The Minns Labor Government will inject $253.7 million to pay for planners and technology to speed up the assessment of development applications and deliver on the Government’s commitment to build more homes and rebalance housing around existing infrastructure.

This will provide planners and other critical staff to assess housing, job creation and infrastructure proposals that are being turbocharged by the NSW Government’s planning reforms.

These planning reforms will play a critical role in addressing the housing crisis that has led to NSW losing a generation of young people and families – the future of our state.

This new funding addresses years of budget uncertainty in the planning system under the former government and will refocus resources within the planning system to deliver better outcomes for local communities by:

• Putting downward pressure on planning approval timeframes delivering faster State rezonings and assessments.
• Investing in planning reforms to support the Government’s transition to a renewable energy future and meet our 2050 goals of Net Zero.
• Bringing the planning system into the 21st century with upgrades to the Planning Portal and the integration of artificial intelligence.
• Supporting the delivery of the NSW Government signature planning reforms such as the Transport Oriented Developments and the Low and Mid-Rise program.

These measures build on the Government's earlier commitments to help train more planners and paraplanners through the Strong Start cadetship program and development of a new TAFE Diploma in Local Government (Planning) that opened for enrolment this year.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said, “Every step this government can take to get housing approvals moving is a must-have investment.

“This $253.7 million investment puts certainty into the planning system and will deliver better outcomes for a better NSW.

“NSW can afford to do this. By cutting the state’s debt, we have cut the state’s interest bill – which means we can use those savings to get on with delivering the homes people need.

Paul Scully, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces said, “We’ve introduced some of the biggest program of planning reforms in NSW history to allow and approve more homes.

“This increased funding will also allow the assessment of more housing and major projects within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, so assessments are faster, more coordinated and efficient.

“We are also investing in the Planning Portal to address concerns users have identified and to continue to introduce artificial intelligence to assist in faster and more reliable assessment processes.

“Under the former government, the end of this financial year meant uncertainty for everyone in the development and construction industry. No one knew if there would be budget for planners and other staff to assess applications.

“A good planning system supports all parts of society, by not only creating homes, supporting job creation and building better communities.

“That’s why we have provided funding certainty for future years to assess homes, and job generating projects which will in turn provide jobs in construction, manufacturing and renewables.”