15 July, 2012
The Green Paper outlining a new planning system for NSW has all the ingredients to lift the states housing production and set the framework for growth for future generations, says the Urban Taskforce.
“The Urban Taskforce listed 10 key ideas for a better planning system in our submission to the planning review, and the Governments Green Paper delivers on every one of these, says Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson. “We congratulate the government and Minister Hazzard in particular, for the clarity and appropriateness of the 23 key proposals.
“The focus on growth is particularly important through Regional Growth Plans, Growth Infrastructure Plans and the previously announced Urbangrowth NSW to help drive appropriate development.
“Community involvement is appropriate at the early stage of determining the character of areas where growth should occur. This will require new techniques in involvement and the visualisation of future environmental characters.
“The proposal to have far more approvals undertaken as code assessable will give much more certainty to both the community and the development industry, although suggestions that design matters would be outside this, could lead to long delays.
“Another important proposal is to de-politicise the assessment process by having independent panels undertake this role. The Joint Regional Planning Panels, preferably with their own staff, and independent panels for smaller projects should lead to more certainty and to quicker decisions.
“To deliver the planning outcomes, the proposal for Regional Planning Boards is a good move to ensure a bigger picture viewpoint is taken in planning for growth.
“Proposals to provide a fairer and simpler system for infrastructure contributions are welcome, particularly if this makes the contributions more affordable and therefore keeping housing costs down.
“An important task ahead for the government will be communicating the importance of these changes to a community that has become disillusioned about planning and wary of the impact of growth and change on existing neighbourhoods. The Urban Taskforce is keen to contribute to the dialogue with the community in a constructive manner that helps lift the prosperity of the citizens in New South Wales.
