Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW has welcomed the Government’s announcement today of $3.3bn committed to NSW’s infrastructure pipeline.
Two types of infrastructure are critical to the future of Australia. The first of these is the city shaping infrastructure and the second is the enabling infrastructure that is essential for housing supply.
“We have been making the case for city shaping infrastructure such as faster rail for many years and so we are pleased to see the government’s commitment to the Sydney to Newcastle faster rail upgrade and Stage 2 of the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport Line, as it demonstrates a recognition of the need for this type of infrastructure,” said Steve Mann, CEO of UDIA NSW.
However, UDIA NSW cautions that city shaping infrastructure only meets its objectives if it is aligned with urban planning, and none of today’s infrastructure commitments was for enabling infrastructure.
To put this in perspective, the delivery of city shaping infrastructure has failed to be supported with appropriate urban planning and this has dramatically hindered the delivery of housing supply, which is contributing to the housing and affordability crisis across NSW.
Last year, UDIA NSW identified key enabling infrastructure that is the roads, sewers and water required across the Six Cities Megaregion to deliver 140,000 homes.
The recent Falinski report on the Housing Supply & Affordability Inquiry recommended the Federal Government stop acting as a giant money tree and needs to start tying its infrastructure funding with urban planning reform so that it delivers the homes we need.
“Across NSW, we are desperately short of development ready land with enabling infrastructure and biodiversity issues resolved. If we do not invest in enabling infrastructure, then we simply cannot deliver the homes people need and the housing and affordability crisis will get worse,” Steve Mann commented.
For more information please contact Deanna Lane, Media & Communications Manager on 0416295 898 or dlane@udiansw.com.au