25 September 2026 release summary

Overview

This release includes: 

• Introduction of functionality for the surrender or extension of a development consent in the Online and State DA services
• Introduction of a Housing and Productivity Contribution estimator for State Significant Development officers
• Post determination upload functionality introduced for certificate registration, complying development certificate, post-consent certificate and Section 68 of the Local Government Act digital services
• Updates to the merchant fee references in system-generated documents to align with the Reserve Bank of Australia changes being introduced from 1 October 2026
• Non-breaking NSW Planning Portal API changes.

There are also some technical updates and fixes. View the sections below to understand the changes.

Major changes to existing workflows

Development application (Council and State)

The following changes were made as part of the introduction of the ‘surrender of development consent’ workflow:

• Applicant can submit a request to surrender a development consent through the NSW Planning Portal, via either a new ‘Request related application’ menu item, ‘Modification or surrender of development consent’ in the relevant PAN, or as a standalone application from the ‘Create new’ application drop-down on the dashboard.
• Applicant can track the progress of the application from their dashboard.
• Applicant can cancel an ‘In progress’ application or withdraw a submitted application via the ‘Actions’ menu.
• Council or State Agency user can review the request and provide an outcome of their review through the NSW Planning Portal. The solution provides a consistent assessment experience, real-time status tracking and automated notifications throughout the assessment and determination process. 
• Council or State Agency user can request additional information, and the applicant can provide a response through the ‘Additional information’ functionality.
• If council or State Agency user issues a surrender notice, the related development consent (PAN) status will be updated to ‘Surrendered’.
• When an application is surrendered the following will occur: 
  • If an applicant has an ‘In progress’ Development Applications (New, Modification, Review), they will be prevented from submitting it when the related development consent has been surrendered. The user will see the following error message: ‘<Application type> application cannot be submitted. The development consent for application PAN-XXXX (<council/ consent authority> reference number - <DA-XXXXX>) has been surrendered. Please go back to 'Application details' to enter a different PAN or cancel this application using the ‘Actions’ menu. If you have any questions, please contact the <council name> council/ consent authority.’
    • If an applicant has an ‘In progress’ post-consent certificate, Roads Act and Section 68 of the Local Government Act application, they will be prevented from submitting it when the related development consent has been surrendered. The user will see the following error message: ‘This <application type> cannot be submitted. A surrender notice has been <submitted/ issued> for the related development consent PAN-<XXXX> (<council / consent authority> reference number - <DA-XXXXX>). This application can no longer be submitted. If you have any questions, please contact the <council name> council/ consent authority’.
    • If an applicant has submitted a development application (New, Modification and Review), post-consent certificate, Roads Act, or Section 68 of the Local Government Act application, and it has not been determined, the applicant will be advised to withdraw the application before they can submit their request to surrender a development consent. The user will see the following error message: ‘The following applications related to PAN-<XXXX> (<council/ consent authority> reference number - <XXXXXXXXXXXX) at <Site address, LGA, Post code> are under assessment. To continue, please withdraw these applications. If you have any questions, please contact the <council name> council / consent authority> <council name> council/ consent authority <Council if it's an online DA and consent authority if it's a State DA>‘.
    • The applicant will be unable to use this development consent for a new development application (New, Modification and Review), post-consent certificate, Roads Act, Section 68 of the Local Government Act application. The user will see the following warning message if the related application reference number is input: ‘The development consent for this PAN has been surrendered. You can no longer request any related applications or certificates. If you have any questions, please contact the council/ consent authority.’
    • An undetermined Building Works, ITSOC or Strata Bond application will be automatically cancelled. The applicant, certifier, council, and/or State Agency will see a message within the Portal if the related application is opened to advise them that: ‘This <application type><application/ certificate> can no longer be progressed. The related development consent PAN-XXXX (<council / consent authority> reference number - <DA-XXXXX>) has been surrendered. You can no longer progress this application.’ <Consent authority view>‘.
    • The applicant, certifier, council, and/or State Agency will see a message when they open a related determined Building Works, ITSOC or Strata Bond application to advise them that: ‘The related development consent PAN-XXXX (<council / consent authority> reference number - <DA-XXXXX>) has been surrendered. As a result, this approval cannot be acted on.’ 

