12 February 2014
While the NSW Government has announced that they will be driving new housing as well as considering options to implement planning reforms, the industry and the community need leadership on the way forward, says the Urban Taskforce.
“There is some confusion between the media reports that the Premier has said the Planning Minister should deliver the planning reforms using existing powers and a more recent statement that options are still being considered,” said Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “We believe the government should proceed with the reforms as outlined in their White Paper and that most of this can be done through existing legislation.”
“NSW housing supply cannot wait until after the next election. The government can develop a package of changes that come from the proposed reforms and implement these within the existing Planning Act.”
“Much of the community concern about the planning reforms has come from scaremongering from opposition politicians. Claims by the Greens that the Eastern Suburbs will have ‘high rise to the seaside’ or that the government plans ‘to bulldoze the North Shore’ are clearly gross exaggerations that are intended to stir up community anger against change to the planning system.”
“With claims like these it is no wonder that concerns have been raised by the community against any change.”
“Having created community fear of overdevelopment the opposition parties have then claimed they are responding to the community.”
