Local councils across Australia are participating in the project to standardize the DA process and eliminate duplication. As part of a bid for funds from the A$50 million Regulation Reduction Incentive Fund set up by the federal government to slash red tape for small business, local government associations and councils collaborated in 2005 on the National Electronic Development Assessment Fund.

Close to 100 councils have signed up for the project, 31 projects are on the way and 13 IT suppliers have been short-listed for the work.Streamlining DA processes is expected to cut permit processing times and save up to A$16 million per day.

Cairns City Council has been selected to lead the way with a A$7.1 million grant to implement a 'role model' solution that will set the standard for other implementations.

The Cairns project starts in November and is set for completion in March, 2007.

Other role model councils, which are responsible for piloting and testing the new eDA software, include Redlands Shire Council (Qld), Hunters Hill and Baulkham Hills in Sydney's suburbs.