The NSW Labor government’s biggest rewrite of the state’s planning laws – with the goal of making them “modern, faster and fairer” – is long overdue.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, the foundation of the state’s delivery of housing and infrastructure, was introduced in 1979, when Sydney’s population was 3.2 million: it is now 5.6 million. The Act is no longer fit for purpose for the nation’s most populous city and state.

The housing crisis was exacerbated by these old laws that were complicated and red tape heavy. They were a barrier that prevented delivery of homes by slowing decision-making and delaying construction. Residents were leaving, investment was hindered and uncertainty prevailed.

The NSW government is facing an uphill battle to meet its target to deliver 377,

See Full Page