Minns Hails Major Planning Reforms As Development Slated For Kings Cross

With the Minns Government grappling to accelerate housing construction, it has announced wholesale changes to planning laws.

Flaunting a diagram illustrating the complexity of the planning process, the premier said, “New South Wales has been hamstrung by a planning system that delays good projects and makes it harder to build the homes our communities desperately need.”

“This bill is about clearing the path for the right development in the right places, with the right outcomes for the community.”

The Coalition has expressed support for reform, and whilst it did not immediately state an opinion on the Government bill, there has been significant cross-party collaboration.

Endorsement of the reforms by several organisations gave the Government cause to gloat. Meanwhile, the National Trust told the City Hub that it was reviewing the changes and was not in a position to comment.

Simpler development processes

Development in the state is governed by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, which the Government says has become overly complex with the effect of stymieing needed housing development. It says that the result is Sydney becoming the second least affordable city worldwide.

A Targeted Assessment Pathway is set to allow some developments to be approved at greater haste, where “strategic planning” and community consultation has already taken place. Some projects will require a reduced public exhibition period or none at all, according to planning minister Paul Scully.

Also among the reforms proposed in the NSW Planning System Reforms Bill is the establishment of a Development Coordination Authority. The Government says that it will act as “a single front door which will provide advice on development applications and planning proposals on behalf of all NSW Government agencies.”

Notably, the bill seeks to update “appeal options and review processes to encourage disputes to be resolved outside of the Land and Environment Court.” Contentious developments often end up in the court following council objections, as happened recently for the Sydney Archdiocese’s planned development next to Saint Mary’s Cathedral.

Minister Scully emphasised the need for reform. “Housing is the number one issue for the people of New South Wales,” he said.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey echoed that sentiment, calling the bill “the next commonsense step to increase productivity and continue our transformational planning reforms.”

Government boasts over “strong support”

The Government boasted that stakeholders “from across the housing and planning sector have welcomed the reforms as a commonsense and long-overdue reset of the planning system to help get more homes built, faster.”

Among these is the Committee for Sydney, a prominent advocacy group and think tank, which remarked that the city is “on the verge of the biggest reform the planning system has seen in decades.”

“The planning system we have has created headaches for communities, councils and developers alike. Too often, good projects for housing, infrastructure and development are caught in a maze that can run through as many as 22 agencies.”

Other organisations which expressed support include Business Western Sydney, the Green Building Council, the Housing Now! Alliance, the Master Builders Association, the Planning Institute of Australia, the Property Council of Australia, Sydney YIMBY, the Urban Development Industry Association and the Urban Taskforce Australia.

Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne was also positive. “Simplifying and modernising our state’s planning legislation is the single most important thing that must be done if we are to stop the exodus of young people from our city,” he said.

Despite the approving feedback, it remains to be seen whether the Government can satisfy both advocates for housing as well as those concerned with heritage and conservation.

Kings Cross development

A major mixed-use development is concurrently proposed for 203-225 Victoria Street in Potts Point, next to the Kings Cross intersection.

The State Significant Development would entail three buildings, the tallest being a 35 to 40-storey tower, in addition to one building of four to five storeys and another of fix to six. The high-rise tower is proposed to reach a height of 105 to 120 metres, which would make it slightly shorter than nearby 136-metre residential tower The Elan, at 1 Kings Cross Road.

It promises about 250 to 300 flats, and seeks to pedestrianise part of Victoria Street in its bid for more public space. A new public square is included in the plans.

Located beside the Kings Cross Hotel, the site includes the distinctive Potts Point Holiday Inn, notable for its semi-circular design. It is near Juanita Nielsen’s House, the heritage-listed former residence of the murdered urban conservationist (1937-1975).

The Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage and Residents’ Society told this masthead that it is “agnostic” about the proposed complex and is waiting to see details.

Members of the public will be able to provide feedback on the proposal when it goes on exhibition.

The Government hopes to foster more projects like it.