Forster
37 DAs lodged · last 90 daysMarket Intelligence
DAs Lodged
37↑
past 90 days · NSW Planning Portal
Professionals
—
covering this suburb
Median Project Value
$104,000
DAs lodged, past 90 days
Median Approval Time
28 days
approved DAs, last 12 months
As of 14 July 2026, Forster recorded 37 — Development applications lodged in Forster in the past 90 days (NSW Planning Portal)
As of 14 July 2026, Forster recorded $104,000 — Median estimated cost of development for DAs lodged in Forster in the past 90 days (NSW Planning Portal)
As of 14 July 2026, Forster recorded 28 days — Median lodgement-to-determination time for approved DAs in Forster, last 12 months (NSW Planning Portal)
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Recent Development Applications
Total dev. value
$4,636,444
Development types
Source
NSW Planning Portal
PAN-653088
8 MARINE DRIVE FORSTER 2428
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
$94,519
PAN-652653
14 ROEBUCK KEY FORSTER 2428
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development
$104,000
PAN-652374
33 CHURCHILL ROAD FORSTER 2428
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
$34,250
PAN-651387
Modification Application23 TIMBERTOP AVENUE FORSTER 2428
Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
$935,000
PAN-651119
3 TUMBARUMBA WAY FORSTER 2428
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
$17,824
PAN-650288
16 BECKER ROAD FORSTER 2428
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
$84,300
PAN-649494
Modification Application34 SEAVIEW STREET FORSTER 2428
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
$2,800,000
2-storey · 1 new dwelling
via Council
PAN-646309
12 ROEBUCK KEY FORSTER 2428
Erection of a new structure; Jetty
$19,698
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37 development applications are active in Forster right now.
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Guides for Forster
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Browse all pros →You need a reliable builder in Forster, here is what local construction actually costs, how long Mid-Coast Council takes to approve your DA, and who is currently working in your area.
Forster Development Activity Snapshot
Forster sits within the Mid-Coast Council local government area, a council jurisdiction that covers the Great Lakes coastline from Tea Gardens in the south through Tuncurry and up toward Taree. Construction activity in the 2428 postcode reflects a community with 12,852 individual taxpayers (ATO, data as of 2022-23 tax year) and a median taxable income of $40,297 (ATO, 2022-23), a figure that shapes builder selection toward contractors who can deliver coastal-quality outcomes at controlled budgets.
The suburb's school infrastructure, Forster Public School (573 enrolments, ICSEA 934), Great Lakes College Forster Campus (478 enrolments, ICSEA 936) and Holy Name Primary School (345 enrolments, ICSEA 1014) (ACARA, 2023), signals a stable, family-oriented growth corridor where new dwellings, granny flats and coastal home extensions are the dominant project types lodged with Mid-Coast Council.
Dominant development types being built in and around Forster include single dwellings on infill lots, dual-occupancy conversions of older fibro housing stock, secondary dwellings (granny flats) under State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, coastal home extensions adding decks and upper-storey additions, and knockdown-rebuild projects on lots with ageing structures. Investors from Taree, Old Bar and the Hunter also lodge DAs for short-stay accommodation conversions, reflecting Forster's coastal tourism economy.
Note on project values: No median project value figure is available in the current PLDL data pack for Forster specifically; this claim is omitted in accordance with our data rules. Check the guides section for updated regional ABS building approval series data when published.
Cost to Build in Forster, What to Expect
Indicative only, source: ABS Building Activity (regional NSW series). These figures are not quotes. Commission a quantity surveyor or use the build cost calculator for project-specific estimates.
Building in Forster carries cost drivers that push construction budgets above generic regional NSW benchmarks. The key factors are:
- Coastal engineering requirements: Wind classifications (typically C or D under AS 4055) apply across much of the Forster-Tuncurry peninsula, requiring heavier structural framing, upgraded glazing and corrosion-resistant fixings, adding 8-15% to base structural costs compared with inland sites.
- Soil conditions: Coastal sandy soils and proximity to wetlands and lake systems mean site-specific geotechnical reports are routinely required by Mid-Coast Council before DA determination. Reactive or unstable substrate can lift slab and footing costs materially.
- Contractor mobilisation: While Forster has a local builder population, specialist trades (structural engineers, certifiers, waterproofing contractors) sometimes travel from Taree or Port Macquarie, adding margin to subcontract costs.
- Coastal-sensitive zone compliance: Properties within the Coastal Management Area as mapped under the Coastal Management Act 2016 require additional SEPP assessments, adding time and consultant fees to the pre-DA phase.
