The Australian Government has committed $30 million from the Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) to develop the IT infrastructure and software needed in each State and Territory to implement electronic development assessment (eDA) systems nationally.
Specifically, this funding is aimed at:
- Delivery of end-to-end eDA processes: achieving maximum efficiencies by the implementation of fully integrated eDA processes, including lodgment, tracking, referrals and approvals.
- Implementing eDA initially in local government areas with high projected growth.
- Supporting the eDA Interoperability Specification (eDAIS) through funding systems which comply with the eDAIS.
Of this funding, the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) has awarded the Department of Planning $5.92 million for the Electronic Housing Code pilot project.
The NSW eDA project – also referred to as the Electronic Housing Code pilot project – developed a shared, integrated platform for end-to-end processing of complying development applications under the NSW Housing Code for lots 200m2 and above.
Eleven Role Model Councils were selected to participate in the pilot project. (NB: This was originally twelve Councils however one of the Councils was unable to continue with the pilot project.) This group will be the focus for fast-tracking eDA service delivery in priority areas, while developing leading practice models for all Councils to follow over time. A select group of private Accredited Certifiers are also involved in the pilot project.
The pilot project, and the associated systems and processes, will be developed so that in future it may be expanded in two directions:
- Extend take-up of the Electronic Housing Code component to other Councils across NSW.
- Extend the use of the system to other eDA processes once capacity reaches sustainable levels in key stakeholder areas, especially state agencies.