Yesterday's ICAC recommendations concerning 'Part 3A' of NSW's planning laws should be considered as part of a broad review of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, according to the Urban Taskforce.
'Part 3A' sets out the process for assessing projects of state or regional significance.
The Taskforce's chief executive, Aaron Gadiel, says that a broad review of planning legislation should consider changes in assessment processes for state and regional projects, as well as 'Part 4' processes for local projects.
"It's best that government takes a holistic approach," he says.
"The problems with the local planning process shouldn't be ignored when considering ICAC's recommendations."
Gadiel says that NSW property development has been in serious decline since 2002.
"Until 2007, NSW was the nation's number one state for building activity - this shouldn't have been surprising given that it's Australia's most populous state," he says.
"However, in 2007, Victoria stole NSW's title.
"Victoria has never looked back - in the last financial year, for every dollar spent by builders in NSW, $1.20 was spent in Victoria.
"No Australian capital city approves less new homes per head of population than Sydney."
The Urban Taskforce is a property development industry group, representing Australia's most prominent property developers and equity financiers.