The following changes were made as part of the introduction of the ‘extension of development consent’ workflow:

• Applicant can submit a request to extend a development consent through the NSW Planning Portal, via either a new ‘Request related application’ menu item ‘Extension of development consent’ in the relevant PAN, or as a standalone application from the ‘Create new’ application drop-down on the dashboard. This can only be requested on a PAN with a status of ‘Determined’, ‘Deferred commencement’, ‘Operational consent requested’, ‘Operational consent issued’ or ‘Operational consent declined’.
• Applicant can track the progress of the application from their dashboard.
• Applicant can cancel an ‘In progress’ application or withdraw an extension request via the ‘Actions’ menu.
• Council or State Agency user can review the request and provide an outcome of their review through the NSW Planning Portal. This outcome is recorded in the ‘Action Summary’ within the related application. The solution provides a consistent assessment experience, real-time status tracking and automated notifications throughout the assessment and determination process. 
• If council or State Agency user grants the extension request, the related development consent (PAN) status will remain as it was prior to the request.
• If council or State Agency user does not grant the extension request, the reason for refusal is captured.
• Council or State Agency user can request additional information, and the applicant can provide a response through the ‘Additional information’ functionality.
• Council or State Agency user can assign an application to themselves and re-assign an application to a colleague.

Housing and productivity contribution estimator

This is a new service that is available for State Significant Development (SSD) officers only. The estimator will replace the current process used for contribution calculation during the case assessment. The functionality includes:

• A new workflow within the NSW Planning Portal to assist an SSD officer calculate the housing and productivity contribution required for a specific development. The user will select ‘Estimate Housing and Productivity Contribution’ option from the ‘Create new’ drop-down list on the dashboard. This will create an ‘EST-xxx’ reference number.
• The user will be advised if the housing and productivity contribution doesn’t apply to that site, and the workflow will end.
• SSD officers can withdraw an ‘In progress’ case. The case status will change to ‘Withdrawn’ and it is moved to the ‘Completed work’ basket.
• System-generated PDF outlining the Housing and productivity contribution result.

Minor changes to existing workflows

Certificate registration service

The following changes were made as part of the introduction of the post determination document upload functionality:

• New option ‘Upload document’ in the ‘Actions’ menu for certifier users.
• Certifier users can upload an approved document or plan or replace an incorrectly uploaded document or plan, up to 14 calendar days after it has been determined within the NSW Planning Portal using the ‘Upload document’ functionality.
• Certifier users can mark documents as ‘Sensitive’ and/or ‘Superseded’ after an application has been determined.
• New tab in review harness, ‘Post determination actions’, displayed after certifier uses the ‘Upload document’ functionality. This contains information including the upload date and time, who performed the upload, the reason for upload and any comments.
• Email notification sent to council when a certifier uploads a document using the ‘Upload document’ functionality. 

Complying development certificate service

The following changes were made as part of the introduction of the post determination document upload functionality:

• New option ‘Upload document’ in the ‘Actions’ menu for council, registered certifier and principal certifier users.
• Council, registered certifier and principal certifier users can upload an approved document or plan or replace an incorrectly uploaded document or plan, up to 14 calendar days after it has been determined within the NSW Planning Portal using the ‘Upload document’ functionality.
• Council, registered certifier and principal certifier users can mark documents as ‘Sensitive’ and/or ‘Superseded’ after an application has been determined.
• New tab in review harness, ‘Post determination actions’, displayed after council, registered certifier or principal certifier uses the ‘Upload document’ functionality. This contains information including the upload date and time, who performed the upload, the reason for upload and any comments.
• Email notification sent to applicant when a council, registered certifier or principal certifier uploads a document using the ‘Upload document’ functionality. 

Post-consent certificate service

The following changes were made as part of the introduction of the post determination document upload functionality:

• New option ‘Upload document’ in the ‘Actions’ menu for council users, registered certifier and principal certifier.
• Council, registered certifier and principal certifier users can upload an approved document or plan or replace an incorrectly uploaded document or plan, up to 14 calendar days after it has been determined within the NSW Planning Portal using the ‘Upload document’ functionality.
• Council, registered certifier and principal certifier users can mark documents as ‘Sensitive’ and/or ‘Superseded’ after an application has been determined.
• New tab in review harness, ‘Post determination actions’, displayed after council, registered certifier and principal certifier uses the ‘Upload document’ functionality. This contains information including the upload date and time, who performed the upload, the reason for upload and any comments.
• Email notification sent to applicant when a council, registered certifier and principal certifier uploads a document using the ‘Upload document’ functionality. 

Note: These changes were made to the following application types only: construction certificate, subdivision works certificate, subdivision certificate and occupation certificate. They were not made to the principal certifier appointment application type.

