1. Western Suburbs face huge challenge to reach Accord targets (and they are doing well)

The Daily Telegraph used an exclusive recent analysis undertaken by Urban Taskforce of the 12-month housing approvals to June 2025 (the first year of the Accord) to scope out the challenge facing Western Sydney in meeting its Accord targets.

We split Sydney in two. East of Parramatta and west of Parramatta.

Collectively, Western Suburb councils will need to complete 89 homes every day for the next 4 years to reach the targets set by the Minns Government. Our Accord first year analysis card shows that only 13% of the 150,000 homes needed by June 2029 had been approved.

Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest told the Telegraph that infrastructure backlogs were the single biggest challenge:

This is where the Commonwealth needs to pick up its game and assist State and local councils, who are increasingly reliant on slugging new home buyers ever growing taxes and charges to pay for infrastructure and pet projects (see story 6) .

This was a critical recommendation of our submission to next week’s Productivity summit – the need for a big housing enabling infrastructure commitment from the Feds to clear the way for more housing in the rapidly growing Western suburbs.

2. Elevate and innovate - Urban Taskforce Policy Conference

It’s back and bigger than ever. The annual Urban Taskforce conference this year will drill down on ways and means to drive productivity growth and innovation across our sector. We will unpack the events of the Federal Productivity Sector and explore what went right, and what went wrong.

We are fortunate to have the NSW Minister for Planning, the Hon Paul Scully MP, as the key note speaker.

He will be joined by experts from the private and public sector -

• NSW Productivity and Equity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat
• NSW Building Commissioner James Sherrard
• NSW Government Architect's office Paolo Macchia
• Urbis' Princess Ventura
• Academic Daryl Patterson
• CEO Grove Group, Brenton Grove
• Director Ironbrook Australia, Gavin Carrier

Shadow Minister for Planning, the Hon Scott Farlow MLC, will also be joining us to give his perspectives on how Government and policy can help, not hinder productivity and innovation.

The afternoon kicks off at 1.40pm and concludes with networking drinks.

Tickets are on sale now and selling fast!

3. NSW Government takes the lead on rezoning Burwood North Metro precinct

There was very positive news this week with the Minns Government announcing it will take the lead in rezoning the Burwood North Metro Precinct, that could deliver around 15,000 new homes near the future Sydney Metro station, creating new housing and job opportunities close to transport and services.

The precinct to be rezoned

The NSW Government will now  build on the work undertaken on the Burwood North Masterplan and by Canada Bay local council.

Urban Taskforce has been dumbfounded as to why all the precincts surrounding all the new Metro Stations had not been nominated as significant development precincts.   Nonetheless, DPHI has now decided that Burwood North, involving both Burwood Council and Canada Bay Council, should be the next State-led rezoning cab off the rank.

In responding to the announcement, we took the opportunity to call on the NSW Government to continue in the same vein with rezonings for the Five Dock metro station as well as the entire Parramatta Road corridor between Lidcombe all the way to Broadway.

Praise where praise is due: the Mayor of Burwood, John Faker, has been instrumental in getting the State Government’s attention when it comes to the housing and employment potential of the Burwood North metro precinct. 

Burwood Council’s Masterplan has been worked through the community and there is broad support for proposal to lift density around the new metro station. Mayor Faker took his plans to the last Council election and secured 59% of the primary vote and a two-party-preferred result of 72% – showing there is strong community support for significant height and density done well.

The vision of Burwood stands in strong contrast to the dismal performance of North Sydney Council, which this week once again bemoaned the HDA having the temerity to approve residential development within a stone’s throw of North Sydney station and Victoria Cross metro. North Sydney Council has assiduously pushed back against reviving the North Sydney CBD, which is why it is a wasteland after sundown, its retail offerings are poor and it’s a ghost-town on weekends.

4. Urban Taskforce outlines reasons to progress Building Bill

CEO Tom Forrest giving evidence at Parliament

CEO of Urban Taskforce Tom Forrest this week presented to the NSW Parliament’s Public Accountability and Works Committee’s Review into the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and the Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020 and related draft government bills.

Tom outlined the Urban Taskforce case in his opening address, saying that the reform Bill (combining various aspects of building legislation in NSW into a single piece of legislation) are sound. While there were misgivings around the early consultation process, we’ve overcome that now and Urban Taskforce has identified 3 critical reforms areas that have are yet to make it into the draft Bill, but would swing our position to favour of getting the Bill through swiftly.

1. Address a High Court case referred to as the Pafburn case. The Pafburn case essentially determined—contrary to the intention of the legislation – that the builder or developer shall be responsible for all of the accountability for all of what's gone wrong should there be a building failure or a major structural defect and collapse. It could not be “apportioned” amongst the consulting advisers that might have been responsible for that and ultimately it all goes to the developer.

Tom emphasised the concern this is creating amongst financiers, builders and developers, which is resulting in funders stepping back from financing residential apartment buildings.

