The changes proposed in this Bill will modernise the nearly 50 year old Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, cutting red tape and delays that have been holding back housing and infrastructure delivery across New South Wales.
Stakeholders from across the housing and planning sector have welcomed the reforms as a commonsense and long-overdue reset of the planning system to help get more homes built, faster.
CEO of Urban Development Industry Association Stuart Ayres said:
“This is the planning reform that NSW needs to help industry build the homes people need. I am confident these reforms will see more homes built faster.”
Sydney YIMBY said:
“We think it’s great that the Minns Government is putting this forward, and that the Opposition leader Mark Speakman has said that they’re “pro-housing, pro-reform”. We encourage them to back this change in and set up a planning system that will provide for our children and grandchildren in decades to come.”
Committee for Sydney said:
“We’re on the verge of the biggest reform the planning system has seen in decades. The planning system we have has created headaches for communities, councils and developers alike. Too often, good projects for housing, infrastructure and development are caught in a maze that can run through as many as 22 agencies.”
Chair of the Housing Now! Alliance and Executive Director of Business Western Sydney David Borger said:
“This is the kind of system reset we’ve been calling for.”
CEO of Urban Taskforce Australia Tom Forrest said:
“Making housing a central Object of the EP&Act represents a seismic shift in how NSW approaches planning and housing supply.”
NSW President of the Planning Institute of Australia Sue Weatherley said:
“Planners support a risk-based approach to development assessment – where low-risk, straightforward development can proceed through streamlined pathways – freeing up resources for more complex or higher-risk proposals.”
Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson said:
“It represents a major step forward in modernising the NSW planning system – the reforms will help to clear the backlog of smaller, simpler projects and free up important resources to get on with the more complex projects that drive jobs, housing and economic growth.”
Master Builders Incoming NSW Executive Director Matthew Pollock:
“The Government deserves credit for taking on a system where unconstrained rules and regulations, unnecessary inconsistencies and duplication is holding builders back from getting on with tackling the housing crisis.”
The Green Building Council said:
“The bill represents the most significant overhaul of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act in almost 50 years.”
Mayor of the Inner West Council Darcy Byrne said:
"Simplifying and modernising our State's planning legislation is the single most important thing that must be done if we are to stop the exodus of young people from our city."
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“The reaction to this bill demonstrates there is consensus that reform is essential.
“The broad support we’ve seen shows these reforms are the right step to deliver more homes, faster, and give young people and families a fair shot at living where they want.
“I am encouraged by the supporting statements that the Opposition have made. I would say to everyone let’s not delay these reforms and play politics with them. Let’s get on with it.”
