UDIA NSW welcomes today’s announcement by the Government that it will take back control of the state’s strategic planning functions and the establishment of key housing delivery targets.
There is no doubt that the Greater Cities Commission has played a pivotal role in elevating strategic planning in NSW, since its establishment as the Greater Sydney Commission in 2015. The UDIA acknowledges the vital and interconnected role of our regional centres and cities within Sydney and the now the expanded six cities megaregion, including the Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle, Central Coast and Illawarra-Shoalhaven.
UDIA CEO Steve Mann said “the Greater Cities Commission were pivotal in re-thinking Sydney as a polycentric Metropolis of three cities and expanding the thinking to the Sydney Megaregion and UDIA believes we must continue to think about the big picture if Sydney is to continue to be a globally competitive city.”
“While we welcome today’s announcement, we must ensure it does not further delay the release of clear housing targets across the Six Cities Megaregion and details of the Government’s policies that will help deliver the 378,000 new homes needed for the people of NSW over the next five years.”
“The Minns Government has made a bold and clear commitment to tackle the acute housing crisis gripping our state and we believe the time is now right to centralise the strategic and statutory planning functions and put a greater focus on implementation and housing delivery.”
“Achieving this record new housing supply will be difficult but with the right housing targets in place across our cities, regions and local government areas, matched with planning initiatives to grow the delivery of housing, we can tackle the housing and affordability crisis.
“UDIA encourages the Government to ensure development feasibility is a central consideration when setting housing targets and any future Accord initiatives. This will ensure targets are not hollow aspirations but can actually deliver new homes,”: Mr Mann said.
The development Industry needs certainty to enable it to invest and deliver housing in NSW and UDIA call on Government to ensure strong alignment between the Housing Accord initiatives and future housing targets.
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Media Enquiries:
Gavin Melvin – gmelvin@udiansw.com.au