Developers happy with reforms
It is designed to streamline and speed up development applications with a greater degree of public consultation, which developers, including Mirvac, Stockland, Westfield, GPT Group, Australand and Lend Lease, among others, have been demanding for years.
While none would comment on specific projects, the planned reforms would alleviate red tape required to get permission for developments such as Mirvac's Harold Park in Glebe, Stockland's recent East Leppington deal and Lend Lease's hospital and infrastructure projects.
Under the reforms revealed by Premier Barry O'Farrell and Planning Minister Brad Hazzard, there will be more community consultation through local councils, a rise in infrastructure financing, improved planning and a simpler development assessment procedure. They are aimed at simplifying development applications and financing.
Already the NSW government has abolished Part 3A of development applications, which took power away from the community, but there will be a more rigorous approach to building standards.
Stephen Bull, of Stockland's commercial property business, said: "We welcome the government's move to streamline the NSW planning system to create greater clarity and certainty for all stakeholders in the planning process. This will help speed up approval for residential and commercial property projects."
Mr Hazzard said within five years the government was aiming for 80 per cent of applications to go through a faster code assessment process, which had the potential to save the community and business around $174 million a year through reduced delays. He added the system must accommodate all developments from small houses to large mixed-use projects.
Urban Taskforce chief executive Chris Johnson said the group agreed with involving communities early in the planning process but was concerned about how representative the community would be.
"Developer contributions have been simplified with both local and regional levies proposed," he said. "As long as the costs of these levies do not kill off projects, the system seems to be a good improvement."
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The white paper outlines reforms to streamline and speed up development applications, increase community consultation through local councils, boost infrastructure financing, improve planning, and simplify the development assessment procedure. The reforms also include a more rigorous approach to building standards and follow the government's abolition of Part 3A of development approvals.
Developers have welcomed the reforms because they promise greater clarity, reduced red tape and faster approvals for residential and commercial projects. The article notes firms including Mirvac, Stockland and Lend Lease have long sought these changes, which could speed up projects like Mirvac’s Harold Park, Stockland’s East Leppington deal and Lend Lease’s hospital and infrastructure work.
Planning Minister Brad Hazzard said the goal is for 80% of applications to go through a faster code assessment process within five years. That shift has the potential to save the community and businesses about $174 million a year by reducing delays.
Yes — the reforms emphasize more community consultation through local councils and involving communities earlier in the planning process. However, industry groups such as the Urban Taskforce have raised concerns about how representative that community input will be.
The white paper proposes simplifying developer contributions by introducing both local and regional levies. Industry representatives welcomed simplification but warned that levy costs must not be so high that they 'kill off' projects.
The reforms include a more rigorous approach to building standards, and officials say the new system must accommodate all development types — from small houses to large mixed-use projects — to ensure consistent assessment.
The article names Mirvac, Stockland, Westfield, GPT Group, Australand and Lend Lease as developers that have been calling for planning reforms and have welcomed the proposed changes, though none commented on specific projects.
Everyday investors should watch for faster planning approvals and potential reductions in project delays, which can affect project timelines and costs. Also monitor how developer levies are set (local vs regional), the practical rollout of increased community consultation, and any changes to building standards — all of which could influence development viability and investment outcomes.
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