NSW Government Initiates AI Trials to Streamline Development Assessments Across 16 Councils
In a significant move towards modernizing its planning system, the NSW government has launched AI trials aimed at accelerating development approvals. Sixteen councils statewide are set to implement new technologies designed to expedite the assessment process, marking the first phase of integrating artificial intelligence into planning procedures.
With a $5.6 million investment dedicated to technology enhancements for faster development, these councils were selected under the state’s early adopter program to test various AI systems. The goal is to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of information handling during the initial stages of development application submissions.
Given that councils assess approximately 85% of residential development applications, prolonged approval timelines have been a longstanding concern in the building industry. Addressing these challenges is crucial for alleviating property supply constraints in NSW.
The AI systems currently under trial are specifically tailored to preemptively identify common issues that typically delay application processing. By detecting duplications, errors, and missing information before applications reach planners’ desks, the state aims to mitigate unnecessary delays and streamline the overall approval process.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, highlighted the potential impact of reducing application errors. He cited instances where improvements could save significant time and resources, emphasizing the broader benefits across the nearly 60,000 annual applications in NSW.
Minister Scully stated that the initiative is part of their commitment to streamline the planning system, particularly after years of complex reforms and economic challenges that have unintentionally slowed down approvals.
Scully elaborated that nearly 500 applications accepted into the Regional Housing Flying Squad Program required additional information for about 30% of them, resulting in an average 42-day delay for applicants to provide the necessary details.
“The combined savings of not having to request additional information on this relatively small group alone would be around 6,300 days – or the equivalent of 17 years. If applied across the nearly 60,000 applications submitted in NSW each year, it means a saving of hundreds of thousands of days.”
Paul Scully, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
Participating councils will utilize their designated technologies over a 12-month trial period, after which they will evaluate and report on the effectiveness of these AI solutions. This trial aims to reduce accidental slowdowns introduced to the planning system over years of changes.
The councils involved in the program include:
- Bayside Council
- Blacktown City Council
- Burwood Council
- Cessnock City Council
- City of Canterbury Bankstown
- City of Newcastle (alongside Central Coast Council and Muswellbrook Shire Council)
- Cumberland City Council
- Eurobodalla Shire Council
- Hawkesbury City Council
- Inner West Council
- Lake Macquarie City Council
- Randwick City Council
- Wagga Wagga City Council
- Wingecarribee Shire Council
These trials mark a pivotal step towards leveraging AI to modernize and expedite NSW’s development approval processes, potentially setting a precedent for future technological advancements in planning systems. By embracing AI, the NSW government aims to create a more efficient, accurate, and streamlined development assessment pathway, ultimately supporting the state’s growth and housing needs.
The initiative also underscores the importance of innovation in public administration, demonstrating how technology can address longstanding issues and improve public services. The success of these trials could pave the way for broader AI adoption in various governmental processes, heralding a new era of efficiency and effectiveness in public sector operations.
