Council has launched a new online platform for the Development Control Plan (DCP) which is designed to help make the development application process smoother for landowners and builders.
By simplifying the approval pathway, this new platform aims to help meet the community need for 11,100 new homes by 2041.
The launch is a key action in the Port Stephens Local Housing Strategy and it focuses on making housing more affordable and diverse for the 20,000 new residents expected to move to the region over the next 20 years.
Additional planning tools have also been created alongside the digital DCP to help landowners and builders prepare for their project and see what is required before they start. One tool is the Development Application Supporting Handbook (DASH) which explains the supporting documentation that may be required to accompany an application. The other tools are new Matrixes which identify the specific documents and forms needed for an application, based on the project type. Checklists provide additional support to help guide applicants and keep projects on track.
Using these tools upfront helps prevent mistakes and avoids the need to re-submit paperwork later.
While the new digital tool is the fastest way to get a project moving, the 160-page Development Control Plan PDF is also still available to download by chapter, or in full.
All the tools can also be accessed from the DCP site and the DCP page on Council's website.
