Calderwood
30 DAs lodged · last 90 daysMarket Intelligence
DAs Lodged
30↑
past 90 days · NSW Planning Portal
Professionals
—
covering this suburb
Median Project Value
$575,161
DAs lodged, past 90 days
Median Approval Time
24 days
approved DAs, last 12 months
As of 14 July 2026, Calderwood recorded 30 — Development applications lodged in Calderwood in the past 90 days (NSW Planning Portal)
As of 14 July 2026, Calderwood recorded $575,161 — Median estimated cost of development for DAs lodged in Calderwood in the past 90 days (NSW Planning Portal)
As of 14 July 2026, Calderwood recorded 24 days — Median lodgement-to-determination time for approved DAs in Calderwood, last 12 months (NSW Planning Portal)
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Professionals in Calderwood
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Recent Development Applications
Total dev. value
$63,161,778
Development types
Source
NSW Planning Portal
PAN-654459
18 EAGLE STREET CALDERWOOD 2527
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
$799,355
1 new dwelling
PAN-653826
Modification Application32 Excelsior Drive, Calderwood NSW 2527
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
$456,300
1 new dwelling
via Council
PAN-650752
129 NORTH MACQUARIE ROAD CALDERWOOD 2527
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
$1,231,183
1 new dwelling
PAN-648624
Modification Application128 NORTH MACQUARIE ROAD CALDERWOOD 2527
Subdivision
$56,026,416
PAN-649666
Modification Application27 DOLLY CIRCUIT CALDERWOOD 2527
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
$36,725
PAN-650390
38 BRISTLEBIRD DRIVE CALDERWOOD 2527
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
$941,170
2-storey · 1 new dwelling
PAN-651258
59 CONNECTION ROAD CALDERWOOD 2527
Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
$1,287,185
2-storey · 1 new dwelling
PAN-649621
1 Escarpment Drive Calderwood NSW 2527
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
$1,392,586
1 new dwelling
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30 development applications are active in Calderwood right now.
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Guides for Calderwood
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Browse all pros →You are building or renovating in Calderwood, one of the Illawarra's fastest-growing master-planned estates, and finding builders in Calderwood who genuinely understand the Valley's slope conditions, design covenants, and Shellharbour City Council approval pathway is the difference between a smooth project and a costly one.
Calderwood Development Activity: What Is Being Built Right Now
Calderwood Valley is in active land release, with new residential stages progressively opening across the escarpment foothills. The dominant development types lodged with Shellharbour City Council across this LGA include new single dwellings on greenfield lots, secondary dwellings (granny flats), dual occupancies, and medium-density townhouse clusters aligned with the Calderwood Valley masterplan. Estate infrastructure, roads, drainage, open space embellishments, also generates a consistent volume of civil applications that affect construction access and trade scheduling across the suburb.
Note: Suburb-level DA volume and median project value figures for Calderwood are not available in the current data set. Subscribe to free DA alerts below to receive live Shellharbour City Council lodgement data as it is published on the NSW Planning Portal.
Cost to Build in Calderwood: What the Numbers Mean on Your Block
Indicative build rates for custom residential construction in the Illawarra region currently range from $2,800 to $3,800 per square metre (ABS-attributed indicative data, 2024). These figures represent finished construction and do not include land, landscaping, or council fees.
In Calderwood specifically, three cost drivers consistently push projects toward, and beyond, the upper bound of that range:
- Slope and ground conditions: Calderwood sits at the foot of the Illawarra Escarpment. Many lots carry gradients that make standard slab-on-ground construction unsuitable, requiring piered or suspended slabs at materially higher cost. Always obtain a geotechnical report before finalising your contract price.
- Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings: Proximity to bushland means many Calderwood lots carry BAL-12.5 or higher ratings. BAL-rated construction mandates specific glazing, sarking, eaves treatments, and ember-resistant materials, all of which add to the base build cost.
- Calderwood Valley design guidelines: The estate's developer imposes architectural covenants governing façade materials, roof pitch, and front setbacks. Non-compliant designs require amendment, which adds time and cost if not addressed at concept stage.
