Urban Taskforce | Policy Agenda
Urban Taskforce | Policy Agenda
Fact sheet: Renewing old industrial sites
26 February 2011
Planning authorities perceive themselves as protecting the community from the market.
They often fall prey to the pitfall of seeking to stop the market from doing what it does without actually asking why the market is acting in a particular way, and whether the public interest is served by preventing the market from working.
Fact sheet: Role of major cities
26 February 2011
In September 2010, Federal Treasury released its advice to federal government, warning that population growth is inevitable, two-thirds of future growth is destined for our capital cities and that the solution to perceived problems lies in reforming planning laws and development levies, abolishing stamp duty and investing in urban infrastructure.
Fact sheet: Supporting Major Projects
26 February 2011
The problems with the existing system of town planning laws are immense and wide-ranging.
Fact sheet: The problem with state levies
26 February 2011
In NSW state levies are imposing high costs on new homes and new business premises.
Fact sheet: Too much planning?
26 February 2011
Modern urban planning is notionally based around high level strategic planning for regions and major cities.
Such strategic plans are normally non-statutory government or council policy documents. Nonetheless they are used to inform decision-making about zones and development controls in statutory plans.
It is extremely difficult to de-politicise this part of the process, because zoning plans are, in theory, the consequence of qualitative judgement calls made on behalf of the whole community.
Fact sheet: Inflexible car parking rules
26 February 2011
Mandatory and inflexible minimum and maximum control on car parking numbers will not reduce car ownership.
In many instances, it stops new housing, new workplaces and new retail premises from being built.
In other instances, it will lead to more cars being parked on the street.
Fact sheet: Improving the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
26 February 2011
Ecologically sustainable development is an important principle that does, and should, guide urban development. This principle ensures that development meets the needs of Australians today, while conserving our ecosystems for the benefit of future generations.
In many respects, the Federal Governments Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act merely duplicates state legislation. This leads to bureaucratic duplication and red tape. Australia needs a more efficient approvals process for urban development if our nation is to get the housing, commercial, retail and industrial development it needs.