Queensland Government
The Queensland Government Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning (DSDILGP) plays a key role in driving the success of multiple state initiatives and strategies to ensure economic development to the greater Queensland area of Australia.
Business Problem
DSDILGP set out to overhaul the planning laws to create the most efficient planning and development assessment system. The greater Queensland development industry recognized that it needed to improve the way in which development assessment and state projects were processed and development was approved, in order to facilitate economic development. DSDILGP needed to adopt a business model that would allow for efficient processing of development applications where a state agency was involved, the ability to constantly review and streamline the legislative framework, and accurately report on the key processing metrics.
Appian Solution
A key component of the DSDILGP planning reform agenda was the creation of the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA). DSDILGP launched SARA to reorganize and streamline development applications covering everything from high-rise building approvals to clearing vegetation. SARA’s central operating system is built on Appian. Called MyDAS (Development Assessment System), it is a new online business support system that allows applicants to prepare and lodge applications efficiently. MyDAS takes applications directly from the web using Appian business workflows, then coordinates the process of development assessment by DSDILGP with potential input from multiple state agencies. This allows for the efficient assessment of a range of issues based on legislated criteria – while helping the interested parties manage the legislated service levels, saving applicants time and money. DSDILGP was recognized as the overall winner of the Planning Institute of Australia’s (PIA) 2013 Queensland Awards for Planning Excellence. SARA not only won the 2013 Improving Planning Processes and Practices Award, but also took the Overall Winner Award from a field of 14 finalists and a total of 70 nominees.
