Muswellbrook Shire Council has launched DAISY, a new digital planning assistant to help residents navigate the early stages of the development application process.
DAISY, which stands for Development Application Information SYstem, is an artificial intelligence-powered tool available through Council’s website. It provides 24-hour access to planning information and guidance to help residents understand requirements and prepare residential development applications.
DAISY can help users understand residential planning rules, identify what type of approval may be required, determine what documents they may need and prepare their application for submission through the NSW Planning Portal.
Users can start by entering their property address and asking DAISY questions about their proposed development. Those who log in can also save their progress, receive a personalised checklist of required documents and upload documents for validation.
Muswellbrook Shire Mayor Jeff Drayton said DAISY provided residents with another way to access planning information and better prepare before lodging an application.
“For many people, particularly those going through the development application process for the first time, it can be difficult to know where to start,” Mayor Drayton said.
“DAISY provides residents with a simple starting point where they can ask questions about their property and what they’re looking to do and better understand what may be required.
“It won’t replace our planning staff or Council’s assessment processes, but it gives residents access to useful information at any time and can help them be better prepared before they lodge an application.”
DAISY currently supports low-density residential development, including projects such as alterations to an existing home or the construction of a new secondary dwelling. It does not currently support commercial, industrial, mixed-use or higher-density developments.
DAISY is designed to provide guidance and cannot make decisions on development applications, submit applications on behalf of residents or track the progress of an application.
As an AI-powered tool, DAISY will continue to be refined and improved over time through updates, testing and community feedback. Residents are encouraged to check with Council or refer to official planning documents if they are unsure about information provided by the tool.
DAISY is a free to use and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Development section of Muswellbrook Shire Council’s website.
For more information about DAISY, including how to get started, visit Council’s DAISY webpage.
