The third generation of DA Finder, the ACT Government’s phone application enabling users to find details about property developments around the Territory, launched today.

First launched in 2014, DA Finder has had more than 4,500 downloads.

Mick Gentleman, ACT Minister for Planning and Land Management, said the DA Finder app made the planning system easier to access and more transparent.

“Canberrans have a stake in land and property developments in their neighbourhoods and communities,” Mr Gentleman said. “We’re committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to find out about proposed developments in areas they care about, and the chance to have their say on them.”

Version three’s new features include integration with Google Street View and improved functionality.  

The app’s new notification system allows users to ‘follow’ individual development applications and be notified as soon as new information is available. Updated archive functions also make viewing historical development decisions easy.

“Users can follow ‘regions of interest’ around the Territory and be notified about any new development activity occurring in that area,” Mr Gentleman said.

The ACT planning website has also had a facelift to make commenting on current development applications and finding out about past DA decisions simpler.

“Community groups have been asking for development applications to remain on the planning website for longer, and we’re excited to have completed the work needed to deliver that,” Mr Gentleman said.

“Together with the app, Canberrans now have 24/7 access to the latest development and planning information, making it much easier for homeowners, and people considering buying in an area, to see what developments have been approved but not yet built.

“This is an important step forward for our planning system.”

Mr Gentleman said the DA Finder app was a great example of how the ACT Government would use increasingly sophisticated data management tools to improve the accessibility and transparency of planning information – a principle at the heart of the Planning System Review and Reform Project.

The app is available for free on both iOS and Android smartphones. For more information, visit the ACT Government’s Planning website.

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