Local Government NSW (LGNSW) has today acknowledged the deliberations of the first meeting of the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) and is urging the Government to now work with councils in the next phase of assessment.
The HDA received more than 160 expressions of interest, with the panel assessing the first 28 proposals earlier this month.
Of the 28, 11 have been declared State Significant Projects, meaning they will further bypass the need for councils to assess them, but will still be subject to further assessment from the NSW Planning Department.
Eight of the applications were rejected due to not meeting the criteria of well-located, quality, affordable housing. The other nine will require either further monitoring or more information.
LGNSW President, Forbes Shire Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM said while councils don’t support the function of the HDA, the sector will now need to play an integral role to ensure local amenity is protected and vital infrastructure is delivered.
“We now encourage the Government to work with councils and developers to ensure these applications progress through a fulsome state significant development (SSD) assessment process, with consideration of necessary infrastructure contributions, and then those proposed dwellings actually get built within the proposed timeline featured as part of the EOI process,” President Miller said.
“Local government always welcomes genuine and appropriate solutions to the housing crisis, but not at the expense of community amenity and much needed greenspace. In order to make sure our communities don’t get forgotten, councils now need to be funded to undertake the important review work critical to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process that features in the SSD assessment pathway,” she said.
While remaining critical of the process, President Miller did express appreciation to NSW Minister for Planning, Paul Scully, for honouring the local government sector’s call for transparency.
“The fact that the HDA has published all the EOIs – including the unsuccessful ones – with detailed information about their final decisions is a welcome move,” she said.
“Communities have a right to know what developers are proposing, and this is exactly what I called for in my letter to the Minister in January, and we take it as a sign of goodwill from the government that they are willing to work openly and in collaboration with the local government sector.”
Minister Scully said some applicants submitted proposals that were already well progressed along another, more suitable assessment pathway. These have been advised that they are on the right pathway for their proposal, he said.
He confirmed the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will now provide clear advice and guidance to HDA applicants on the next steps to take with their development proposal.
“The Minns Labor Government is reforming the planning system to deliver more market and affordable housing across NSW because everyone having access to a home – either to rent or buy – is a foundation of social and economic participation,” said Mr Scully.
“The Housing Delivery Authority not only encourages new housing proposals by asking for expressions of interest, but it also allows existing proposals to receive fast track consideration by being assessed by the State rather than the local Council.
“The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to streamline the planning system to create more homes. In just the first meeting, we have the potential for 6,400 homes. That is thousands of families, workers and grandparents finding a home.”
Housing projects that have detailed plans submitted within nine months and can begin construction within 12 months of approval and deliver affordable housing were given priority by the HDA, to set a clear benchmark for future EOI submissions, said the Minister.
The HDA has resolved to meet fortnightly to consider further EOIs in a timely manner.
Recommendations from the HDA are published as required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 before the SSD declaration. For more information visit Housing Delivery Authority | Planning.
