15 October 2007

Latest figures show major planning decisions by the State Government last financial year are expected to generate $14.5 billion in new investment in NSW and create more than 34,588 potential jobs. A report released by Planning Minister Frank Sartor has also found more than half the infrastructure proposals approved are State Government projects, involving $5.7 billion in new infrastructure. The new Major Development Monitor reveals that while the number of planning applications determined by the State has fallen, their value has risen sharply, from $5.8 billion last year to $14.5 billion in 2006-7, Mr Sartor said. The report is available from: http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/corporate_publications/

12 October 2007

The cost of new homes in NSW will be substantially reduced following a comprehensive overhaul of infrastructure charges for new land release areas, NSW Premier Morris Iemma announced today. Mr Iemma said the new regime would cut State and local government infrastructure contributions by 30 to 40 per cent, providing a saving of at least $25,000 per lot in the Western Sydney Growth Centres. The same principles will be applied to new land release areas across the State. "Todays announcement cuts the State Government infrastructure charge on new homes in the Western Sydney Growth Centres from $33,000 to about $23,000, while the average local government charge will be cut from $45,000 to less than $30,000," Mr Iemma said.

24 September 2007

Liberal Leader Barry O'Farrell and Shadow Minister for Fair Trading Catherine Cusack condemned the Iemma Government for its failure to provide real relief to Sydney's rental market After years of review, the NSW Minister for Fair Trading Linda Burney has only today released a discussion paper to plan reforms to the State's tenancy laws in an effort to encourage investors but with no legislative changes expected before next year. As long as the Iemma Government delays land release and fails to provide State tax relief a Ministerial discussion paper will not bring any respite to Sydney's housing affordability and rental market crisis, Mr O'Farrell said.