29 October 2012
The announcement by Minister Hazzard that rezoning applications which are rejected can be appealed to an independent level in the planning system is a great step forward in boosting NSW housing supply and jobs, says the Urban Taskforce.
The industry has been frustrated for many years by the inability to have a review of rezoning proposals that are refused for new housing or other building types that have merit, says the Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson.
The state has lost many reasonable development projects through the inflexibility of the approval process.
There are often changing circumstances or cases where local plans do not reflect higher level strategic plans that lead to a different type of development from that defined in a local plan that justifies a rezoning.
The proposal to refer council refusals to the Joint Regional Planning Panel and Department of Planning refusals to the Planning Assessment Commission are sensible ways of getting an independent assessment of decisions.
While planners at state and local level have many skills they are not at the coalface of market place changes, often driven by new forms of technology or social changes. Those taking the risk of developing in a changing market place are often closer to market trends and the reality of consumer preferences.
The Urban Taskforce is pleased that the Minister is making this and other recent changes now rather than waiting for the new Planning Act.