The following changes were made as part of the introduction of the ‘surrender of development consent’ workflow:

• If an applicant has an ‘In progress’ post-consent certificate application, they will be prevented from submitting it when the related development consent has been surrendered. The user will see the following error message: ‘This <application type> cannot be submitted. A surrender notice has been <submitted/ issued> for the related development consent PAN-<XXXX> (<council / consent authority> reference number - <DA-XXXXX>). This application can no longer be submitted. If you have any questions, please contact the <council name> council/ consent authority’.
  • If an applicant has submitted a post-consent certificate application, and it has not been determined, the applicant will be advised to withdraw the application before they can submit their request to surrender a development consent. The user will see the following error message: ‘The following applications related to PAN-<XXXX> (<council/ consent authority> reference number - <XXXXXXXXXXXX) at <Site address, LGA, Post code> are under assessment. To continue, please withdraw these applications. If you have any questions, please contact the <council name> council / consent authority> <council name> council/ consent authority <Council if it's an online DA and consent authority if it's a State DA>‘.
• The applicant will be unable to use a surrendered application for a new post-consent certificate application. The user will see the following warning message if the related application reference number is input: ‘The development consent for this PAN has been surrendered. You can no longer request any related applications or certificates. If you have any questions, please contact the council/ consent authority.’
  • An undetermined Building Works, ITSOC or Strata Bond application will be automatically cancelled. The applicant, certifier, council, and/or State Agency will see a message within the Portal if the related application is opened to advise them that: ‘This <application type><application/ certificate> can no longer be progressed. The related development consent PAN-XXXX (<council / consent authority> reference number - <DA-XXXXX>) has been surrendered. You can no longer progress this application.’ <Consent authority view>‘.
    • The applicant, certifier, council, and/or State Agency will see a message when they open a related determined Building Works, ITSOC or Strata Bond application to advise them that: ‘The related development consent PAN-XXXX (<council / consent authority> reference number - <DA-XXXXX>) has been surrendered. As a result, this approval cannot be acted on.’ 

Roads Act

The following changes were made as part of the introduction of the ‘surrender of development consent’ workflow:

• If an applicant has an ‘In progress’ Roads Act application, they will be prevented from submitting it when the related development consent has been surrendered. The user will see the following error message: ‘This <application type> cannot be submitted. A surrender notice has been <submitted/ issued> for the related development consent PAN-<XXXX> (<council / consent authority> reference number - <DA-XXXXX>). This application can no longer be submitted. If you have any questions, please contact the <council name> council/ consent authority’.
  • If an applicant has submitted a Roads Act application, and it has not been determined, the applicant will be advised to withdraw the application before they can submit their request to surrender a development consent. The user will see the following error message: ‘The following applications related to PAN-<XXXX> (<council/ consent authority> reference number - <XXXXXXXXXXXX) at <Site address, LGA, Post code> are under assessment. To continue, please withdraw these applications. If you have any questions, please contact the <council name> council / consent authority> <council name> council/ consent authority <Council if it's an online DA and consent authority if it's a State DA>‘.
• The applicant will be unable to use a surrendered application for a new Roads Act application. The user will see the following warning message if the related application reference number is input: ‘The development consent for this PAN has been surrendered. You can no longer request any related applications or certificates. If you have any questions, please contact the council/ consent authority.’

Section 68 of the Local Government Act

The following changes were made as part of the introduction of the ‘surrender of development consent’ workflow:

• If an applicant has an ‘In progress’ section 68 of the Local Government Act application, they will be prevented from submitting it when the related development consent has been surrendered. The user will see the following error message: ‘This <application type> cannot be submitted. A surrender notice has been <submitted/ issued> for the related development consent PAN-<XXXX> (<council / consent authority> reference number - <DA-XXXXX>). This application can no longer be submitted. If you have any questions, please contact the <council name> council/ consent authority’.
  • If an applicant has submitted a section 68 of the Local Government Act application, and it has not been determined, the applicant will be advised to withdraw the application before they can submit their request to surrender a development consent. The user will see the following error message: ‘The following applications related to PAN-<XXXX> (<council/ consent authority> reference number - <XXXXXXXXXXXX) at <Site address, LGA, Post code> are under assessment. To continue, please withdraw these applications. If you have any questions, please contact the <council name> council / consent authority> <council name> council/ consent authority <Council if it's an online DA and consent authority if it's a State DA>‘.
• The applicant will be unable to use a surrendered application for a new section 68 of the Local Government Act application. The user will see the following warning message if the related application reference number is input: ‘The development consent for this PAN has been surrendered. You can no longer request any related applications or certificates. If you have any questions, please contact the council/ consent authority.’

