New online land use tool for NSW developers

The NSW government has launched a webpage to help developers plan projects that might involve roads, rail and waterways.

Damien Pfeiffer

The ‘one stop shop’ from Transport for NSW will direct developers to resources to help them prepare their application before submitting for approval through the Planning NSW Portal.

Director Development Services, Land Use, Damien Pfeiffer says he hopes the webpage will foster more collaboration between developers, councils and Transport for NSW during early planning stages.

“It’s easy to miss a step or make an error that could result in their application being delayed or even rejected and no one wants that,” he said in a statement.

“We work every day with project proponents and we hope the webpage will foster even greater collaboration during the early stages to help achieve the best possible outcomes.”

The webpage includes road-related resources such as road classifications, information on the agency responsible for each type of road, fact sheets and advice on carrying out roadwork during a project. 

There is also information about rail authorities and utility supply authorities for developers working on projects that may impact rail networks and also information about the waterways of Sydney Harbour and its tributaries.

Last year, TfNSW’s Regional and Outer Metropolitan Development Services assessed more than $6 billion capital investment value in development applications and $33 billion in State Significant Developments and Infrastructure, Mr Damien Pfeiffer said.

“This website is one tool Transport is using to help these applications move through the assessment process smoothly and efficiently as we look to keep the economy moving given the COVID-19 related impacts of recent years and will continually evolve.” 

State-wide Gravity Model

Meanwhile, the NSW Department of Customer Service it is working on an improved Gravity Model to capture data from across the state using aeroplanes equipped with gravity sensors.

The project will be captured in five stages from May 2022 until completion in December 2023 and will provide geoscience information to assist with state infrastructure projects and improve the management of natural hazards and resources.

Thomas Grinter

Acting NSW Surveyor-General Thomas Grinter said this data will improve the accuracy of real-world heights down to a few centimetres.

“Existing geophysical and geodetic data, which looks at the Earth’s shape, orientation and gravity field are out of date, incomplete and inconsistent,” he said in a statement. 

“Much of the data includes a combination of land-based, satellite and airborne gravity data collected across several decades.

“An improved Gravity Model will help land managers understand their groundwater stores, allows engineers to identify where major natural hazards may occur and help surveyors measure height more accurately.

Spatial Services Executive Director Narelle Underwood said people’s privacy will be protected throughout the process because the aircraft will only be equipped with an instrument that measures gravity data.

“The privacy of our people is always of highest priority and it must be stressed that the planes will not be capable of capturing images of property, infrastructure, or individual people,” she said in a statement.

“The gravity measuring instruments do not emit any signals, or impact people, animals or infrastructure and have been used for decades throughout both Australia and globally.”

Once captured, the gravity data will be available through the NSW Government’s open data platforms and licensed for public use.     

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