UDIA NSW slightly encouraged by 25% improvement in planning assessment times
The announcement today by Minister for Planning & Public Space, Rob Stokes that 13 councils from Lake Macquarie to Sutherland have been given financial incentive to speed up assessment times for regionally significant development applications is seen as a good step to improve DAs above $30 million, which is the key focus for economic growth, jobs and housing supply.
However, the 25% improvement would still mean that NSW would be the worst performing state in Australia for assessment times and we think that the ambition should be higher, giving the housing supply and affordability crisis in NSW.
From the figures provided in the Productivity Commissioner’s White Paper, the 25% decrease would theoretically have the following impacts;
| Category | Current NSW performance | NSW 25% improvement | Other states |
| Medium Density | 200 days | 150 days | 70 to 105 days |
| High Density | 190 days | 142.5 days | 105 days |
| Greenfield sub-divisions | 130 days | 98 days | 2nd slowest state – QLD (100 days) |
“If NSW aims to be the Premier state in everything it does, why when it comes to the planning system, are even the proposed improvements keeping NSW last behind the other states. NSW needs to get more ambitious if it is to tackle the housing and affordability crisis we face throughout the state.” said Steve Mann, CEO of UDIA NSW.
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Deanna Lane 0416 295 898 or dlane@udiansw.com.au.
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