This program helps councils to embed long-term changes in their assessment processes that contribute to faster processing times.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: $350,000
- Application opened: 1 May 2022
- Application closed: 31 May 2022
Program objective
The NSW Government has developed a new program to help support 14 selected councils across the state in Development Application (DA) and Planning Proposal (PP) assessments.
The $4.9 million program will enable councils to allocate additional resources and implement process improvements that will result in reduced assessment timeframes.
Each of the councils has been allocated $350,000 to enable process improvements to be made through a range of activities, such as the appointment of additional professional assessment staff and system improvements.
The objectives of this program are to:
- provide support for councils to implement changes that accelerate local DA and PP processing times so that housing is supplied earlier than currently forecast
- assist councils in implementing best practice guidelines development assessment and planning proposals to incorporate and distribute learnings from previous grant programs. This will allow councils to promote and provide complete advice to proponents resulting in faster processing times for local DAs and PPs
- measure the value of change by capturing baseline evidence data to quantify and measure cumulative benefit of change over time for housing supply and economic value.
This program is funded and administered by Department of Planning and Environment.
Eligibility
The non-competitive grants program is available to 14 councils selected as eligible by the department.
Councils were selected based on the following metrics:
- Had not received funding through the previous RSDA program (2021).
- Anticipated high volume of housing to be delivered through local DAs and subdivision DAs.
- Opportunities to improve assessment timeframes.
Who can apply
The councils eligible for the program are:
Metropolitan councils:
- Canada Bay
- Fairfield City
- Hawkesbury
- Inner West
- Penrith City
- Wollondilly Shire
- Woollahra.
Regional councils:
- Cessnock
- Eurobodalla
- Port Stephens
- Queanbeyan-Palerang
- Shoalhaven
- Singleton
- Wollongong.
Types of projects funded under this grant
The department anticipates grant funding will be used to gain:
- additional professional assessment staff, including the redeployment or realignment of staff resourcing within council
- appointment of specialist technical consultants
- dedicated coordination point within council for housing development applications
- process mapping and improvement plans to operationalise and implement Local Housing Strategy actions (convert to a planning proposal)
- technology improvements.
Capability improvements may also be considered such as:
- training for applicants and their consultants
- professional development for council staff
- facilitate peer to peer knowledge sharing between councils
- reviewing and updating development guidelines or assessment policies.
What your application needs to include
You can download the full guidelines:
File
Faster Local Assessment Grant Program guidelines (PDF 221.09KB)
Participation criteria
Participating councils must agree to completing a Process Improvement Plan for approval by the department and participate in evaluation activities to ensure the delivery of housing supply.
To facilitate funding all eligible councils will be provided with a funding deed. Funds will be distributed by the department once the Funding Deed has been executed.
Executing a funding deed
The State Government is providing a fixed contribution to eligible councils to implement the Grant Program.
Eligible councils will enter a Funding Deed and submit a Milestone 1 invoice that must be returned to the department before 30 June 2022. Eligible councils are expected to outline a timeline for how it will meet key requirements:
- Provide a Process Improvement Plan (within the first 4 weeks of signing of the Funding Deed) that sets out how timeframe improvements towards the targets will be achieved. The Process Improvement Plan should also include a risk management plan and a schedule of planned expenditure (not to exceed $350,000);
- Commit to participation in interviews to provide feedback at regular intervals during the Program; and
- Agree to participate in the mid-term and end of program evaluation.
Program acquittal and reporting
Councils will be required to provide a progress report to the department by 31 December 2022 providing evidence that demonstrates that at the midpoint, funds are being expended in accordance with the objectives of this Program and in accordance with their Process Improvement Plans.
An acquittal report is required to be submitted to the department by 31 May 2023. The acquittal report will require councils to:
- declare that the funding was used for the purpose provided
- provide an itemised list specifying how the funds have been spent
- confirm that a complete set of accounting and financial records relevant to the project has been maintained and will be available to the department if requested.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Deputy Secretary, NSW Planning
The applications will be assessed and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified.
Support and contact
For more information on the Faster Local Assessment Grant Program, email the Local Assessment Grants team at local.assessmentgrants@planning.nsw.gov.au
Program evaluation
Councils will be required to participate in information gathering exercises as specified by the department. These exercises may occur throughout the program and may include completing surveys, attending interviews or updates. This will provide critical insights into the interventions proposed and developed by councils to inform future programs.
The department may also use information from your application and reports for this purpose.
An evaluation of the Faster Local Assessment Grant Program will collect information and measure how well the outcomes and objectives have been achieved to further inform future programs.