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6NOWISTHETIMETOREFORMLOCALGOVERNMENTTheNSWGovernmentelectedinMarch2011hassetoutaseriesofreviewsandplansthatinvolvelocalgovernment.AtthetoplevelistheoverarchingstateplantledNSW2021-APlantomakeNSWNumberOne.Withinthisdocumentarecommitmentstobuildliveablecentresrestoreconx16denceintheplanningsystemestablishinfrastructureandtransportplansandreturndecisionmakingtolocalcommuniestolookax19ertheirownneighbourhoods.SupporngtheStatePlanaretheMetropolitanStrategythatwilldex16neSydneyx19sgrowthupto2021andtheGreenPaperoutliningaNewPlanningSystemforNSW.TheGreenPapersetsoutnewplanmakingprocessesthatinvolvecommuniesearlyamovetocodeassessableformanyprojectsamoreregionalapproachforstrategicplanningandafocusonJointRegionalPlanningPanelstodeterminelargerprojects.TheGreenPaperadvocatesthede-policisaonofplanningassessmentthroughtheuseofindependentpanels.CouncilshavebeendevelopingtheirownviewofthefuturethroughDesnaon2036whichfocusesonex15ecveservicedeliveryqualitygovernancex16nancialsustainabilityandastrongpartnershipbetweenstateandlocalgovernments.FollowingonfromDesnaon2036theNSWGovernmenthasappointedanIndependentLocalGovernmentReviewPaneltodevelopoponstoimprovethestrengthandex15ecvenessoflocalgovernment.Thetermsofreferencespecix16callyincludethedeliveryofservicesandinfrastructureandx16nancialsustainability.Allofthesereviewsandrestructuringproposalssetacontextinwhichthereisanopportunitytorethinktheroleoflocalgovernmentanditspartnershipwithstategovernment.TheUrbanTaskforceiscontribungtotheopportunityforreformthroughthisreportpreparedwiththeassistanceofPercyAllanAssociatesPtyLtd.SYDNEYISREACHINGALIVEABILITYCRISISOverthenext20yearsSydneywillneedatleast600000newhomeslocatedininx16llsitesandingreenx16eldsitesonthefringesofthemetropolitanarea.ButSydneyhasnotbuiltsux17cienthomesoverrecentyearswithitscurrentproducononlyhalfthatofVictoriaonapercapitabasis.AlreadytheaveragehousecostinSydneyisoneofthehighestintheworldandthisisimpacngonax15ordabilityformanyfamilies.TheSydneymedianhouseis100000moreexpensivethantheequivalentinMelbourne.Theaverageweeklyearningsofax16rsthomebuyercanax15ordamortgageof331000whiletheaveragehousepriceinSydneyis563300.Thelackofhousingsupplyhasledtoanincreaseinrentsby40overthelast5years.Manydevelopersindicatethattheyx16ndplanningapprovalprocessesinSydneyaddenormousrisktoprojects.Theslowandcomplexplanningregimeismainlyrunbylocalgovernmentwherecouncillorsrepresentandevelopmentcommunies.TheProducvityCommissioninanaonalresearchprojectonplanninginAustraliafoundthat64ofSydneyresidentswereagainstpopulaongrowthparcularlyifthisledtomoredensedevelopment.Thisatudeispartlyinx18uencedbythefactthatSydneynowhas27.6ofalldwellingsasapartmentsandthetradionaldetachedhouseisthreatenedbythischange.Manyyoungerpeoplehoweverpreferapartmentsclosertoworkandameniesandrereeswanttodownsizebymovingtoapartments.Yetlocalgovernmentisreluctanttorezonelandforthispurpose.AfurtherreasonforSydneyx19slackofhousingsupplyhasbeentheimpactofinfrastructureleviesrequiredbystateandlocalgovernment.ThecombinaonofhighinfrastructurecostsandacomplexplanningsystemisdrivingthedevelopmentindustryoutofSydneyandoutofNSW.ThecollapseofresidenalbuildinghasreducedNSWx19sshareofAustralianGDPoverrecentyears.Sydneyneedstobuildmorehomestoaccommodateitspopulaonwhichisgrowingby1.3ayearorabout60000peoplemorethanthetotalsizeofanyNSWregionalcityoutsidethemetropolitanaxisofNewcastle-Sydney-Wollongong.ThewayplanningandtheprovisionofinfrastructureismanagedwillbethekeytoSydneyx19sfuture.Itistheoverlappingrolesofstateandlocalgovernmentthatneedsclarix16caonifNSWistobecomenumberone.SYDNEYREQUIRESMIXEDUSEZONINGTOBECOMELIVEABLEAGAINSydneyx19spopulaongrowthcanx19tbestoppedbutatthesamemetheselementofNSWcouldbemoreevenlydistributedbypromongmajorregionalciesasexistineveryotherdevelopedcountry.ResisnggrowthwillnotpreserveSydneybutrisksturningitintoovercrowdedhousessharedbyagrowingnumberofyoungpeoplewhocanx19tax15ordtheirownhomes.Sydneyalreadyhasaseverehousingshortagebecausedevelopersx16ndstateandcouncilplanninganddevelopmentrestriconsandinfrastructuretaxestooonerousfordoingbusiness.DevelopingSydneyasacityofmul-usecentreseachox15eringawidevarietyofworkshoppingandrecreaonwouldreduceroadsandpublictransportcongesonbecausetherewouldbelessneedtocommutebetweensuburbs.Alsoanetworkofdensercentreswouldmakeamasstransitsystemmorex16nanciallyviable.SydneyneedsametropolitanstrategythatencouragesdenserdwellingandEXECUTIVESUMMARY