Carolyn McNally appointed NSW Department of Planning boss
The NSW Premier Mike Baird has appointed Carolyn McNally to the new role of secretary of the Department of Planning and Environment.
It was created in April when the Minister Pru Goward took over the planning ministry and announced a restructure.
The prior role was filled by Sam Haddad.
It is the state department's fifth reorganisation in eight years and its third in the three years under the Coalition government.
The long-serving planning director-general Sam Haddad was given his marching orders in April within hours of Pru Goward being made Planning Ministerr when the new Baird government created a Department of Planning and Environment, replacing the planning and infrastructure department.
It will include the Office of Local Government as well as the Office of Environment and Heritage.
Carolyn McNally was previously the head of planning in Transport for NSW and before that head of the infrastructure investment division in the federal Infrastructure Department.
"The appointment of Carolyn McNally as the secretary of the Department of Planning and Environment opens the potential for a fresh look at the planning system in NSW," the Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson said.
“With the planning reforms, local government reform and the Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney all on hold, the property industry is looking for leadership.”
“The initial challenge will be to ensure that the proposed Greater Sydney Commission has real teeth and is not just another layer over existing structures. The Urban Taskforce believes the Commission must have strategic planning responsibility, infrastructure co-ordination and approval authority roles for major projects across Metropolitan Sydney.”
“The difficult balancing act for the new Secretary will be in establishing the commission without undermining her department while also keeping Sydney’s 43 councils feeling empowered.”
“While the supply of housing in NSW and particularly in Sydney is currently robust there are concerns that key urban sites are getting harder to find and that strong leadership will be needed to housing Sydney’s growing population.
"An important role for the Secretary will be in communicating to the broader community the necessity of urban growth at affordable prices.”