, Chipping Norton, Rouse Hill drive civil concrete; pools in Chipping Norton, Quakers Hill, Mount Annan, Agnes Banks for residential. | Very high | 1–4 mo |
| Tilers | Follow new builds: Austral, Leppington, Melonba, Grantham Farm. Plus reno fitouts at Castlereagh St Penrith and Great Western Hwy Emu Plains. | High | 4–8 mo |
| Painters | Late-stage new builds across all hot suburbs; commercial fitouts at Emu Plains, Penrith CBD and Doonside retail centre. | High | 5–10 mo |
| Landscapers | Acreage suburbs (Agnes Banks, Wallacia, Mount Vernon) and pool DAs in Chipping Norton, Quakers Hill, Mount Annan. | Medium | 6–12 mo |
| Fencers | Subdivisions in Austral, Chipping Norton, Rouse Hill (boundary fencing); every pool DA needs pool fencing. | Medium-high | 2–6 mo |
| Plasterers | Mid-stage new builds in volume suburbs; commercial fitout at Civic Place Liverpool and Doonside retail when they break ground. | High | 4–8 mo |
Three steps from public record to tradie pipeline.
Councils publish DAs.
Every new home, reno, pool, shed and commercial build needs a Development Application lodged with the local council. We pull them from the public record every Monday.
We tag the trades.
A new home means work for electricians, plumbers, plasterers and painters. A pool means fencing and concreting. We tag each DA to the trades that will be needed.
You quote first.
Sign up for free weekly alerts filtered to your trade and suburb. Know where the work is stacking up. Quote early. Win more jobs at better margins.
The DA glossary every tradie should know.
Quick definitions of the planning terms that show up in DA listings, and what each one means for trade work.
The standard council approval pathway for new construction, additions, demolitions, subdivisions and use changes. Every DA is a public record. Lead time to site works is typically 2–6 months.
A faster approval pathway for projects that meet pre-set NSW planning rules — often issued by a private certifier rather than the council. Common for project-home new builds and granny flats. Site works usually start within 1–3 months.
A modification to an existing approved DA — formerly called a Section 96. When you see a 4.55 lodged, the underlying project is usually about to break ground or already underway. Best for finishing trades.
Splitting a single block into separate, fully independent titled lots. Each lot becomes its own buildable parcel. A 30-lot Torrens subdivision means 30 future new-build DAs to follow over 12–18 months.
Splitting a building into separate units (apartments, townhouses, dual occs) sharing common property. Strata is the structure used for most attached dual occupancies and apartment buildings.
The legal term for a granny flat — a self-contained dwelling on the same lot as the main house. Maximum 60sqm in NSW. Full plumbing, electrical, tiling and painting required.
The NSW Government's designated greenfield zone covering Austral, Leppington, Edmondson Park and surrounds. Highest greenfield DA volume in Western Sydney as of 2026.
A NSW state-wide planning code that allows dual occupancies, manor houses, terraces and townhouses on suitable lots as complying development. Drives infill subdivision activity in established suburbs like Chipping Norton.
Frequently asked questions.
Quick answers for tradies, homeowners, and anyone tracking Western Sydney construction.
What is Project Radar?
Project Radar is a free weekly tracker of Development Applications (DAs) lodged with Western Sydney councils. It shows new home builds, renovations, pools and commercial projects by suburb, and tags each one with the trades likely to be needed. Data is sourced from planningalerts.org.au and refreshed every Monday morning.
Which councils does Project Radar cover?
Four actively-scraped Western Sydney council feeds: Penrith, Blacktown, Liverpool and Camden. Campbelltown and Fairfield are within the PlanningAlerts coverage area but their public scrapers are currently intermittent, so DAs from those councils appear only when fresh data is available.
How can a tradie find leads from DAs in Western Sydney?
A DA is lodged before construction begins, so it signals upcoming work weeks or months ahead of tools hitting site. Filter the live feed above by your trade — builders, electricians, plumbers, concreters, tilers, painters, landscapers, fencers, plasterers — note the suburbs stacking up, and approach the owner-builder, builder or certifier directly. Or subscribe to free weekly alerts filtered to your trade and postcode.
What's the difference between a DA, CDC and a Section 4.55 modification?
A Development Application (DA) is the standard council approval. A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is a faster pathway often issued by a private certifier. A Section 4.55 is a modification to an already-approved DA. For tradies, all three signal upcoming work — but DAs and CDCs typically mean a longer lead time, while a 4.55 often means construction is about to start or already has.
How early should I reach out about a DA?
For new dwellings and renovations, the sweet spot is once the DA is approved or in late assessment — typically 2 to 6 months before site works begin. For subdivisions and commercial projects, reach out earlier (at lodgement) because lead times can stretch 6 to 18 months. For Section 4.55 modifications and CDCs, it's usually too late for early-stage trades like concreters but still in time for finishing trades like tilers, painters and electricians.
How often is the data updated?
Weekly. Project Radar refreshes every Monday morning with DAs lodged in the previous 7 days. Historical DAs stay visible for 30 days, then rotate out.
Which Western Sydney suburbs are approving the most DAs in May 2026?
As of mid-May 2026: Austral (Liverpool LGA) leads at 51 DAs in the past month, followed by Leppington (Camden LGA, including a 48-home exhibition village), Rouse Hill and Melonba (both Blacktown LGA), and a new entrant — Grantham Farm (Blacktown LGA), a recently-released estate north of Riverstone. Then Oran Park (Camden LGA), Chipping Norton (Liverpool LGA), Riverstone (Blacktown LGA), Gledswood Hills (Camden LGA) and St Marys (Penrith LGA). These suburbs sit inside the South West Growth Area, North West Growth Area, and adjacent infill corridors.
Does a DA guarantee construction will happen?
No. A DA is an application, not a guarantee. Some are refused, withdrawn or sit dormant. Always verify a lead directly with the applicant or council before quoting. Project Radar marks DA status (lodged, under assessment, approved) where council data makes it available.
Is Project Radar free?
Yes. Free forever, no account required to view the feed. Free weekly email alerts filter DAs by your trade and suburb area — unsubscribe anytime.
How we curate the feed.
Project Radar is published by Western Sydney Trades. We sit on top of public DA data and add the layer that makes it useful for tradies.
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Source: PlanningAlerts All DAs come directly from planningalerts.org.au, an OpenAustralia Foundation public service that aggregates council DA data daily.
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Refresh: Mondays, 6 AM AEST The feed is refreshed every Monday with the previous 7 days of DAs. Volume counts use a rolling 30-day window.
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4 active council feeds Penrith, Blacktown, Liverpool and Camden are scraped daily and provide reliable real-time data. Campbelltown and Fairfield are within the PlanningAlerts coverage area but their public scrapers are currently intermittent, so we surface those DAs only when fresh data is available.
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Trade tagging is editorial We read each DA and apply trade tags based on the work described. A new home is tagged for all major trades; a pool DA is tagged for concreters, fencers and electricians.
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No sponsored placements DAs are listed by recency and significance. No applicant or builder pays to be featured. Standout projects are selected by our editor based on scale and trade impact.
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Verify before quoting A DA is an application, not a guarantee. We recommend confirming each lead directly with the applicant or certifier before pricing work.
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Editor accountable Project Radar is edited by Western Sydney Trades, a Penrith-based local directory. Errors? Email hello@westernsydneytrades.com.au.
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