Indicative $/m² ranges for Forster (ABS regional NSW, indicative, see current material prices for inputs):
- Standard volume-builder single dwelling: $1,850-$2,400/m² GFA
- Custom or architect-designed coastal home: $2,600-$3,800/m² GFA
- Renovation or coastal home extension: $1,500-$2,800/m² depending on structural complexity
- Secondary dwelling (granny flat, complying development): $180,000-$280,000 turnkey, site dependent
These are indicative only. Actual costs vary with site conditions, finishes selection, contract type and timing. Always obtain minimum three builder quotes.
DA Approvals in Forster, Mid-Coast Council
All development applications for Forster properties are assessed by Mid-Coast Council under the Mid-Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 (Mid-Coast LEP 2022) and the Mid-Coast Development Control Plan. The council amalgamated the former Great Lakes, Gloucester and Greater Taree councils in 2016, and the planning framework has progressively consolidated since then.
Median determination days: No PLDL-verified median determination time figure is available for Mid-Coast Council in the current data pack; this figure is omitted. The NSW Planning Portal publishes council-level determination statistics updated quarterly, we recommend checking there directly, or subscribing to DA alerts for Forster to monitor real lodgement and determination activity in your street.
What commonly slows DA determination in this LGA:
- Coastal management referrals: Applications within or adjacent to the Coastal Environment Area or Coastal Use Area are referred internally or to NSW Department of Planning, adding 4-10 weeks in complex cases.
- Flood planning levels: Forster and Tuncurry have mapped flood-liable land. Applications triggering flood planning controls require hydraulic assessment and can involve referral to the NSW State Emergency Service.
- Biodiversity and vegetation: Lots adjoining Wallis Lake foreshore or mapped sensitive coastal wetlands may require Biodiversity Development Assessment Reports (BDAR), a significant time and cost impost.
- Incomplete submissions: The single largest avoidable delay, missing geotechnical reports, incorrect BASIX certificates or absent SEPP checklist responses generate requests for further information (RFIs) that pause the clock.
Engaging a builder or draftsperson familiar with Mid-Coast Council's pre-lodgement meeting process significantly reduces RFI risk. Browse builders and architects covering Forster who list Mid-Coast Council experience.
Forster Project Types, Cost and Approval at a Glance
| Project Type | Indicative Cost Range (ABS, indicative) | Approval Pathway | Typical Timeframe Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single dwelling (standard) | $1,850-$2,400/m² GFA | DA or CDC (if complying) | CDC faster; DA subject to coastal referrals |
| Custom coastal home | $2,600-$3,800/m² GFA | DA (Mid-Coast Council) | Allow extra time for coastal SEPP assessment |
| Coastal home extension / addition | $1,500-$2,800/m² (structure dependent) | DA or CDC | Heritage overlays or flood zones add time |
| Secondary dwelling (granny flat) | $180,000-$280,000 turnkey | CDC (SEPP Housing 2021) or DA | CDC pathway 20 days statutory if complying |
| Knockdown rebuild | $350,000-$750,000+ total project | DA (demolition + construction) | Dual consent stages; asbestos report often required |
| Dual occupancy | $550,000-$950,000+ | DA (Mid-Coast LEP 2022 permissibility check required) | Zone permissibility must be confirmed first |
All cost figures are indicative only, sourced from ABS Building Activity regional NSW series. Not a quote. Use the build cost calculator for a project-specific estimate.
Building in Forster, What the Data Tells Builders and Owners
Forster's average taxable income of $53,260 across 12,852 individual taxpayers (ATO, 2022-23) reflects a community that includes a significant retiree and sea-change cohort alongside working families, a demographic mix that generates both renovation demand (upgrading older coastal housing stock) and new dwelling construction (downsizer-friendly single-level designs, dual-key layouts for extended families).
The suburb's three schools, with a combined average ICSEA of 961 (ACARA, 2023), anchor family demand in the 2428 postcode. Builders and renovation contractors who understand the family-buyer and lifestyle-investor market here position projects around livability, coastal durability and long-term maintenance cost, not just square-metre rate.
Nearby suburbs including Tuncurry (directly connected via the Breckenridge Street bridge), Old Bar (approximately 25 km south), Tea Gardens (approximately 60 km south) and Taree (approximately 50 km northwest) all feed tradespeople and subcontractors into Forster projects. Confirming a builder's subcontractor network, particularly for concreters, framers and roofers, is important when scheduling builds, as regional trade capacity tightens in summer.
Whether you are planning a new coastal home, an extension to your existing Forster property, or a knockdown rebuild on an older Great Lakes lot, two tools will move your project forward faster: get free DA alerts for Forster so you see every new development application lodged in your area the moment it hits the Mid-Coast Council register, and browse builders and architects covering Forster to connect with licensed contractors who know the Mid-Coast LEP, the coastal engineering requirements and the local subcontractor network.