The suggestion that a residential development proposal would be automatically approved with no assessment is wrong and intended to scaremonger.

There are a number of sites throughout Sydney already zoned for medium density near to transport and town centres that, under the Government’s reforms, could allow medium density residential development to occur.

In areas already zoned for medium density, medium density buildings will be permitted. This does not require any changes to the existing zoning of those lots, rather it permits what the zone had already been identified by council for.

The NSW government is interested in density done well, not fear campaigns with no basis in reality.

All the Government’s reforms do is require councils to consider developments they have previously completely ruled out. 

Councils have just said no to terraces, dual occupancies and midrise apartment blocks.  They haven't even considered them.

The Government’s reforms simply require councils to consider these housing types. 

Councils can still assess and modify developments based on a range of factors including overshadowing, sunlight, privacy, traffic and more.

This week a paper from the Productivity Commission, ‘What we gain by building more homes in the right places’, found that between 2016 and 2021, Sydney lost twice as many people aged 30 to 40 as it gained. 35,000 came to Sydney, but 70,000 left.

The NSW Government is focused on getting the balance right between building new homes and protecting the character of communities.  It doesn’t have to be an either or choice.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The simple principle that underlies the Minns Government’s reforms is that if a council has already identified an area to be suitable for medium density, then medium density buildings should be permitted and councils will continue to have powers to assess development applications.

“Councils can still assess and modify developments based on a range of factors including overshadowing, sunlight, privacy, traffic and more.

“Our low to medium density reforms are aimed at creating more diverse housing for young people, essential workers and families. We’re talking about terraces, town houses and small apartment blocks.

“We’re focused on creating homes where people want to be.

“Artists impressions' of what the Council thinks could happen at Bondi and other parts of Waverley are frankly absurd.

“No one in their right mind would approve that.

“The NSW government is interested in density done well not fear campaigns with no basis in reality.

“The public debate must be better than this.

“Scaremongering will mean another generation of young people in Sydney and NSW gets locked out of the housing market.

“I’ve been speaking with councils who are keen to work with us and create more housing for their community. And I look forward to similar constructive conversations with other Councils.

“Allowing something to be built on a lot that has already been zoned for it, close to transport and town centres allows us to confront the housing crisis and get more people into well-located homes, close to transport, jobs and community amenity.”