Helping councils deliver housing

The Expert Assessment Program will assist councils to progress certain current larger and more complex development applications that have the potential to significantly increase the supply of new housing. Providing support to councils in the assessment process for larger, or more complex applications will reduce the risk of delay and allow councils to focus on other assessment work and improve overall assessment timeframes.

The program enables the department to provide tailored support for councils, including preparing assessment reports, case management and helping resolve agency issues.

Initially, the following types of local or regionally significant development applications will be targeted for assistance:

• Residential Subdivision with the capacity to deliver over 100 new dwellings.
• Multi-dwelling Housing with the capacity to deliver over 100 new dwellings.
• Seniors Housing with the capacity to deliver over 50 new dwellings.

These types of projects have the potential to significantly contribute to housing supply and diversity, but typically require a lot of effort and have lengthy average assessment timeframes, making them good candidates for support. The consent authority role will remain with either the council or relevant planning panel.

The department has identified applications across various local government areas that meet the target criteria as outlined above. The Planning Delivery Unit will contact the councils to discuss support options for the identified projects.

For more information on the program, download our frequently asked questions (PDF, 125 KB) or email the team at [email protected],gov.au

The department has identified complex and larger planning proposals stuck in the system that have the potential to significantly contribute to housing supply when given the right type of support and intervention. The department will work with councils to identify what support might be needed and tailor an individual support package to meet that need.

The department will partner with councils to provide a range of support measures for identified projects to help finalise planning proposals on time, including geographic information systems / mapping support, technical reports including submissions summaries, and policy advice or support to resolve or address feedback from agencies.

One option available is for the department to call in the planning proposals to progress to completion. Any decision to call-in a planning proposal would only be made in consultation with the relevant council. In these cases, the Secretary (or delegate) will be the planning proposal authority or local plan-making authority.

The Planning Proposal Support program provides councils and the department with a framework to ensure that planning proposals are finalised within the benchmark timeframes set out in the Minister’s Statement of Expectations Order and the LEP Making Guideline.

The department has identified a number of planning proposals across various local government areas and will contact the affected councils to discuss support options for the identified projects.

For more information on the program, download our frequently asked questions (PDF, 113 KB) or email the team at [email protected]