The following changes were made as part of the introduction of the post-determination document upload functionality:

• New option ‘Upload document’ in the ‘Actions’ menu for council users.
• Council users can upload an approved document or plan or replace an incorrectly uploaded document or plan, up to 14 calendar days after it has been determined within the NSW Planning Portal using the ‘Upload document’ functionality.
• Council users can mark documents as ‘Sensitive’ and/or ‘Superseded’ after an application has been determined.
• New tab in review harness, ‘Post determination actions’, displayed after council uses the ‘Upload document’ functionality. This contains information including the upload date and time, who performed the upload, the reason for upload and any comments.
• Email notification sent to applicant when a council uploads a document using the ‘Upload document’ functionality. 

State Infrastructure Contributions service

The following changes were made to the State Infrastructure Contributions service used by DPHI staff to support the introduction of the Housing and Productivity Contribution estimator:

• New mandatory field ‘Calculation journey’ on the ‘Contribution rates’ page.
• New ‘Journey rates’ page added to the State Infrastructure Contribution case creation process. This will be used to calculate the applicable contributions.
• New fields ‘Baseline date’ and ‘Base PPI’ added to the ‘Ruleset identification’ page.
• New ‘Journey formula’ page added to the State Infrastructure Contribution case creation process. This captures the mandatory proposed development unit (PDU) and existing development unit (EDU) formulas. 
• New ‘HPC region’ dropdown added to the State Infrastructure Contribution case creation process.

Enhancement to existing services

Following consultation with stakeholders, this release includes enhancements to the following services:

Development application (Council and State)

• Enhanced document filtering, searching and sorting capabilities on the ‘Documents’ tab in exhibition, concurrence and referral, contribution and planning panel secretariat child cases. The changes included ability to filter by document type, search by document name and sort by modified date. The redesign aligns with the NSW Design System and now provides a consistent user experience across applications and child cases. 
• Usability improvements to the ‘Documents’ tab in exhibition, concurrence and referral, contribution and planning panel secretariat child cases; including pagination, automatic refresh behaviour, updated column headings and improved guidance text. These enhancements improve usability and help users locate information more efficiently. 
• Expanded access to the ‘AI’ case on the ‘Additional Information Summary’ tab of an amendment request (AMDR) to both the initiator and the applicant. This ensures that both parties can participate in responding to information requests and supporting a more streamlined amendment assessment process. 
• Council and State Agency users can upload documents when rejecting an application using document categories ‘Reasons for Rejection’ and ‘Other documents'. These documents are visible to the applicant and council / State Agency users on the ‘Documents’ tab.  

Site compatibility certificate service

• Enhanced document filtering, searching and sorting capabilities on the ‘Documents’ tab including ability to filter by document type, search by document name and sort by modified date. The redesign aligns with the NSW Design System and now provides a consistent user experience across applications and child cases. 
• Usability improvements to the ‘Documents’ tab including pagination, automatic refresh behaviour, updated column headings and improved guidance text. These enhancements improve usability and help users locate information more efficiently. 

Technical updates and fixes

• Updates to the merchant fee references in system-generated documents to align with the Reserve Bank of Australia changes being introduced from 1 October 2026. These changes have been made in the following services: BASIX, building information certificate, certificate registration, complying development certificate, concurrence and referral, controlled activity approval, development application, intention to seek occupation certificate, Moorebank traffic certificate, planning proposals, post-consent certificates, short-term rental accommodation, site compatibility certificate and special infrastructure contributions.
• Validations updated in the post-consent certificate service for the ‘Please provide NSW Planning Portal application number (PAN)’ field to prevent a cancelled, withdrawn, returned or rejected development, modification to development, review of determination and complying development certificate application reference number being used to create a post-consent certificate application.
• Access to Building Information Certificate payment functionality has been amended to enable the person identified as the applicant on the application form and the requestor (person who created and submitted the application) to be able to pay the associated application fee via the NSW Planning Portal. 
• Updated email notification ‘Submission summary of Planning Proposal’ to amend the date format to Australian format and to address the inaccuracies in the submission count field. This change is in the planning proposals service.
• Updated search results for the complying development certificate reference numbers when the user selects ‘Search related cases’ after entering the related portal reference number in the post-consent certificate service.

Support

The following step-by-step guides have been updated or created this month and can be access on the Support Hub: