Moves to streamline process welcomed

AT A recent national planning conference sponsored by the Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Property Council-led planning reform agenda received public support from the Federal Government.

Federal Minister for Local Government Senator Ian Campbell endorsed the action aimed at reducing paperwork.

Regulatory compliance, cutting red tape, reducing costs and time delays will be the key areas to be addressed at a proposed meeting of planning and local government Ministers.

Approximately $45 million of money from the Telstra float will be awarded to local governments to develop online systems, in particular systems to allow the electronic access and lodgement of development applications and approvals.

The Federal Government expects that in the future local governments will actually assess and approve development applications online.