A new, online, streamlined way of lodging planning applications is about to go live.
From July 1, all planning applications such as development applications, construction certificates, utilities approvals and occupation certificates must be lodged online through the NSW Government’s e-Planning portal.
While Orange City Council’s role in assessing planning proposals will not change, all applications will have to be lodged online through the portal, rather than handing an application over the counter. Council staff are here to help as community members adjust to this change.
To help Orange tradespeople and others in the building industry become familiar will the new process, Council is hosting an information afternoon for anyone who regularly lodges planning applications with Council.
Orange Mayor Reg Kidd encourages all Orange tradespeople to come along and ask questions about how the new system will impact the way they lodge applications.
“This online system will make assessing applications much faster as there is a clear check-list in place before any application can be lodged,” Cr Kidd said.
“So there will be less time going back and forth to Council with various documents.
“It also has the potential to be a paperless system which is the way of the future and good for the environment.”
Orange City Council’s Planning and Development Policy Committee Chair Russell Turner said the NSW Planning Portal could also be a way of tracking how councils were progressing with application approvals.
“Many of the everyday tasks we do are online, from banking, to lodging Medicare rebates and even renewing a driver’s licence so it makes sense the process for lodging planning applications moves in that direction,” Cr Turner said.
“The online system also allows people to lodge applications any time, and not have to rely on visiting the Council offices during business hours.
All NSW councils are required to be using the NSW Planning Portal to lodge development applications and complying development certificates by 1 July 2021.
