IN a significant stride towards streamlining its planning processes, the City of Stirling’s Fast-Track (Development Applications) service has proven a winner in its first 12 months.
Since its inception in October 2022, the innovative planning system has not only reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks but has also saved both time and money for homeowners and developers.
The Fast-Track service was conceived to address the challenges associated with residential development applications in Stirling, where small-scale residential developments often faced delays due to incomplete applications, requests for further information, and time-consuming assessments. These challenges left applicants frustrated and uncertain about timeframes, hindering the growth of the housing sector.
Collaborating with key stakeholders such as the Master Builders Association, the Housing Industry Association, and major applicants like ABN Group and BGC, Stirling pioneered a digital development assessment tool that not only automated several requirements but also integrated data from the city’s Geographic Information System to expedite the assessment process.
This tool, the first of its kind in WA, caters to various residential development types.
The Fast-Track service has sped up approvals to an average of just 20 days, but has also saved applicants and landowners approximately $3,000 in development and home loan holding costs for each single house and grouped dwelling application approved, according to a report to this week’s monthly council meeting.
This represents a substantial 67 per cent reduction in time compared to standard development application timeframes.
Fast-Track service has been embraced by the community, with 115 registered users and 718 development applications lodged within its first year.
The success of Stirling’s Fast-Track service has not gone unnoticed, with planning minister John Carey lauded the council as a shining example of a local government committed to cutting red tape and streamlining approval processes for the benefit of the community.
The City is planning to expand the Fast-Track service to cater to three and four-grouped dwelling applications.
by STEVE GRANT
Perth Voice Interactive 
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