NSW invites technology and AI solutions to improve planning assessments

The Minns Labor Government is calling on the best and brightest in developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology tools to improve the NSW Planning Portal and speed up assessment timeframes to deliver more homes, jobs and infrastructure.

The NSW Planning Portal processes all the state's Development Applications (DA) as well as Complying Development Certificates (CDC) and Concurrence and Referrals (C&R) for DAs that require state agency advice.

The NSW Government has launched two Requests for Proposals (RFP) seeking innovative technology and AI solutions to integrate into the Planning Portal as a feature of the Next Generation NSW Planning Portal Ecosystem. The first RFP asks for:

• Products to improve DA quality and assessment times that can be integrated into the existing Portal
• Products or services that use AI to provide data analytics and spatial insights
• Products to strengthen cybersecurity and improve user privacy including document security and certificate forgery

A second tender seeking a range of technology enhancements to upgrade the core platform functionality of the NSW Planning Portal which include:

• Making this legacy platform more efficient through upgrades to assessment and implementation planning
• Seeking products that improve security through data processing and document migration and validation
• Enhancements to the core platform, making it more reliable and improving the user experience

These two RFPs follow the NSW Government's $5.6 million investment to introduce AI into the planning system with 16 councils currently trialling AI solutions through the AI Early Adopter Grant.

To provide a Request for Proposal for the NSW Planning Portal, applicants should respond by 3pm on Friday 1 November: NSW Planning Portal - Pega Upgrade - SR00252.

To provide a Request for Proposal for the Next Generation NSW Planning Portal ecosystem applicants should respond by 3pm on Monday 4 November: Next Generation NSW Planning Portal Ecosystem - SR00132.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

"The NSW Planning Portal services millions of people, it should be utilising the best technological platforms available to us.

"AI can assist planners to determine DAs much faster and that means faster assessments for housing across NSW.

"We are also looking for solutions to improve the core technology of the Planning Portal to improve user experience.

"The Minns Labor Government is bringing the planning system into the 21st century.

"Our Early Adopter AI grant Program has already seen 16 councils commence technology trials to help their planners free up valuable time and energy to improve assessment times. This next round of technology enhancements will bring us even closer to the future of digital assessment in the planning system."