- NSW Government has announced a $250M Public Spaces Legacy Program
- 60 councils are eligible for up to $5M each
- Council's will have to prove by end of the month they have met improvement standards in DA's
The Property Council of Australia (PCA) has announced it welcomes the New South Wales Government’s $250 million Public Spaces Legacy Program which is set to link State government funding grants for open space with improved development assessment (DA) processing times.
It has been confirmed by the NSW Government that 60 councils will be participating in the program. Under the plan, councils will have until the end of June to demonstrate they meet improvement standards in DA assessment performance to lock up to $5 million in open space projects.
Jane Fitzgerald, the NSW Executive Director of the Property Council, said it was critical for councils to deliver improved processing times, especially given the Productivity Commissioner’s White Paper which outlines a potential $5 billion uplift from effective planning reform.
“Local communities benefit from private sector investment in the homes, offices and buildings of the future, so it makes sense to tie funding for improved local amenity to the timely approval of new development,” said Ms Fitzgerald.
“We are pleased to see local councils across the state taking advantage of this incentive and other forms of strategic staff support offered by the State government to assist in unclogging processing delays at the local level.
“The economic challenges of 2020 have sharpened the focus of all levels of government to stabilise the economy and provide a pathway toward economic recovery – a steady pipeline of recently approved projects is an important part of making this happen.”
Jane Fitzgerald, NSW Property Council
