Regional NSW could benefit from new planning systems

New planning laws in New South Wales could help give regional and rural economies an impetus for growth, by setting upfront rules for fast-tracked approval of townhouses, retail, as well as office projects.

Legislation for the new system has passed the Legislative Assembly in the NSW Parliament and is due to be debated in the Legislative Council in November.

Planning and infrastructure minister Brad Hazzard said regional communities have already implemented streamlined planning approvals.

“Regional councils have shown this can unclog the approval system, get much-needed development happening faster and free up vital council resources from handling individual development assessments,” he said.

Hazzard added that most new homes, renovations, and extensions can already be approved under the NSW housing code, under complying development.

Councils such as Coonamble, Coolamon, Jerilderie and Junee currently approve more than half of their applications using the streamlined system.

“We now want to extend those benefits to the next level of developments, including medium density housing and commercial buildings,” Hazzard said.

The planning bill proposes an additional streamlined approval track called ‘code assessment’, designed primarily for growth areas.

Under this code, regional councils will have the autonomy of choosing where streamlined assessments should apply, while consulting the community.

If an application complies 100% with the rules set upfront by council in consultation with the community, it will go through a fast-tracked assessment by a council planner.

In addition, a NSW planning policy for agriculture and rural resources will be prepared to provide specific guidance on how the needs of agriculture are addressed.

A new planning advisory service will also be implemented, offering a single point of access for advice and resources on the planning system for both councils and the community.

New community participation guidelines will include specific tools and practices tailored for the regional and rural community.

Upfront and better coordination of planning for infrastructure will also be implemented to ensure the necessary infrastructure will be provided alongside population growth.

Councils from regional and rural areas, including Albury, Armidale Dumaresq, Singleton, Lake Macquarie and Mid Western Regional, have expressed their support of the Government’s use of streamlined assessment in written submissions on the reforms.

Hazzard noted that NSW’s population will grow by two million over the next 20 years, with one in five residents aged over 65. This will result in particular impacts for regional areas.

“Planning for this growth is vital and will be carried out major service providers and government agencies to identify housing, employment, infrastructure and service priorities,” Hazzard said.

The NSW government will also introduce ePlanning initiatives to help parents and small businesses based in rural and regional areas.

As of this month, 41 councils in regional and rural areas have either implemented or are in the process of adopting the electronic housing code, which allows people to access planning information online.

This will assist them to lodge fast-tracked applications more easily.