The NSW Government is providing $50,000 for Central Coast Council to transition to the new, digital ePlanning system.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said ePlanning allows residents and property owners to lodge and track development applications (DAs) online.
“Gone are the days of having to fill in piles of paperwork and travel to a Council building to lodge a DA,” Mr Crouch said.
“ePlanning puts people at the centre of the DA process by eliminating paperwork, allowing applications to be submitted anywhere in real-time, avoiding delays and boosting transparency.
“Transitioning from a paper-based system to a digital platform is a significant change for Central Coast Council, which is why the NSW Government has provided $50,000.
“With 95,250 extra people calling the Central Coast home by 2041, it’s important that all levels of government help to make the planning process as quick, hassle-free and transparent as possible.”
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the grant will help Council improve their level of service.
“Whether upgrading or replacing IT systems and software, learning how to use the platform, or providing support to their residents, this grant will help Council get what they need to get online,” Mrs Hancock said.
Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart said this funding is a welcome boost towards Council’s continuous improvement program in online customer services.
“Our customers want change that makes doing business with us easier and simpler. Continuing to transition development assessment and planning functions to a better web-based service is a step in the right direction,” Mr Hart said.
Central Coast Council began using ePlanning on 1 July 2020. For more information, go to: www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au.