Boosting housing supply and affordability

Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian has announced that $262 million from the Housing Acceleration Fund (HAF) would be committed to projects in southwest and western Sydney, and detailed planning across the city, to support further growth.

“We need to ensure we have enough housing to cater for the growing population – that’s why it is so important that we keep unlocking new land by providing funding for the necessary infrastructure,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Building new communities and increasing supply is the best way to put downward pressure on housing prices.

“We have already seen record approvals under this Government, and we will continue to work hard to increase supply.”

This round of allocations from the HAF will support 58,000 new homes, bringing the number of dwellings supported by the HAF to more than 200,000 since 2012. The projects include:

• Hills Road off M4 Ramp, Lidcombe ($140 million)
• Hambledon Road upgrade and widening, Alex Avenue, Blacktown ($22 million)
• Appin Road upgrade and widening, Campbelltown ($10 million for planning)
• Spring Farm Parkway upgrade, Stage One, Camden ($30 million)

The 2016-17 NSW Budget will deliver:

• $62 million for the Greater Sydney Commission over four years to implement A Plan for Growing Sydney, the city’s strategic blueprint to deliver homes, jobs and infrastructure – including $41 million of new funding to update, revise and support community engagement on the plan, develop digitised strategic planning tools to make the system easier to use and facilitate ongoing monitoring of outcomes through a new digital dashboard.
• Up to $40 million for the Precinct Support Scheme – for bicycle and walking paths, new parks and streetscapes to support communities in Priority Precincts including Carter Street, Lidcombe and Macquarie University Station.
• $20 million to continue developing the online Planning Portal to make the planning system simpler and easier to use.
• A further $9.1 million over two years to fund strategic works such as readying plans for Sydney’s six districts, preparing Infrastructure Delivery Plans and housing forecasts for the city, and preparing Sydney’s next-stage strategic blueprint due in late 2017.
• $1 million to remove barriers to housing delivery for NSW’s growing population by simplifying planning controls for exempt and complying development.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes said a simpler, easier-to-understand planning system would help encourage the construction of new homes.

“We are fostering a planning system that supports sustainable development, as we accommodate an extra million people in Sydney over the next 10 years, and promotes access to jobs, great neighbourhoods and a healthy environment,” Mr Stokes said.

“The Greater Sydney Commission will drive the delivery of more homes closer to where people work, improved public facilities, better transport, and quality greenspace.”

The Greater Sydney Commission has been established to take responsibility for metropolitan planning for the city and coordinating infrastructure delivery.

The Commission comprises six district commissioners, selected by local communities to be their representatives, and a further three commissioners to represent economic, community and environmental concerns.

Source: News Release, NSW Department of Planning and Environment, 18 June, 2016

http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/News/2016/Boosting-housing-supply-and-affordability