Making livable environments: news

On 16 April 2013, the NSW Government released its white paper on a new planning system for public consultation. The white paper’s proposals include mechanisms to facilitate the fast-tracking of 80% of development proposals, with most decisions being made within 25 days. The release of the white paper follows a consultation process that includes the release of a green paper in July 2012. The closing date for submissions is June 28. Read more.

On 19 March 2013, NSW Planning and Infrastructure released a 'Draft metropolitan strategy for Sydney to 2031' for public consultation. The draft strategy states that Sydney will require an extra 545,000 homes by 2031. It also divides the city into nine 'city shaper' locations as being key to shaping future growth across greater Sydney: Global Sydney; Global Economic Corridor; Sydney Harbour; Parramatta; Parramatta Road corridor; Anzac Parade corridor; North West Rail Link corridor; Western Sydney Employment Area; and Sydney’s Metropolitan Rural Area. Feedback is due by 31 May 2013, to feed into the final metropolitan strategy (which will be released later this year). In Shelter NSW's submission on the Sydney metropolitan strategy review discussion paper, we called for targets for affordable housing to be included in the strategy, but they have not been incorporated: see our submission (6 May 2010). Read about the 'Draft metropolitan strategy for Sydney to 2031'.

NSW Planning and Infrastructure announced four housing supply programs on what it dubbed 'super Saturday', 16 March 2013:

• The North West Rail Link Corridor Strategy was released to guide future development around the eight new stations of the North West Rail Link — feedback is due by 30 April 2013.
• Land-use zoning, building density and height levels, design quality, public parks and streetscapes, and traffic and transport in eight existing urban areas are to be reviewed under the new Urban Activation Precincts program — so far, Planning Studies and draft Development Control Plans for North Ryde Station and Epping Town Centre have been released, and feedback is due by 30 April 2013.
• Land across five precincts in Sydney’s Growth Centres near the new North-West and South-West Rail Links is to be re-zoned, and three additional North West Growth Centre precincts have been released.
• Seven outer suburban greenfield sites for potential new housing lots are to be progressed under the Potential Home Sites program, with 13 other sites to be investigated.

The programs aim to support the delivery of a total of up to 172,000 new homes across Sydney, but the programs do not include targets for affordable housing. Read more details about the program announcements.

NSW Planning and Infrastructure is seeking feedback on a discussion paper on planning for the Lower Hunter region of New South Wales over the next 20 years. Comments are to feed into a draft plan covering issues such as housing, jobs, transport, community infrastructure and the environment. Feedback is due by 3 May 2013. Read the discussion paper.

On July 27, a statewide series of forums for community members and planning practitioners on the proposed changes to the NSW planning system were announced. The forums will be seeking feedback on the NSW Government’s green paper and will take place during August. Read about the consultations.