Councillors are expected to approve on Monday night a 40-day test of a new internet website,portal.singleton.nsw.gov. au/eplanning_test.

It will improve access to a range of information and include the exhibition of amendments to the town’s key planning document, the development control plan.

Response to the test will be reported back to councillors.

A public information session about the website will be held during the test period.

The website has cost almost $15,000 to set up and will cost about $6000 a year to run.

Planning director Mark Ihlein said the new “portal” was part of a progressive upgrade that aimed to create a one-stop council e-planning shop by the middle of next year.

“This is about providing a high level of consistent information that people will more easily be able to access,” Mr Ihlein said.

The e-planning upgrade is being developed by strategic planner Gary Pearson.

“Some planning information has been available through the council’s website for a while, but it’s been tweaked and added to so that people can better track development applications,” Mr Pearson said.

“Because this is web-based information people will be able to link documents together to see where things are up to.

“And as part of the test, Singleton’s draft development control plan will also be exhibited for comment.”

Mr Ihlein said: “This is a 24/7 way of getting planning information out and save people having to come in to the counter, but anyone can still come in and talk if they are more comfortable doing that.”

“Ultimately, with e-planning, people will be able to make pre-development application inquiries, do a self-assessment, lodge development applications and keep an eye on their progress.

“For people who go down this track the council will be able to give a guaranteed timeframe for the consideration of their applications.”