2. Greater flexibility for private certifiers - At present, even with the most modest amendment that has no significant impact to the external observer, you are required to seek a DA modification to secure the change. This clogs up the planning system, frustrates Councils and ties up planning assessors. Councils don’t like it. Urban Taskforce Members aren't happy with it. It causes delay, increases costs and frustrates everyone involved. In the context of a housing supply crisis, it is a delay we can do without. This needs to be dealt with through this Bill and if so, it is something we should all support.

3. The third matter is to allow land lease development in Greater Sydney.  By bringing part 6 of the EP&A Act into the Building Act—if passed, and modifying it to explicitly allow for land-leasing in the Sydney Basin, we could overcome a longstanding and outdated prohibition only in the Sydney Basin.

Finally, Tom closed the hearing by turning to the vexing matter of Decennial Liability Insurance. First he had to deal with the challenge to get the Committee’s collective mind around the difference between Decennial Liability Insurance (DLI) and Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) – a matter that has confounded many in the industry as well.

DLI and LDI – causing unfortunate (or perhaps deliberate) acronym confusion.

Tom pushed the Government to consider underwriting the entire DLI scheme, but there seems to be no appetite from the Government and Treasury to do so. Which we think speaks volumes as to the problems inherent in the DLI scheme and the RAB Act that underpins it.

As usual, Urban Taskforce didn’t hold back in pressing our Members’ concerns and the desperate need for reform in these three key areas.

We gave the Committee plenty to think about, cut to the chase, and put a strong case on the opportunity presented by the proposed Building Bill in helping, not hindering, solutions to the housing supply crisis.

5. Federal Housing Minister says we must stop the constant National Construction Code churn

The Government should cease the regulatory “churn” of the National Construction Code

Looks like Federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil has set her sights on the impact that constant churn in the National Construction Code is having on housing.

Impacts of constant updates to the Code was a key part of the Urban Taskforce submission to Federal Treasury. We suggested they hit the pause button for a decade to allow industry time to breathe.

The Federal Housing Minister appears to agree.

Speaking with the AFR in the lead up to the Economic Reform Roundtable, the Minister flagged a slowdown in the pace of reform that is being foisted upon the development and construction industry through the National Construction Code.

#Urban Taskforce does not endorse the use of language that diminishes or belittles those with mental health issues

This is the first time a Federal Labor Minister has belled the cat when it comes to the negative impact of constantly tinkering with the NCC has on housing supply.

Former Minister Ed Husic went over the top last year when he lambasted the former Federal Leader of the Opposition’s plan to hit the pause button on any more changes to the NCC for 10 years – claiming it would expose families to “danger”.

Mr Husic is no longer a Minister and Mr Dutton is no longer an MP. Meanwhile, the only Premier who has actually put a freeze on NCC changes, Peter Malinauskas in SA, is riding high in the polls.

A reform opportunity for the upcoming Productivity Summit that might just get some support.

Coincidentally, the ABC somehow stumbled upon Commonwealth Treasury advice to the Albanese Government recommending a pause on any further changes to the National Construction Code. Perhaps the stars are lining up?

The recommendations build on the Federal Productivity Commission’s report into the construction industry earlier this year which suggested a review of the National Construction Code.

The leaked list obtained by the ABC also recommends reforms to clear a backlog of 30,000 housing approvals being assessed by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity (EPBC) Act. Now this would be progress!

While the rule-in rule-out game continues, advice coming out of the Commonwealth Treasury, Reserve Bank and Productivity Commission is positive.

If meaningful tax and labour market reform proves a bridge too far for the Albanese Government, these recommendations alone would represent a small step towards improving the microeconomic performance of our sector.

6. NSW Opposition Leader – Liberals must be the party of YIMBYs

 Mark Speakman and Scott Farlow say ‘YES!’ to more housing

The Leader of the Opposition, Mark Speakman, backed by his Shadow Planning Minister, emphatically nailed his colours to the mast by declaring that the Liberal Party he leads needed to be a party of “Yes-in-my-Back-Yard.”

On a road to Damascus, Mr Speakman apologised for having has past misjudgements when it comes to housing. Mr Speakman noted that he was now getting the Young Liberals to form a working group on housing – a new “Liberal Friends of Housing”. That would be welcome.

Mr Speakman has come a long way since he opposed an innocuous redevelopment in his own electorate , and when he teamed up with various shadow ministers to whip up a scare campaign against the Ku-ring-gai TODs.

Mr Speakman, who previously said his party stood for “Appropriate Development In My Backyard” policies (or the “ADIMBY” policy) has now reviewed the focus group feedback and apparently “ADIMBY” just didn’t cut it.

With the writing on the wall, Speakman has now declared the Liberals need to be a party of YIMBYs advocating for more development.

While the Liberals want to be the Government in waiting and form policies for the ‘greater good’, local independent candidates can pander to any old local NIMBY group opposing housing. This is an ongoing challenge for the Libs, similar to the challenge faced by Labor from the Greens over the last 2 decades.

If the Liberals want to re-establish themselves as a force in NSW politics, they need to take on the TEALs, not be a lame imitation of them.

