The NSW Chapters of the Australian Institute of Architects and Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture have expressed their disappointment in the NSW Government’s backflip on planning reform that will side-line sensible principles protecting land use and managing risk.

Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter President Laura Cockburn said it was a counterproductive decision from NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts to overturn a suite of nine recently introduced sustainable planning principles.

“In the midst of our current flood and housing crises, why would a government choose to remove planning principles aimed at disaster resilience, and delivering affordable housing?,” she said.

“This is a short-sighted decision that could have enduring negative impacts.”

This week Mr Roberts announced he had revoked the Ministerial Direction that had given effect to the nine principles from March 1, introduced last December by former Planning Minister Rob Stokes.

The nine principles were aimed at achieving outcomes to improve planning systems, design and place for quality of life, biodiversity and conservation, resilience and hazards, and maintaining corridors for transport and infrastructure, housing, industry and employment, resources and energy, and primary production.

Ms Cockburn said she was hopeful this change in planning regulation would not impact on the significant efforts to design places to meet the needs of their communities under the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Design and Place SEPP.

“Having a robust planning framework ensures our communities can thrive and grow with certainty,” Ms Cockburn said.
“Constant changes from government will do nothing for community and business confidence, and will likely reduce the investment in affordable housing the Minister says this backflip is aimed at.”

The Institute has joined with the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) in supporting the Design and Place SEPP’s focus on sustainability, environmental protection and connection to Country.

AILA NSW Chapter President Tanya Wood said it defied logic to remove the nine planning principles.

“These principles were aimed at creating healthy, green, liveable places across NSW,” she said. “To remove these ideals lacks common sense and indicates a concerning approach to future state planning.”

For media enquiries contact:
Fiona Scott on behalf of the Australian Institute of Architects

| M. +61 (0) 407 294 620 | fiona@fjpartners.com.au

Photography credit: Peter Bennetts | Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreational Centre by Andrew Burges Architects and Grimshaw with TCL in collaboration with the City of Sydney.