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Media Releases |
Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 8 May 2009 INCREASING COMPETITION AND INVESTMENT THROUGH THE PLANNING SYSTEM Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, today released a Discussion Paper on how the planning system can increase competition and investment growth in NSW. Ms Keneally said the Government was creating a planning system that makes decisions efficiently and effectively, in an open and transparent manner and that facilitates competition and investment growth in NSW. “Submissions from local councils, big and small business and members of the community will assist the Government in improving competition and investment growth through changes in the planning system,” Ms Keneally said. “The review will encourage discussion on how the Government can achieve the right balance between sustainable planning and environmental outcomes and promoting a competitive business environment.” Ms Keneally said the recent Australian Competition and Consumer Commission review into grocery pricing raised the issue of competition in the planning system. “All regulatory systems should be reviewed from time to time and after the ACCC’s review into grocery pricing now is an appropriate time to focus on the issue of competition and investment growth in the planning system,” Ms Keneally said. “In the current economic climate it is more important than ever that the NSW Government, through the planning system, ensures businesses are provided the flexibility to respond to market demand. “The NSW Government is getting on with the job of creating Australia’s best planning system and this discussion paper is the next step in that process.” Ms Keneally said the NSW Government had already introduced several major initiatives that have assisted in creating Australia’s best planning system including: • The introduction of the NSW Housing Code, reducing the time it takes for houses to get approval on complying development and the cost to home owners. • Exhibition of the Draft Centres Policy, aims to encourage investment and competition in the retail and commercial property sector; and • Activated the Planning Assessment Commission to help create more transparency to the assessment and approval process. The review will be jointly undertaken by the Department of Planning and the Better Regulation Office and will guide future State planning reforms and inform the NSW Government’s input into the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) national level discussion.
A copy of the Discussion Paper ’Promoting Economic Growth and Competition through the Planning System’ can be accessed at www.planning.nsw.gov.au and at www.betterregulation.nsw.gov.au Submissions will be accepted up until Friday, 12 June 2009 and can be sent by email to planningreview@dpc.nsw.gov.au or by mail to: Better Regulation office GPO Box 5341 Sydney NSW 2001.
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