No. 95

IT UPGRADE BOOSTS ACCESS TO PLANNING INFORMATION

Minister for Planning, Andrew Barr, today announced that the ACT Government would invest $2.048 million over three years to improve IT systems that are used to help the community and industry access information about planning, development and individual blocks of land.

Mr Barr said the 2007-08 Budget funding would allow the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) to upgrade technology to meet the needs of customers, who are increasingly doing business online.

“This funding will help to rebuild supporting information systems to enhance and extend the extensive online services already developed by ACTPLA,” Mr Barr said.

“ACTPLA’s electronic services include those for searches of block and development information, online lodgement of a number of applications, conveyancing for the purchase of homes and payment of fees.

“These systems are aimed at saving the community time and money, as many Canberrans no longer have to visit a customer service counter in either Dickson or Mitchell.”

Mr Barr said the ACT Government’s funding complements and builds on an AusIndustry Regulatory Reduction Incentive Fund grant of $2.6 million to create an electronic development and building application and information system (eDABS). This will replace ageing IT systems no longer able to handle the sophisticated application processes that are available online.

“eDABS is expected to save the small-business sector $4 million a year when fully implemented, as it moves significantly more day-to-day services provided by ACTPLA to the internet. This enables easier access to business and information services from the convenience of the home or office,” he said.

“Information technology is transforming the way business does business, and similarly it is changing the way government does business. The ACT Government is committed to governing for the future by employing the latest innovations in technology.”