New AI technology to boost planning efficiency

The Malinauskas Labor Government is trialling new AI technology to speed up planning approvals so more houses can get built faster.

The State Government has leveraged AI technology to undertake the Automated Decision-Making Pilot which can make assessments within minutes, instead of the current two week average.

The six-month pilot will test new AI technology which automatically assesses simple development applications.

The key focus is on streamlining the approval of detached dwellings by volume builders in greenfield areas that already fall into the ‘Accepted’ or ‘Deemed to Satisfy’ assessment pathway.

The technology allows users to submit CAD drawings to be automatically evaluated against prescribed criteria. The system then provides a detailed report outlining the results against each relevant planning provision.

It provides near real-time feedback on plans before they are submitted, offering clarity and certainty to applicants.

The new system can assess applications for detached dwellings (houses) in Master Planned Neighbourhood/Townships in minutes, compared to the current average of 9.5 business days.

A group of volume builders were engaged to put the AI technology ‘through its paces’, initially testing the system and contributing to an iterative build and test process to ensure accuracy and usability.

The implementation project for the new technology is expected to start from late March 2025. At implementation, the technology will be integrated with the existing PlanSA assessment systems resulting in a seamless transfer of information.

Not only will this new AI technology streamline our planning system – it will also allow planning professionals to focus on the complex development applications which require their time and focus.

Quotes

Attributable to Michael Brown

We are determined to harness the positives of AI to maximise the return for our economy and community.

This project represents a huge leap forward in efforts to streamline and improve the planning process.

By automating simpler tasks, technology can reduce the time and resources required for planning assessments, which means getting homes to market sooner without compromising on quality.

This new AI technology is not about replacing human jobs – it’s about automating simpler tasks so that the planning professionals can focus their attention where it’s needed most.

The input from the building industry in the testing has been important in ironing out any issues and ensuring this new technology meets the needs of all users

The success of this pilot demonstrates the Government’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve efficiency and transparency.