A councillor has expressed his opinion on the electronic submissions of development applications which came in to effect on July 1.
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Ken Halstead said he was concerned for those who may not have access to a computer or may not be able to use one.
"I am concerned for the elderly people who might have difficulties accessing a computer," he said.
"There has to be existing ways to do this."
A Wingecarribee Shire Council spokesperson said that the council had implemented the ePlanning portal online and had been using it since July 1.
From December 31, 2020 it will be mandatory for DAs and principal certifying authority (PCA) appointments to be completed on an online portal.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the electronic DA portal would transform the planning system.
"Gone are the days of having to fill in piles of paperwork and travel to a council building to lodge a DA and this mandate puts the customer at the centre of the planning process," he said.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said it was another example of how the government had fast tracked the planning system to make it timely, accessible and transparent for everyone.
"The Government has invested almost $10 million to enhance its ePlanning platform and ensure all councils can get online to process DAs more quickly and transparently," he said.
"ePlanning is a big win for homeowners, with DA processing times slashed by more than half in some councils that have already adopted the online system."
Since July 1 councils and PCA's have been required to start accepting and processing DAs, complying development certificates and post-consent certificates via the NSW Planning Portal.
Residents in the Southern Highlands can lodge (DAs) online via the NSW Government's ePlanning portal.
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