A powerful new online planning tool will help further speed up Hawkesbury City Council's already exceptional Development Applications process for our customers.
In July 2024, Council was awarded $143,938 though the NSW Government's Early Adopter Grant Program, part of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in NSW Planning project to support councils trial AI in their planning systems.
Council understands that local planning rules can be complex and navigating them can be time consuming. The Archistar Online Planning Tool, now being piloted by Hawkesbury City Council, offers users an opportunity to answer a few simple questions and using AI, the platform quickly references its comprehensive database to provide users with an understanding of the specific planning controls which apply to their site and the appropriate planning pathway for their project.
Users can simply enter the property address of a specific site and receive an indication of whether a proposal could be assessed as:
- Exempt Development;
- A Complying Development Certificate; or
- Requires the lodgement of a Development Application (DA) to Council.
The accuracy of the planning tool will be refined further over time in response to user feedback and real-world use. Users should note that the information provided does not constitute formal planning advice and applicants remain responsible for verifying all applicable planning controls, site constraints and statutory requirements before preparing or lodging any application.
Since June 2024, Council has slashed the time it takes to process an application from 175 days to just 68 days – placing Hawkesbury within the top 10 performing councils in the Greater Sydney Region. For the month of December 2025, Hawkesbury's processing of residential applications was the fastest of Sydney's 33 councils with an average time of 31 days and is fifth fastest overall this financial year. Council's average lodgement time for Development Applications as of December 2025 is nine days.
The Archistar Online Planning Tool is now available to access through Council's website at www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-build/planning-advice
