Sydney should emulate Hunter, Illawarra planning success: Urban Taskforce

Sydney should emulate Hunter, Illawarra planning success: Urban Taskforce
Jennifer DukeDecember 7, 2020

Sydney should take a more regional approach to planning, according to the Urban Taskforce’s CEO Chris Johnson, who says that the capital should learn from the Hunter and Illawarra’s models.

With a recent announcement by NSW Minister for Local Government Paul Toole relating to five joint organisation pilots, Johnson has expressed their support of the approach, which will see the many individual councils in Sydney centralised.

“The two urban groups of the Hunter and the Illawarra can demonstrate a successful model that could be applied to Sydney councils if amalgamations do not occur in all areas,” said Johnson.

The current Hunter model is for 11 councils to share services, which Johnson notes is a good beginning, but the big issue of a single ‘centre of excellence for planning’ needs to be part of the pilot.

“A central planning office can develop specialist skills in strategic planning, assessments and infrastructure planning while increasing career prospects for young planners. The planners will also take a more independent position in the assessment of projects,” he said

Johnson said that the future of urban areas must be a partnership between the local government and the private sector development industry.

“It is encouraging to see that the Minister for Local Government has identified planning as a key community priority that cuts across traditional local government boundaries along with jobs and infrastructure.”

Jennifer Duke

Jennifer Duke was a property writer at Property Observer

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