UPDATE: Proposed reforms to accelerate housing approvals in New South Wales (NSW) are igniting urgent concerns over potential environmental and corruption risks. The contentious changes, aimed at streamlining the complex planning system, are set to be debated on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, as lawmakers grapple with the implications for both housing and regional communities.
The new legislation seeks to formalize the Housing Delivery Authority, allowing it to bypass local council approvals in a bid to expedite construction. However, this has raised alarms among environmental groups and farmers, who fear that fast-tracking procedures could lead to unchecked mining applications and extensive renewable energy projects. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has already indicated plans for multiple amendments to ensure accountability and oversight.
“Our amendments are practical, responsible, and aimed at cutting red tape while keeping government accountable,” Speakman asserted earlier today. The coalition is pushing to exclude controversial projects such as mines, waste incinerators, and wind and solar farms from the proposed targeted assessment pathway, reflecting growing unease in regional areas.
Urgent concerns were echoed by Nationals leader Dugald Saunders, who stated, “There are ongoing issues and angst across regional NSW caused by the proliferation of renewables and the cumulative impact the botched rollout is having on our communities.”
The urgency of these legislative changes cannot be overstated. Planning Minister Paul Scully previously noted that the existing district and regional planning panels could delay housing approvals by an average of 100 days. “We need to ensure these new homes are well designed and built quickly,” he emphasized during a parliamentary session in September.
As the proposed reforms are scrutinized, the Environmental Defenders Office warns that rushing these significant changes could exacerbate environmental and community impacts, potentially leading to corruption. “When changes are conceived in a rush and pursued without broad consultation, there are likely to be unintended consequences,” the organization stated.
Green MP Sue Higginson is advocating for a parliamentary inquiry into the bill, citing previous reports from the Independent Commission Against Corruption that have identified widespread corrupt practices in NSW’s planning system. “This structure has enabled corruption in NSW planning before, and it is happening again,” she cautioned.
With the debate set to unfold in the coming hours, residents across NSW are left anxious about the implications of these reforms on their communities and the environment. The outcome of this legislative session will be pivotal in determining the future of housing and environmental protections in Australia’s most expensive property market.
Stay tuned for live updates as this developing story unfolds.
