VIEW ORIGINAL TEXT BY MONTY JACKA, ABC RIVERINA
Wagga faces significant construction delays, there is hope on the horizon with the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in town planning. The NSW government has received keen interest in a new program that aims to give town planners access to advanced AI tools, which could be a game-changer in addressing our development backlogs.
The need for this innovative solution is clear. The state is struggling to meet key housing targets, with the approvals process experiencing lengthy delays. Recent data shows that the average time for a development application to be determined has increased from 83 days in the 2021/22 financial year to 107 days in 2023/24. In some areas, such as Georges River, Liverpool, Bowral, and Queanbeyan, waiting times have stretched beyond 195 days.
Builders have reported year-long delays on individual projects, causing significant issues in the delivery of new homes and escalating costs. At a Property Council event in August, NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully was told he had a “zero percent” chance of meeting housing supply needs unless the government and sector immediately adopted AI technology.
The NSW Department of Planning’s $5.6 million AI program has the potential to revolutionise the development process and dramatically reduce these timeframes. While the exact details on how the technology will be used are still unclear, a similar pilot program quickly scanned applications and identified areas that did not align with planning guidelines. This new program aims to ease the workload on town planners by providing AI products that are “fit for purpose and ready to deploy.” It will also use AI to improve the quality of submitted applications before they reach a town planner.
Councils have shown keen interest in early department-led workshops, and I am proud to say that Wagga Wagga City Council is among those requesting involvement. With land releases around our city dwindling, it is more important than ever to encourage urban development. We have seen absurd delays, with some people waiting months just to get permission to build sheds or signs, and larger builds taking up to six months for approval. These delays need to be prevented.
Manuel Donebus, director of Damasa Pty Ltd, a development firm managing large commercial builds in Wagga Wagga, has expressed his frustration. He shared that the lengthy determination process has caused multiple large projects to collapse. “A lot of the time it can be make or break for the project,” he said. “Often they will just say, ‘Look, that’s too long for us,’ and look at other alternatives.”
The state government has set a target to increase Wagga Wagga’s population from 67,000 to 100,000 by 2038, but the latest census figures show we are off-track. It is frustrating to see our city’s growth curtailed by the slow development process. We all aim for the same goal, but we must ensure we are working efficiently and cohesively.
The NSW government has held workshops on the new AI program with nearly half of the state’s councils and expects to begin hearing proposals in February. As we look forward to embracing this technology, I remain committed to finding solutions that will benefit our community and help us achieve our development and growth goals.
Thank you for your continued support as we work towards making Wagga Wagga a thriving and vibrant city.
Cr Richard Foley
