New South Wales’ latest budget outlines a strategic push to address long-standing inefficiencies in urban planning, with digital intelligence being tested as a remedy for persistent lags in project sign-offs. While much of the media focus remains fixed on a substantial financial safety net for pre-construction housing schemes, a quieter technological trial is gaining traction at the council level. Tools like DAISY, an AI-driven platform for application tracking, are being piloted to cut through the bureaucratic backlog slowing new developments.
Twenty local governments have submitted requests for financial support to introduce a new platform. Peter Schravemade, head of REACH in Australia and New Zealand, suggested that machine learning could address long-standing procedural delays within public administration. He observed that municipal operations — particularly in land use and zoning — tend to move slowly, and any innovation that improves turnaround times would be a positive step.
Wingecarribee Shire has already implemented the system, setting an example for others to follow. Schravemade also recognized that hesitation around adopting new digital systems is expected, but argued that the advantages could outweigh potential drawbacks if deployment is managed responsibly and openly. He acknowledged that government agencies are often cautious, especially regarding data protection and emerging technologies. Since AI is not immune to mistakes, he questioned how well it aligns with the strict compliance standards required in bureaucratic environments.
Nevertheless, he noted that artificial intelligence could still play a valuable role in supporting development officials. For example, providing a concise summary of a development proposal to the reviewer would improve efficiency compared to the current practice of reading documents in full. The state budget allocates $20 million toward advancing breakthrough technologies and $4 million for innovative building techniques through dedicated housing innovation programs.
Mounting demands for overhaul in planning frameworks are pushing artificial intelligence into the spotlight as a serious contender for systemic reform. According to Mike Hermon, who oversees development strategy at the Housing Industry Association, urgent, wide-reaching changes are needed across all jurisdictions to counteract worsening housing affordability. He emphasized that overly intricate regulations at every level of government have begun to obstruct, rather than support, the construction of new homes. As emerging technologies become more accessible and sector leaders intensify their calls for simplification, AI is quickly moving from the margins to the mainstream as a potential cornerstone in accelerating New South Wales’ housing pipeline.
