Local Government NSW (LGNSW) has welcomed new initiatives to ease the application process for development approvals.

The NSW Government has modified the planning processes accessible through its ePlanning initiative, allowing more than 40 councils across NSW to accept online development applications.

LGNSW President Linda Scott says other councils are moving to the ePlanning system too.

“This new system will speed up many applications and foster faster economic recovery in local communities, which is why LGNSW supported it,” Cr Scott said.

“But we also worked on behalf of councils to get a guarantee from Government that councils would not be left to carry the cost of implementation of the new system.”

Cr Scott said LGNSW will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the NSW Government to secure a series of guarantees for councils, including preventing cost shifting, as well as assurances for councils about ongoing system reliability and maintenance.

“Councils have demonstrated their willingness to support streamlined processes for better economic outcomes for their communities,” Cr Scott said.

“For example, around 30 councils – almost a quarter of all NSW councils – have already expressed an interest in the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program announced in April.”

The Government’s other new initiative, a specialised Planning Delivery Unit (PDU) should also help to unblock projects that are stuck in the system, and has been welcomed by councils.

“Councils appreciate the NSW Government investing in more support to address council concerns with State-led blockages,” Cr Scott said.

“But it is critical that when focussing on the benefits of initiatives such as ePlanning and the PDU that the planning system also deliver quality buildings and public places, rather than just fast processing.

“This has become particularly pertinent in this time, when we are all seeing the significant value and benefit that our local environments provide us.”