25 September 2007
The NSW Urban Taskforce has told the State Government that the Central Sydney Planning Committee should assume responsibility for planning and major development assessment in North Sydney. The Taskforce is making the push in response to the Department of Plannings draft Inner North subregional strategy.
Aaron Gadiel, the Taskforces Chief Executive, said that the State Government now describes the central business districts of Sydney and North Sydney as ˜Global Sydney.
This makes the City and North Sydney the two most crucial areas in the metropolitan region, Mr Gadiel said.
North Sydney is Sydney’s second largest office market and is a key harbour and foreshore location for businesses, residents and tourists.
The Central Sydney Planning Committee currently determines development applications for major developments which exceed $50 million and for innovative development applications seeking flexibility in development standards, Mr Gadiel said.
They also must approve planning controls before they are exhibited or finalised.
But the Committees powers are limited to the City of Sydney.
The Central Sydney Planning Committee includes council appointees, independent experts and State Government representatives.
Planning for North Sydney should mirror that of the other half of the Global Sydney – the central business district of the City of Sydney.
North Sydneys status as part of Global Sydney needs to be reflected in the planning arrangements.
We cant afford to have poor planning decisions in North Sydney just as we cant afford to have them in the City of Sydney.
The NSW Urban Taskforce is a property development industry group, representing NSWs most prominent and important developers, builders and property financiers. The NSW development industrys annual turnover is $35 billion and employs 180,000 people, accounting for six percent of the States total employment. It is the fifth largest contributor to the State economy.
Media Enquires:
Aaron Gadiel,
Chief Executive Officer,
Phone: 0417 477 904 or (02) 9238 3955
