27 March 2026 release summary

Overview

This release includes minor changes to Division 5.1(Part 5) assessment service and enhancements to the following services: Development application, Complying development certificate, Section 68 of the Local Government Act, Controlled activity approval, Section 10.7 Planning Certificate and Roads Act. There are also some technical updates and fixes. View the sections below to understand the changes.

Minor changes

Division 5.1 (Part 5) assessment service

• When ‘HSEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021’ is selected as the Environmental Planning Instrument (SEPPs) on the ‘Activity details’ screen, the option ‘Residential Development – LAHC’ has been renamed to ‘General residential development’.
• Policy references removed on ‘Activity details’ screen when ‘Boarding home’, ‘Group homes’, ‘General residential development’ or ‘Seniors infrastructure housing’ infrastructure types are selected.
• Policy reference ‘HSEPP Section 29’ removed when ‘Boarding house’ is selected as the ‘Infrastructure type’ on ‘Activity details’ screen.
• Policy reference ‘HSEPP Section 61’ removed when ‘Group homes’ is selected as the ‘Infrastructure type’ on ‘Activity details’ screen.
• Policy reference ‘HSEPP Section 40’ removed when ‘General residential development’ is selected as the ‘Infrastructure type’ on ‘Activity details’ screen.
• Policy reference ‘HSEPP Section 108B’ removed when ‘Seniors housing’ is selected as the ‘Infrastructure type’ on ‘Activity details’ screen.
• When ‘HSEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021’ is selected as the Environmental Planning Instrument (SEPPs), ‘Residential Development – LAHC’ label renamed to ‘General residential development’ on ‘Consultation’ screen.
• Increased character limit to 2000 characters for the ‘Nominated council contact:’ field on the ‘Consultation’ screen.
• New label ‘Does the proposed activity involve any of the following that would require consultation with other public authorities? Please tick all that apply’ added under the heading ‘Consultation with other public authorities’ on the ‘Consultation’ screen.
• Improvements made to the user experience on the ‘Consultation’ screen:
  • Checkboxes aligned to left hand side under the ‘Consultation with councils’ and ‘Consultation with other public authorities’ headings
  • Updated help text
  • All information icons redesigned and aligned with relevant fields.
• New mandatory question, ‘Has Seniors Living Policy: Urban Design Guidelines for Infill Development been considered?’ under the ‘Other legislative requirements’ section on the ‘Consultation’ screen.
• New mandatory question, ‘Has Good Design for Social Housing and the Land and Housing Corporation Dwelling Requirements been considered?’ under the ‘Other legislative requirements’ section on the ‘Consultation’ screen.
• New question ‘Has the Design Principles set out in Division 6 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 been considered?’ field.
• New mandatory question ‘Has Aboriginal Housing Office Design Guidelines NSW, published by the Aboriginal Housing Office in January 2020 been considered?’ under the ‘Other legislative requirements’ section on the ‘Consultation’ screen when applicant indicates ‘Residential development’ infrastructure type.
• Removal of text underneath ‘Is the development in an area of bushfire prone land?’ field under the ‘Other legislative requirements’ section on the ‘Consultation’ screen.  

Enhancements

Following consultation with stakeholders, this release includes enhancements to existing services.

Complying development certificate service

• When an applicant selects they are applying on behalf of a business or company, a new checkbox ‘Not found? Please select the checkbox to enter details manually.’ has been added to the ‘Application details’ screen within complying development certificate services.

Development application service

• When an applicant selects they are applying on behalf of a business or company, a new checkbox ‘Not found? Please select the checkbox to enter details manually.’ has been added to the ‘Application details’ screen within development application.
• The field ‘Not found? Please select the checkbox to enter details manually’ is editable via the ‘Edit application details’ option in the ‘Actions’ menu within the development application service.  

Section 68 of the Local Government Act service

• Introduction of ‘Request additional info’ option in ‘Actions’ menu prior to the application being lodged. This allows council users to request additional information prior to initiating an assessment and provides consistency across digital applications.
• Increased character limit to 2000 for the ‘Please provide your comments’ field on the ‘Provide additional information’ screen.
• ‘Documents’ tab within Section 68 of the Local Government Act service redesigned to improve the filter and sort functionality. This includes a sort by date functionality within the document table.

Section 10.7 Planning Certificate 

• ‘Documents’ tab within Planning certificate 10.7 service redesigned to improve the filter and sort functionality. This includes a sort by date functionality within the document table.

Roads Act 

• ‘Documents’ tab within Roads Act (S125, S138 and S144) service redesigned to improve the filter and sort functionality. This includes a sort by date functionality within the document table.

Controlled Activity Approvals

• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) users can reassign ‘Additional information requested’ integrated development applications (IDAs).

Technical updates and minor fixes

• Strengthening file scanning that is conducted when a document is uploaded to the NSW Planning and Major Projects Portals, via the user interface or APIs, to minimise the chance of uploading files that contain a virus.
• When a council user extends the end date of a planning proposal exhibition using the ‘Edit Exhibition Details’ option in ‘Actions’ menu within the planning proposal service, the exhibition will close at 11:59pm on the date nominated.
• When an applicant initiates a modification to a State Significant Development, State Significant Infrastructure or Critical State Significant Infrastructure, the exhibition fee amount is included in ‘Total Fee Payable to the Department’ field on ‘Request Approval – Fee Calculation’ screen.