Almost 1000 development applications in NSW were delayed in 2023 over simple errors. Photo: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
A simple ‘typo’, or minor spelling error, has been responsible for delaying almost 1000 development applications (DAs) in NSW in the last year.
The NSW Government says that in the past 12 months NSW councils considered more than 5250 DAs, of which almost 1000 had minor errors that were only identified after approval and causing delays.
It is so prevalent the government is releasing a guide for councils to help them review draft conditions of consent to reduce errors and eliminate the need for some modification applications.
NSW Minister for Planning Paul Scully says “these are simple errors leading to unnecessary delays”.
“A planning circular will be issued so that typos don’t get in the way of building new homes,” he says.
“The NSW Government has adopted a better practice when it comes to consent conditions to see better results and more homes built faster.”
The circular outlines a new step involving DAs for 30 or more dwellings; councils will give applicants a draft consent for them to review and correct minor errors in seven days.
The government says this new step has already been adopted for DAs assessed by the Department of Planning.
It also supports the department’s introduction last August of standard conditions of consent and notices to speed up assessment times, provide greater consistency and make development consents easier to navigate.
The government says its focus is on streamlining the planning system and introduced a suite of reforms to speed up the delivery of more homes.
THE REFORMS
- a new NSW Pattern Book containing pre-approved patterns;
- rezoning of land around transport hubs and shopping centres;
- ‘historic’ investment in social and affordable housing;
- $200 million in financial incentives for councils to comply with new expectations for DAs, planning proposals and strategic planning;
- $450m to build apartments for essential workers including nurses, paramedics, teachers, allied health care workers, police officers and firefighters.
