The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the NSW government’s new strategic planning framework, saying the reset will help deliver more homes, better-located jobs and long-term certainty for industry if it is backed by decisive implementation.
The Minns Labor government’s Draft Sydney Plan, new three-tier strategic framework and statewide industrial lands policy together replace the outdated 2018 Greater Sydney Plan and simplify long-term growth planning across NSW.
Property Council NSW executive director Anita Hugo (pictured) said the package signalled another clear step towards a simpler, more delivery-focused planning system for which the Property Council has long advocated.
“We’ll be carefully reviewing the detail of these plans with our members but we’re heading in the right direction. For too long the planning system has been weighed down by layers of overlapping strategies, and uncertainty for councils, communities, and investors,” Hugo said.
“This trio of plans sets out clearer direction for the planning of growth across Sydney and our regions, removing complexity, aligning infrastructure, streamlining planning, and improving planning around industrial lands.”
She said the announcement builds on key reforms championed by the Property Council – including the recently passed Planning System Reforms Bill and the NSW Housing Pattern Book – as part of a broader shift to a faster, more predictable planning environment.
“These are significant draft documents, and we look forward to engaging with government on the detail over the coming weeks as we unpack the real impacts these can have on realising more well-located homes and jobs,” Hugo said.
“What is clear is that, taken together, the strategic framework and the new planning pathways can form the backbone of a modern system that is easier to navigate and more responsive to housing and employment needs.”
The reset comes as rising costs and a $1.46 billion Housing and Productivity Fund shortfall see more NSW housing projects shelved, putting medium-term supply, prices, and credit demand under pressure.
Industry leaders say the real test for the new framework will be how quickly it translates into better decisions on the ground.
“The test now is faster, better decisions,” Hugo said. “Industry will be looking for this new framework to translate into more seamless planning, clearer rules at assessment and less duplication between agencies and councils.”
The Property Council leader backed the government’s intent to secure more affordable and diverse housing but cautioned that new contributions must be calibrated to feasibility.
“Contributions, taxes, charges, and planning delays all hit the same project bottom line,” Hugo said. “The strategic framework is the right place to line up housing targets, infrastructure and contributions in a way that delivers without further impacting feasibility.”
She said the statewide industrial lands policy is a welcome signal for long-term investment in jobs and productivity and responds directly to the Property Council’s calls for greater certainty around employment land including how it is planned for and managed.
“Clear categories for industrial land can give business more confidence to invest in new areas while preserving employment lands in and around strategic infrastructure,” Hugo said.
She said delivering on the promise of the reforms will require strong resourcing and capability across state agencies and local government.
“Today’s announcement is a positive signal that NSW is serious about outcomes and shifting the dial on planning. Industry is ready to work with government to turn this blueprint into approvals, investment and the new homes and jobs the state needs,” Hugo said.
Get the hottest and freshest mortgage news delivered right into your inbox. Subscribe now to our FREE daily newsletter.
