If you have had to build or renovate a property in Australia, you will be familiar with the sometimes painful process of getting consent for a Development Application from your local council. This compulsory process often leaves builders, developers and renovators fuming as a result of delays, confusion and miscommunication – but not for long – thanks to our latest major project, the eDA.

Internetrix this month commissioned an electronic Development Application (eDA) for Shellharbour City Council, which will enable people to submit a development application and supporting documentation, all online.

This is one of the first times such a venture has been undertaken in Australia, and represents a breakthrough for online service delivery by local government.

What makes this development a true first is the ability for applicants to not only submit their application – a handful of Councils have achieved this feat – but the ability for applicants to track it right through to conclusion – all online! Now, applicants can track the cause of any hold-ups, and time of the day or night, and because it makes it easier for assessment officers to get clarification electronically, it delivers efficiency gains at the same time as delivering process transparency. Applicants can even enter enquiries as well as answer questions from assessment officers, straight into the system, via the website or via email.

Internetrix are excited to be taking this new product to the Local Government Association 2003 Annual Conference in Albury, 9-12th November. Working closely with Shellharbour Council, we are looking forward to taking this product forward to many other Councils in the coming months. Underpinned by one of our flagship products, Gravity, the eDA is an exciting example of using the internet to make a real difference.

This initiative, coming hot on the heels of the Online Mapping System deployed by Shellharbour Council a couple of months ago, further demonstrates their leadership in online service delivery for the benefit of their residents. Currently being rolled out in a phased approach, watch this space to see more in the future about how you can access this new and innovative system for your needs!