Faster Planning Approvals Welcome, But Dwyer Wants Guarantee

Member for Port Macquarie, Robert Dwyer has cautiously welcomed the launch of the

state's new Development Coordination Authority (DCA), but says local homeowners

and Port Macquarie-Hastings and Mid Coast Councils need a guarantee the one-stop-

shop will actually speed up approvals in the regions, not just in Sydney.

The DCA replaces referrals to up to 22 separate NSW Government agencies with a

single coordinated response within 28 days and consolidates more than 800

requirements across 175 planning instruments into a single list.

Mr Dwyer said he had long supported Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's calls for a

simpler, faster planning system.

“Under the current system, when a Development Application is referred to multiple

state agencies for advice, each additional referral can add 100 days to the assessment

process.

“I've stood alongside our council pushing for exactly this kind of reform, because

everyone in our area knows someone who's been stuck waiting months, sometimes

years for a straightforward development application to clear multiple state agencies,”

Mr Dwyer said.

“On paper, a single point of contact and a 28 day turnaround sounds like real progress.

But we've seen plenty of Sydney designed systems before that end up prioritising the

biggest, most complex city projects while regional applications sit in the queue.

“Before I'll call this a win for our region, I want to see the Government guarantee the

DCA is properly resourced to handle regional development and modification

applications just as quickly as it handles Sydney's and that our two councils aren't left

dealing with a new authority that's just as hard to reach as the old 22 agencies were.”

Mr Dwyer said he would be seeking a briefing from the Department of Planning on how

the DCA would service the Mid North Coast specifically.