AFTER YEARS IN OPPOSITION, THE INCOMING COALITION GOVERNMENT IN NSW HAS FOCUSSED ITS ATTENTION ON THE ANAEMIC RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION SECTOR IN THE STATE
First off the rank was a budget in June that places a firm emphasis on stimulating new home construction.
Key initiatives focussed mainly on the provision of grants to purchasers of new homes. This involved more than doubling First Home Owner Grants to $15,000 for purchasers of new properties, extending current stamp duty concessions for first home buyers, and the creation of a New Home Grant of $5,000 to all non-first home buyers of new properties.
However, the state government needed to offer more than monetary incentives to drive a recovery in the country’s biggest metropolis.
In last year’s Productivity Commission report “Performance Benchmarking of Australian Business Regulation: Planning, Zoning and Development Assessments”, Sydney’s ability to deliver strategic planning was ranked lowest in the country. Congestion and affordability were noted as the key concerns for the city.
In his 90 page green paper, “A New Planning System for NSW”, Planning Minister Brad Hazzard has proposed a strategy that tries to address some of the Productivity Commission’s most scathing critiques.
Some 23 key reforms are outlined, including a public participation charter; three simplified land use zones; increased code assessment; contestable infrastructure delivery; a CEOs group to drive government reform; and a change to planning culture.
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges will be how to thoroughly engage the community at the strategic planning phase.
Hazzard is proposing a system based on upfront strategic land-use planning through early community participation and then a straightforward approval path for development that complies with the strategy.
Typically, the community generally only becomes involved when a development is proposed in their own backyard.
So far, the proposal has been well received but the challenge lies in the delivery. Legislation is scheduled to be tabled in 2013.
Key proposals for NSW planning
Community participation
- Public Participation Charter
- Early and effective community participation in strategic plans
Streamlined approval
- Development that complies with strategic plans to be allowed
- More code assessment
Strategic focus
- New zones for enterprise, suburban character and future urban release areas
- Replace SEPPs with high level directions
Infrastructure linked to planning
- Contestable infrastructure for greater private sector participation