Use the build cost calculator for an indicative project estimate, and check current material prices for the Illawarra region.
DA Approvals in Calderwood: Shellharbour City Council Process
All development applications for Calderwood lots are assessed by Shellharbour City Council. The council's statutory determination window for residential DAs typically falls between 60 and 120 days (Shellharbour City Council residential DA processing range, 2024), with straightforward complying development certificates processed faster through a private certifier.
What Slows Approval in This LGA
- Bushfire assessment referrals: Applications on BAL-rated land must be referred to the NSW Rural Fire Service, which adds weeks to the determination clock outside the council's control.
- Biodiversity and riparian buffers: Lots abutting the escarpment vegetation corridors may trigger Biodiversity Development Assessment Report requirements.
- Infrastructure contribution calculations: Shellharbour applies Section 7.11 contributions to new dwellings. Disputes or recalculations during assessment pause the clock.
- Incomplete submissions: Missing geotechnical reports, BASIX certificates, or shadow diagrams are the most common cause of requests for information (RFIs) that extend determination time in this LGA.
Read the DA process guides for a step-by-step walkthrough of lodging through the NSW Planning Portal for Shellharbour City Council projects.
Calderwood: Project Types, Indicative Costs & Approval Timeframes
| Project Type | Indicative Cost Range | Indicative Approval Pathway | Indicative Determination Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New custom dwelling (flat lot) | $2,800-$3,400/m² (indicative, ABS-attributed 2024) | DA, Shellharbour City Council | 60-90 days |
| New custom dwelling (sloped/piered lot) | $3,200-$3,800+/m² (indicative, ABS-attributed 2024) | DA, Shellharbour City Council | 75-120 days |
| Secondary dwelling (granny flat) | $180,000-$320,000 (indicative, project-dependent) | Complying Development Certificate or DA | 10-30 days (CDC) / 60-90 days (DA) |
| Home extension / renovation | $2,500-$3,500/m² extended area (indicative) | Exempt, CDC, or DA depending on scale | Exempt: nil / CDC: 10-20 days / DA: 60-120 days |
| Dual occupancy | $600,000-$1,200,000+ (indicative, site-dependent) | DA, Shellharbour City Council | 90-120 days |
All cost figures are indicative only. ABS-attributed Illawarra regional data, 2024. Approval times reflect Shellharbour City Council residential processing ranges (research context, 2024). Obtain formal quotes and check current council fees before budgeting.
Calderwood in Context: The Broader Shellharbour Growth Corridor
Calderwood sits within a fast-expanding corridor that includes Shell Cove to the east (marina precinct driving premium coastal builds), Tullimbar to the north (established greenfield lots with similar slope challenges), Albion Park to the west (older housing stock generating strong renovation and extension demand), and Oak Flats to the north-east (infill residential and dual occupancy activity). Builders covering Calderwood typically service this full corridor, giving you access to trades and project managers familiar with Shellharbour City Council's controls across all these precincts.
Finding Builders and Renovation Specialists Covering Calderwood
Not every licensed builder in the Illawarra has experience with the specific requirements of a master-planned estate like Calderwood Valley. When shortlisting, confirm the builder:
- Holds a current NSW Fair Trading contractor licence for the work type
- Has completed projects within the Calderwood Valley estate or on comparable sloped Illawarra sites
- Can provide a fixed-price contract that explicitly schedules site preparation, piering (if required), and BAL compliance allowances
- Is familiar with the estate developer's design review process and covenant submission requirements
- Carries current home building compensation (HBC) insurance for contracts over $20,000
Browse licensed builders, architects, and certifiers who cover Calderwood in the professional directory.
Stay ahead of construction activity in your street: get free DA alerts for Calderwood and receive an email the moment a new development application is lodged with Shellharbour City Council near your property, useful whether you are a homeowner monitoring neighbourhood change, a tradesperson prospecting for work, or an investor tracking land release activity. Ready to build? Find builders and architects covering Calderwood in the directory.