13 December 2010
Todays ICAC recommendations concerning ˜Part 3A of NSWs planning laws should be considered as part of a broad review of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, according to the Urban Taskforce. ˜Part 3A sets out the process for assessing projects of state or regional significance.
The Taskforces chief executive, Aaron Gadiel, said that a broad review of planning legislation should consider changes in assessment processes for state and regional projects, as well as ˜Part 4 processes for local projects.
Its best that government takes a holistic approach, he said.
The problems with the local planning process shouldnt be ignored when considering ICACs recommendations.
Mr Gadiel said that NSW property development has been in serious decline since 2002.
Until 2007, NSW was the nations number one state for building activity this shouldnt have been surprising given that its Australias most populous state, he said.
However, in 2007, Victoria stole NSWs title.
Victoria has never looked back in the last financial year, for every dollar spent by builders in NSW, $1.20 was spent in Victoria.
No Australian capital city approves less new homes per head of population than Sydney.
The Urban Taskforce is a property development industry group, representing Australias most prominent property developers and equity financiers.
