Business Chambers call on State Government to fix broken planning system.

The Peninsula, Gosford Erina and Wyong Business Chambers have called on the State Government to take immediate action to overhaul the NSW planning system amidst systemic delays in development approvals and housing starts.

Peninsula Chamber President, Matthew Wales said, “At a time when all levels of government are lamenting the shortage of housing and housing choice, the very system that provides planning approvals is so complex and outdated that it conspires to work against both housing availability and housing affordability”.

“You can’t always keep blaming Central Coast Council for the delays and shortfalls when Council planners are expected to work with an outdated system that has been around for 40 years”.

“The assessment of development applications has to address multiple layers of complex statutory planning legislation, biodiversity laws, energy efficiency regulations, local planning controls and community consultation processes”.

Gosford Erina Business Chamber has as part of its strategy, advocating for the improvement to the process of lodging and having approved development applications and we will continue to pursue this.

At the same time Wyong Business Chamber President, Matthew Lusted said, “It is unfortunate that with successive (or excessive) state government intervention, the current planning system is too cumbersome, the bureaucrats have won.

Many long-term builders and developers have been accused of suffering from ‘early onset nostalgia’ when it comes to remembering better times with simpler planning laws and face to face service from our local council.

“The need for the Central Coast to develop and to contribute to NSW’s growth is paramount.

Unfortunately, the opportunity that our Central Coast Region has to offer has been recognized too late and if we think we are going to experience rapid growth for homes and employment opportunities for our people, a fraction of the like of Western Sydney or Maitland has experienced, we are kidding ourselves.

Our State Government needs reduce itself and at the same time dramatically repeal legislation that impedes economic growth on the Central Coast.