One of Sydney’s most powerful councils will ask to be exempt from the Housing Delivery Authority process, with its lord mayor saying the NSW government’s push to fast-track housing poses “serious impacts” to the city’s liveability and its viability as Sydney’s second CBD.
Overriding local planning processes could put Parramatta’s future as Sydney’s second CBD at risk, according to its council, which on Monday voted to write to the state government to seek legislative changes.
Parramatta council wants to be exempt from the Housing Delivery Authority process.Credit: Steven Siewert
The Housing Delivery Authority, which was established in January, has the power to set significant developments on a fast track, bypassing local councils. NSW Premier Chris Minns announced the Planning System Reforms Bill 2025, which will enshrine the Housing Delivery Authority in legislation, had passed parliament on Wednesday.
“These reforms will help us build more homes faster, in the right places, giving young people and families the chance to access a home,” Minns said.
But Parramatta’s Liberal Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter fears overriding local planning processes could lead to inadequate infrastructure for Parramatta’s rapidly growing community.
“Council has significant concern that these reforms enshrine in legislation the Housing Delivery Authority, and this risks serious impacts to Parramatta’s liveability and economic performance,” he said.
Zaiter believes the council’s track record of achieving the highest amount of regionally significant applications in NSW in the last financial year, an average 69-day local development assessment timeframe and exceeding the current five-year housing targets by 126 per cent shows Parramatta is carrying its weight in housing targets and deserves to be exempt from the legislation.
There are 14 proposals in Parramatta that have been fast-tracked through the Housing Delivery Authority, which would deliver 7500 new dwellings to the area.