10 August 2011
The NSW Planning and Infrastructure Minister, Brad Hazzard, has today publicly called on any major group looking to develop large parcels of land for housing to contact him.
Mr Hazzard appeared on Radio 2GBs Alan Jones radio show this morning, and was asked why he wouldnt call for expressions of interest from any company or person who holds more than 100 hectares of land suitable for housing. Mr Jones was critical of existing planning approaches that favoured the release of land with ownership fragmented amongst small scale vegetable growers.
Mr Jones said: There are people who want to build houses, entities out there, companies out there, who hold more than 100 hectares of suitable for housing, why wouldnt you ask for them to make application to you, explain how far their planning has gone, explain what their infrastructure proposals already are, and you might be able to give them a green tick, why wouldnt you do that?
Mr Hazzard told Mr Jones that he was 100 per cent with him and declared that the word is out. Mr Hazzard said that he has an absolute interest in meeting any major group of that kind. He urged them to email or ring him today, saying that he wanted to move forward as quickly as possible.
The relevant portion of the interview transcript is reproduced below:
JONES: Why wouldnt you call for expressions of interest from any entity out there which holds more than 100 hectares of land suitable for housing some of those entities have already done the planning work. Some have already done the proposals for infrastructure, and get on with meeting the massive housing shortfall?
HAZZARD: Its interesting you raise an issue about ICAC, because youre right I have actually put in place some guidelines, but Ive been meeting with people everyday for a 140 odd days and I still have over 600 requests for meetings so its quite difficult, but there are audit and ICAC requirements that came off the back of the last government and we are making sure theres transparency.
JONES: There are people who want to build houses , entities out there, companies out there, who hold more than 100 hectares suitable for housing, why wouldnt you ask for them to make application to you, explain how far their planning has gone, explain what their infrastructure proposals already are, and you might be able to give them a green tick, why wouldnt you do that?
HAZZARD: Alan, on your program right now, I say that is what I˜ve been doing, I will do it on your program, the word is out. Alan, to any major group like that, I have an absolute interest in meeting you, email me today, ring me, we want to move forward as quickly as possible.
JONES: Where can they email you.
HAZZARD: Listen Alan, were 100 per cent with you
JONES: Where can they email you?
HAZZARD: That would be great.
JONES: Where can they email you?
HAZZARD: Sorry?
JONES: Where do they email you?
HAZZARD: They can email me at my office – brad.hazzard@parliament.nsw.gov.au
JONES: brad.hazzard@parliament.nsw.gov.au?
Audio for the full interview, which extends to around 10 minutes or so, is available . The portions relevant to housing development are in the latter part of the interview, after around seven and half minutes.
