The NSW Government’s newly-announced $83m plan to remove swathes of red tape currently wrapped around the planning system is being celebrated as a huge win by Property Council NSW.
They predict the NSW Planning Reform Action Plan will “speed up the planning system, create jobs and support the economic recovery” of the state.
The Action Plan will streamline many processes that have traditionally been timely and complicated.
Under the new plan, rezoning decisions will be cut by 191 days, a 33 per cent reduction; decisions on development applications for “larger, regionally significant projects” will be slashed by 91 days (25 per cent); with decisions on “major projects of significance to the State” cut by 20 days (17 per cent).
In addition, the ePlanning Program will be made easier, many agency concurrences and referral requirements will be slashed, and the role of the Land and Environment Court will be boosted, with extra resources.
“[This week’s] announcement is another significant milestone in the Premier’s quest to take the NSW planning system from the bottom to the top,” Property Council’s NSW Executive Director, Jane Fitzgerald said.
“The Property Council has been working hard with our members and the NSW Government to put forward key recommendations to improve planning processes, which are more efficient and streamlined to help the NSW economy recover.
“We know that the property industry is key to supporting our economic recovery and will keep people in jobs, which is our number one priority.
“A stronger, more solid pipeline of future work has never been needed more than at this time and we commend the NSW Government on taking the leadership to tackle the necessary reforms to improve the planning system,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
