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Question and Answers

Answers to commonly asked questions relating to the requirement of digital copies of Development Applications with the Parkes Shire Council.

Will the New System Require That I Submit More Information Than Before?

No. The new digital system requires that you submit the same information as before, only now it will be on digital disk as well as in hard copy format.

Will Residential Floor Plans be Available on Council’s Website?

No – Public viewing of plans on the website or over the counter is restricted by Section 12(1A) of the Local Government Act, which states:

“Despite subsection (1) and the other provision of the Act, a person does not have the right to inspect so much of a development application, or an application under Part 1 of Chapter 7 for approval to erect a building, as consists of:

• The plans and specifications for any residential parts of a proposed building, other than plans that merely show its height and its external configuration in relation to the site on which it is proposed to be erected.”

What Information Will be Available About My Application?

Council has adopted a policy to make available as much information about new development as possible during the notification period. All Development Application details and supporting information will be available on Council’s website during the notification period, except where limited by legislation. For example, due to Section 12(1A) of the Local Government Act 1993, detail in residential portions of floor plans will not be exhibited.

Once the Notification Period has Ended Can The Public Still Access the PDF File From The Internet?

No, the public can only peruse the application while it is on notification.

Will My Letter of Objection be Able to be Viewed on the Website?

No. The website will contain only details of the development that has been lodged and only during the period it is on public notification/exhibition.

Will I be Able to Lodge My Development Application Over the Internet?

No - not yet!

Can I submit my Digital Documents by Email?

Yes, however you will need to contact Council's Planning Clerk, Charlene Kable, on (02) 6861 2376 prior to sending them in.

Will I be Able to Print From the Internet?

Yes

If Amendments Are Required After an Application Has Been Lodged, Do These Need to be Lodged as a PDF File?

Yes.

Can I Lodge My Application Without a Digital Disk Accompanying My Hard Copy Application?

No, unless your development is under $100,000. In this case Council offers a scanning service.

Can Council Scan My Application Documents?

Yes, for applications where the cost of work is under $100,000 in value, Council offers a service to scan applications and accompanying documents. However, Council prefers that the digital version be submitted on lodgement to minimise the processing time.

What is the Cost If Council Scans My Application?

$1.50 per A4/A3 sheet to a maximum $50.00 for applications that are under $100,000 in value. Sheets larger than A3 will cost $15 per sheet to a maximum cost of $200. Note: Scanning can also be done at a number of printing shops.

Do I Have to Supply Council With hard copy Plans for Them to be Able to Scan My Application?

Yes, A4 or A3 copies of plans are currently required and will still be required under the new system.

Can I Still Post My Development Application to Council?

Yes, as long as all requirements are met.

What Format Should the File be in?

In order to preserve the integrity of documentation across multiple platforms files must be supplied in Portable Document Format (PDF).

• All accompanying documentation must be supplied as PDF, A4 formatted and optimised for publishing to the Web.
• Each plan must be supplied as PDF file no larger than 1Mb in size and optimised for publishing to the Web.

Ideally documents should be exported from CAD, Vector, Bitmap or Word Processing software directly to PDF. This method is most likely to preserve the visual quality of your submission.

What Steps Have Been Taken to Notify the Public of This Change?

Numerous steps have been taken to attempt to notify as many potential applicants as possible. The following steps have been taken:

• Letters to regular applicants have been sent advising of the new requirements.
• Notices have been placed in Parkes Shire Council's local paper 'Parkes Champion Post'.

Why Does Council Require a Digital Copy of All Plans and Associated Documents?

It is part of the Council's aim for continuous improvement in assessment and accessibility to information. The purpose of this is to enable:

• plans and documentation to be electronically displayed (eg the web) during exhibition of development applications, except residential portions of a building, due to privacy restrictions;
• interested parties to be able to view documentation from home, and save visiting the Council to view plans
• planners to extract relevant excerpts into assessment reports; and
• easier copying of information during exhibition, to meet Council’s statutory requirements.
• All documents can be more readily stored in Council electronic document management system.

Contact details
Planning & Environment Department
02 68612376 (ph)
02 68623946 (fax)
council@parkes.nsw.gov.au

© 2008 Parkes Shire Council
This page: http://www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/planning/1190/5154.html