Housing Now! launches “A Plan to Make Housing Fairer for Everyone” with calls for a dedicated housing coordinator general

MEDIA RELEASE 22 July 2024

Extraordinary challenges require extraordinary action, this is why Housing Now! is calling on the NSW Premier and government to appoint a dedicated coordinator general to drive the delivery of new homes to help tackle the housing crisis.

 “Sydney’s housing affordability crisis is one of the greatest intergenerational challenges we may face in our lifetime. A dedicated housing coordinator would cut through swathes of red tape, compel government agencies to address issues and inform cabinet on how to progress major housing projects stuck in the planning system,” said Housing Now! Chair David Borger said. 

"Housing Now! urges the Premier to tackle the housing crisis head-on by appointing a dedicated Coordinator General to boost housing supply and address the affordability crisis.

” Coordinator generals have been implemented by previous Labor governments and have proven successful in progressing major infrastructure and development projects. Queensland has a similar role that has played a crucial role in driving economic opportunities in the state. 

Housing Now! will today launch its 2024 policy platform “A Plan to Make Housing Fairer for Everyone” alongside NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully with the coordinator general one of its key suggestions. 

This revised document builds on the success of the 2023 edition. The NSW Government has enacted suggestions from the original manifesto, such as implementing a Design Pattern Book, introducing council incentives, and using technology to improve the planning process. 

Housing Now! believes Sydney needs more planning reforms and better coordination between government agencies if we are going to tackle the housing crisis. 

The alliance’s purpose is to help people locked out of the property market get a fair go, regardless of background or income. It was formed to magnify the voice of the community and help the NSW Government to tackle this massive challenge. 

“Sydney risks losing the city’s soul if the housing crisis isn’t addressed quickly. Already, young people are leaving, and businesses and families will struggle off the back of this. There needs to be a change to the status quo, and a person must be accountable for enforcing this change,” Mr Borger said. 

Key responsibilities for the coordinator general may include: 

• Direct government agencies and utilities to quickly resolve planning issues that are holding up housing projects. 
• Overturn unreasonable departmental objections that are holding up housing projects. 
• Reassess projects rejected by planning panels and provide recommendations to the NSW government on how major housing projects can be approved with conditions. 
• Responsible for driving the delivery of NSW’s five-year 377,000-housing accord target.
• Advise the NSW government on policies that will deliver homes faster.
• Advise the NSW government on how to use infrastructure funding to unlock more homes.

The role needs to be able to direct infrastructure agencies, report directly to Cabinet on outcomes, including necessary direct investment and establish moratoriums on planning processes (i.e. direct precincts to progress straight to construction certificate by private certifiers). 

Gary White, a former NSW Department of Planning & Environment Chief Planner, explained the coordinator general should be an experienced and apolitical person.

“It is clear that there needs to be a release valve to legitimately consider applications being subjected to damaging and unnecessary process friction,” said Mr White. 

“When it is the case that government agencies, councils and planning panels are unnecessarily obstructing the approval of new homes and major housing projects, there needs to be someone who can step in and make sensible decisions to ensure NSW gets the housing it desperately needs.” 

The direct reporting to Cabinet will ensure the role doesn’t get caught in a government agency bureaucracy and that Cabinet can provide direct endorsement for actions which in almost every situation will override statutory provisions of Councils/agencies. It will also ensure that the coordinator general doesn’t get picked off by procedural issues.

 With its exceptional powers, the coordinator role could be in place for a set period, such as five years, at which point it could be dissolved or extended with a new purpose. 

A copy of the new plan can be found here. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Taylor 9423 272 494 

About Housing Now! 

Housing Now! is an alliance of industry bodies, unions, councils, and community groups committed to being a voice for future generations who may never be able to afford to buy a home in Sydney. The group knows that the status quo is not working which is why is committed to championing bold new ideas with practical actions that will make a difference. The Chair, David Borger has extensive firsthand experience on housing matters having been a former Lord Mayor of Parramatta and a NSW Minister for Housing,