Development assessment processes in New South Wales aren’t making the grade, according to new research from the Residential Development Council (RDC) and the Property Council of Australia (PCA).
The RDC/PCA’s Development Assessment Forum (DAF) Reform Implementation Report Card identifies progress on DA reform across the states and the necessary steps that must be taken to fully implement the 10 Leading Practice Principles developed by the DAF to improve development assessment processes.
NSW scored 5.2 out of 10 – leaving it ranked equal last of all states and territories.
However, if NSW implements the recent announcements for more efficient processes, the score will increase to 7.1.
The following report card grades each state based on their current performance against each of the 10 DAF principles:
|
State |
Current System Score out of 10 |
|
NSW |
5.2 |
|
VIC |
6.2 |
|
QLD |
5.8 |
|
WA |
5.3 |
|
SA |
6.8 |
|
TAS |
5.2 |
|
ACT |
6.2 |
|
NT |
7.3 |
The following report card grades states on their future potential. It is based on the planning reform announcements and commitments by governments that have not yet been implemented.
|
State |
Score if Government
Announcements Implemented |
|
NSW |
7.1 |
|
VIC |
6.5 |
|
QLD |
6.8 |
|
WA |
7.2 |
|
SA |
7.7 |
|
TAS |
6.6 |
|
ACT |
6.9 |
|
NT |
7.3 |
“NSW has a sorry story to tell in the delivery of new housing and economic growth – and the complex planning system here can take much of the blame,” NSW Acting Executive Director Glenn Byres said today.
“We need 25,000 new homes a year in Sydney alone to meet the demands of inevitable future growth, yet last year the figure fell to around 13,000.
“The poor performance of our development assessment processes has been matched by high taxes and infrastructure charges that strangle investment.
“In 2009, NSW made a start on promised planning reforms – introducing independent panels that will restore confidence to a battered system.
“It now needs to act swiftly on the next wave of reforms that will encourage economic growth and close the housing supply gap.
“Our stalled economy and housing supply market demand further movement on promised reforms that offer the hope of simplicity, efficiency and transparency.”
NSW must act on priority issues including:
· Finalising regional strategies as a matter of priority;
· Extending the use complying development codes, particularly commercial, industrial and multi-unit;
· Accelerating the delivery of Local Environment Plans and lifting the efficiency of rezoning processes;
· Removing complexity and delays from the state agency approvals process;
“NSW also needs to move quickly to release the Transport Blueprint and start the five-year review of the Sydney Metro Strategy,” Mr Byres said.
“Blending these two documents into a Growth Plan for Sydney will also give clear strategic direction to the way we grow and prosper as a city by better integrating land use and infrastructure planning.”
-ends-
* For more information, a copy of the report can be downloaded from www.propertyoz.com.au
Media contact: Glenn Byres, Acting Executive Director, 0419 695 435.
