NSW Government's online portal slashes planning time

The NSW Government is making the planning system easier to use with the introduction of the online NSW Planning Portal.

As of July 1, all development applications and complying development certificates across the state must now be processed online through the government’s e-planning portal.

The Portal can be used to lodge and process Development Applications (DA’s) including modifications, Complying Development Certificate Applications (CDC’s) and for certificates under Part 6 of the EP&A Act.

More than 80,500 DAs have been submitted via the portal to date from January 2019, representing $91.28 billion in investment, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said.

“Since the Premier’s mandate was announced in late 2019, we’ve provided councils with tools, advice and funding to get them all onto the planning portal by 1 July this year,” Minister Stokes said.

“ePlanning has transformed a cumbersome and opaque paper-based process into a streamlined digital service enabling people to submit applications online and track applications in real-time.

With all councils and government agencies now using the Planning Portal, assessment times across NSW could be slashed by up to 30 days.

Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the reform was a big win for homeowners, local councils and the construction industry.

“The ePlanning portal saves time for applicants, it saves time for councils and it reduces duplication and administrative costs,” Mr Dominello said.

“The tool enables councils to post real-time performance data including the status of individual DAs and other planning applications and expected completion dates for projects.

“This real-time tracking means more transparency and accountability when it comes to planning decisions. The community can read all of the documents associated with a proposal, know what stage it’s up to and receive updates as it progresses.”

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