Over the past month, our advocacy and engagement efforts have continued to gain momentum, and we expect this pace to accelerate as we head towards the end of the year.
As part of the NSW Chapter’s regular reporting to the National Council we track our activities across key periods.
So far from February to September this year, we’ve held 53 formal meetings with government and/or government bodies, we have submitted 6 formal policy submissions (all available to view here in our submissions library), and participated in 95 informal or sector-specific advocacy meetings. Thank you to all of those members who have contributed their time to provide advice.
Our most recent advocacy work has centered on the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025, released two weeks ago. In response, we worked closely with our expert member focus group to prepare a detailed letter, which has been shared with both Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, and Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Scott Farlow. We met with Minister Scully to further discuss the planned reforms.
Key elements of the Bill include:
- The formal establishment of the Housing Development Authority (HDA)
- The introduction of a Development Coordination Authority (DCA) — a catch-all referral body intended to streamline processes and deliver a more coordinated response
- A new planning pathway called the Targeted Assessment Development Application
While further detail is needed, particularly on the DCA and the new planning pathway, these reforms signal a potential shift towards a culture of approvals rather than refusals, which is a positive step for our legislation.
Although no formal consultation was undertaken before the Bill’s release, we have been advised that further stakeholder engagement will occur once the supporting policies are drafted, and we look forward to contributing to that process.
In all of the planning reforms that are currently underway to address the housing crisis, one aspect that needs further clarity and consultation is an increased and meaningful focus on social housing. The Institute will continue to advocate for a better outcome for all.
Earlier this month, Lisa King (NSW Executive Director) and I visited the Bathurst region as part of the Regional Tour Series, organised by the Regional Committee. We toured Bathurst Animal Rehoming Centre by Welsh + Major, a modest yet impactful centre, and met with the Bathurst Regional Council and local members to discuss how the Institute can better support practitioners working outside metropolitan areas. We received valuable feedback and will be working with Chapter Council and the Regional Committee to explore opportunities for ongoing engagement and support.
Finally, it was a privilege to open the Gold Medal Speech by the 2025 Medalist, Timothy Hill, last week – a generous, insightful and energetic reflection on the life and work of an extraordinary architect. Sydney was the final stop on his national tour, and we thank UTS for hosting what was a memorable event.
– Elizabeth Carpenter, NSW CHAPTER PRESIDENT
