Planning Review Progress is Promising
Date: 9 Dec 2011
The authors of the NSW Planning Review Issues Paper have done a thorough job in their consultation process and are posing the right questions about the way forward for development in NSW, says UDIA NSW. The Issues Paper includes more than 240 questions the authors are asking for further submissions on, including the key question of how to create a framework that ensures more effective cooperation between councils, government agencies, the community and developers. The Issues Paper features questions about plan making, consultation during the plan-making stage, simplification of the development assessment process, the use of new technologies to aid efficiency and transparency, and the periodic review and evaluation of plans.
UDIA NSW has advocated, in its submission to the Planning Review, that an efficient and transparent planning system is crucial to economic and housing growth in NSW. Mr Albin said he welcomed the inclusion in the Issues Paper of numerous references to both strategic planning, and consultation during the plan-making stage. “We argue that strategic development plans would play a crucial in a new planning system by providing clear policy direction and objectives that will foster economic growth in this state, while balancing this growth with positive social and environmental outcomes,’’ he said. “UDIA also believes that a coordinated approach to this plan making, providing greater emphasis on consultation between State and local government agencies as well as the community, will increase the confidence for further investment by the development industry in this state. The Issues Paper makes it clear both issues are being seriously considered, as well as the potential to enshrine in law the role of strategic plans.’’
Mr Albin said UDIA NSW would be making a detailed submission to the questions contained in the issues paper.
For a copy of the Issues Paper, click here.