East Gippsland Shire Council has almost halved its planning permit approval times, making it faster and easier for landowners, residents, and businesses to get the green light on their projects.

In the September quarter, median approval times fell to just 43 days – down from 84 days during the same period last year. The percentage of permits approved within the legislated 60-day timeframe also jumped from 52% to 81%, reflecting a strong focus on service improvement and efficiency.

Mayor Cr John White said the results demonstrate the impact of targeted reforms and a renewed commitment to customer service across Council’s planning operations.

“We’ve worked hard to streamline our internal processes and cut unnecessary red tape to better support our community,” John said.

“Even with increasing complexity in the State’s planning system, our team has delivered faster results – helping landowners move forward with confidence.”

These results place East Gippsland ahead of both the statewide and Gippsland regional averages, exceeding Council’s own performance targets.

Cr White said the achievement reflects Council’s broader commitment to supporting growth, reducing regulatory barriers, and improving the customer experience.

“It’s about making it easier to do business and improve services for the people who live and invest in our region,” John said.

“Planning isn’t always simple – our team regularly works through complex legislation, neighbour concerns, and the need to balance local aspirations with State requirements.”

Town planner and director at Crowther and Sadler, Kate Young, agrees that they have certainly noticed an improvement in the processing of applications.

“This results in real benefits for our clients by delivering faster outcomes, meaning projects don’t lose momentum.’’

“The improved efficiency assists us with maintaining a good working relationship with Council’s Planning department.”

To further support the community, Council staff are available daily to assist with planning enquiries. A new, easy-to-use online customer platform will also launch soon, giving residents faster, clearer access to planning information specific to their properties.

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