ACT planning app updates aim to support resident decision-making

Mick Gentleman, territory minister for planning and land management, said the app’s importance lies in its ability to make the planning system easier. 

“We know Canberrans have a stake in land and property developments in their neighbourhoods and communities,” Mr Gentleman said. 

“We’re committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to find out about proposed developments in areas they care about and the chance to have their say on them.”

According to the minister, the updated version of the application possesses a host of new features, including integration with Google Street View and enhanced functionality.

Additionally, he stated that the “app’s new notification system allows users to ‘follow’ individual development applications and be notified as soon as new information is available [with] updated archive functions also make viewing historical development decisions easy.”

Generation three of DA Finder will also allow users to follow ‘regions of interest’ around the ACT, which in turn notifies them of any new development activity occurring in that area.

Mr Gentleman also shared that the ACT planning website “has also had a facelift to simplify the process of commenting on current development, applications and finding out about past development application decisions”. 

“Community groups have been asking for development applications to remain on the planning website for longer and we’re excited to have completed the work needed to deliver that.

The improvement of both systems, app and website, will allow Canberrans to have round-the-clock access to the latest development and planning information — which the minister hopes will not only assist homeowners, but also people considering purchasing in the territory to see which developments have been approved but not built.

“The DA Finder app is a great example of how increasingly sophisticated data management options will enable the ACT Government to improve the accessibility and transparency of planning information,” Mr Gentleman concluded.