6th September 2012
Minister Hazzards announcement today of the establishment of a Housing and Infrastructure Delivery office to drive housing delivery and jobs is welcome news says the Urban Taskforce.
Planning must lead to delivery and outcomes, and this has not always occurred in the past, says Urban Taskforce Chief Executive Chris Johnson.
The new structure appears to start the change process making the Department of Planning and Infrastructure into an outcomes focussed organisation under a specialist Deputy Director General with responsibilities of driving housing supply and jobs.
The culture of planning staff must move with the Ministers initiative and this will need significant effort and leadership on the part of the Minister and executive.
While the new structure indicates positions it is ultimately the quality of the people in these key positions that will drive a new culture.
The transformational projects outlined in the new structure will be critical to the success of the Green Papers reform agenda.
The state government initiative now needs to flow into the planning departments of local government so that local government planners support the prosperity of the state by encouraging the delivery of housing and jobs.
