The New South Wales Government will cut red tape and fast-track planning processes through an acceleration program which is likely to have important impacts on consent authorities and proponents of development.
The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes, said the program’s ambition is to keep construction booming in NSW to support the state’s economic recovery.
The Planning System Acceleration Program will reduce the significant delay faced by appellants of development applications that have been refused or deemed to have been refused. Currently, such matters are being listed for conciliation months after these appeals are lodged.
The Planning System Acceleration Program will also:
- Create opportunities for more than 30,000 construction jobs in the next six months;
- Fast-track assessments of State Significant Developments, rezonings and development applications (DAs), with more decisions to be made by the Minister if required;
- Support councils and planning panels to fast-track local and regionally significant DAs;
- Introduce a ‘one stop shop’ for industry to progress projects that may be ‘stuck in the system’; and
- Invest $70 million to co-fund vital new community infrastructure in North West Sydney including roads, drainage and public parks to unlock plans for the construction of thousands of new houses.
In addition to this announcement, Mr Stokes has made a further order under the new power in section 10.17 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) to allow for building work (the subject of an existing development consent) to be carried out on a Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday.
Mr Stokes said the planning system would undergo further reform to ensure it enables economic growth once the COVID-19 crisis is over. Further details of additional reforms will be released in the coming weeks.