The Green Paper just released outlining a new planning system for NSW has all the ingredients to lift the state's housing production and set the framework for growth for future generations, says property development industry group the Urban Taskforce.

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) also welcomed the paper ‘A New Planning System for New South Wales’, particularly the focus on attempting to create a cultural change within state and local government in achieving planning outcomes. 

“This aspect of the Green Paper is major step in the right direction and should be applauded” said David Bare, HIA NSW Executive Director.

"The Urban Taskforce listed 10 key ideas for a better planning system in our submission to the planning review, and the Governments Green Paper delivers on every one of these", says Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson.

 "We congratulate the government and Minister Hazzard in particular, for the clarity and appropriateness of the 23 key proposals.

"The focus on growth is particularly important through Regional Growth Plans, Growth Infrastructure Plans and the previously announced Urbangrowth NSW to help drive appropriatendevelopment.

"Community involvement is appropriate at the early stage of determining the character of areas where growth should occur. This will require new techniques in involvement and the visualisation of future environmental characters.

"The proposal to have far more approvals undertaken as code assessable will give much more certainty to both the community and the development industry, although suggestions that design matters would be outside this, could lead to long delays.

"Another important proposal is to de-politicise the assessment process by having independent panels undertake this role. The Joint Regional Planning Panels, preferably with their own staff, and independent panels for smaller projects should lead to more certainty and to quicker decisions.

"To deliver the planning outcomes, the proposal for Regional Planning Boards is a good move to ensure a bigger picture viewpoint is taken in planning for growth.

"Proposals to provide a fairer and simpler system for infrastructure contributions are welcome, particularly if this makes the contributions more affordable and therefore keeping housing costs down.

 

As an initial response, HIA is supportive of a number of key initiatives outlined in the paper. Some of these include:

  • Streamlining of State and Local plans
  • Maximising code complying development
  • Community engagement in the early stages of the strategic planning phase
  • Mandatory performance monitoring against targets
  • Reforms for infrastructure delivery and a more equitable sharing of costs