7. Church land could form critical part of response to housing supply crisis

We almost choked on our cornflakes this week when we read comments by the former Planning Minister Rob Stokes to The Urban Developer on the problem of zoning in NSW. Wow!!

*Urban Taskforce does not endorse the use of language that diminishes or belittles those with mental health issues

This is the man who was Planning Minister (twice) for 4 and a half years (in total) but instead of dealing with these matters, the changes he implemented as Minister actually entrench zoning restrictions to stifle housing supply.

What is being faced by the Faith based groups is precisely the same problem being faced by anyone who wants to build and deliver housing. The zoning system frustrates them at every turn.  It needs to be overhauled now, as it needed to be when Rob Stokes was Minister.

A Road to Damascus conversion? Pharisaic hypocrisy?? An epiphany???

We’ll leave the analysis to theological scholars to opine upon – but the change is welcome.

Meanwhile the Sydney Catholic Archdiocese spoke to the AFR this week on the role that faith-based groups could play in helping solve the housing supply crisis.

Underutilised parish land currently zoned SP2 should be reviewed to see potential for housing. Many of these sites are well located within walking distance of transport nodes.

8. Five Western Sydney Councils to impose their own affordable housing tax

It seems to be a week of some western Sydney councils copying poorly thought-out policies of their easterly cousins. (see Council Watch below)

Previously the preserve of inner suburbs NIMBY councils, 5 western Sydney Councils have proposed  a scheme to force new home buyers to pay for the provision of tokenistic amounts of affordbale housing. The five councils are:

• Blacktown City Council,
• Blue Mountains City Council,
• Hawkesbury City Council,
• Camden Council
• Wollondilly Shire Council

Inexplicably, the revised version actually increases the per sqm tax. (Why not - when it’s someone else’s money???)

Western Sydney Regional Affordable Rental Housing Contribution Scheme, Appendix C, p.40

For residential subdivision and residential development, 1.5% of the total floorspace or developable area will be charged.

For major non-residential development, 0.3% of total floorspace or developable area will be charged. This reduced rate supports the intent to attract job growth to Western Sydney. (basically admitting that the levy will have a negative impact!). They are taxing employment to fund affordable housing in Western Sydney! Amazing.

The proposed levy (it still needs to be signed oof by the Minister for Planning so all eyes are now on Paul Scully) will add thousands of dollars to the cost and price of a new home. For example, a new apartment block with 1,200 square metres of gross floor area  (approx. 11 units) would generate a contribution of $113 x 1,200 = $135,600 (approx. $12,300 per unit)

When a rezoning occurs, Councils want to increase the tax – noting that “Contributions of 5% have commonly been found feasible for upzoned areas around Greater Sydney, including in state-led precincts in Blacktown City.”

Make no mistake, this is yet another Trojan horse.

The costs will ultimately be borne by new home buyers in Sydney’s west, a poor reflection of the priorities of these councils. This will drive up housing prices for the vast majority of new home buyers.

No wonder the sensible Councillors at Campbelltown, Penrith, Liverpool and Fairfield Councils pulled out of the scheme!

9. Quote of the week

While appearing to rule out any significant tax reform, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed his Federal Housing Minister and pointed to substantial productivity gains that were to be had through regulatory and planning reform.

10. DPHI releases updated SSD pathways guide

The Department has refined the Guide to Faster Assessments for State Significant Development Housing Applications to include additional housing pathways and to reflect recent policy and practice changes. 

The guide outlines how the Department will work with applicants to speed up the assessment of State significant development housing applications. 

First released in December 2023, the guide originally only applied to the in-fill affordable housing State significant development pathway. The expanded guide now applies to the following State significant development housing pathways: 

• in-fill affordable housing 
• housing development carried out by certain public authorities 
• build-to-rent housing 
• seniors housing 
• development in accelerated Transport Oriented Developments precincts 
• HDA projects. 
   

11. Rate cut good news – but declining productivity a real cause for concern

The Statement links subdued productivity directly to living standards, explaining that persistently weaker productivity constrains real wage growth that is consistent with low inflation and implies smaller future gains in output, income, tax revenue, and public spending.

While some of the dip reflects sectoral composition and mining dynamics that may unwind, the RBA’s baseline now assumes a lower near‑term trend, reducing the economy’s “speed limit” to sustainably grow much above 2% without inflation pressure.

The Statement’s “In depth” section important links regulatory barriers, especially in the construction sector, as key contributors to the recent slow down in productivity growth.

Some factors that have been found to be important contributors to the slowdown include

• declining business and labour market dynamism, with it now taking longer for inputs to move to higher productivity firms
• slower technological diffusion, with firms now taking longer to catch up to the global technological frontier
• declining competition, meaning there has been less pressure on firms to grow and improve, or exit
• regulatory barriers, particularly in the construction industry.

Something for the Treasurer and other participants to consider at the Economic Reform Roundtable next week.

12. Final 2 Productivity Commission reports released

Ensuring that participants in next week’s Economic Reform Roundtable have plenty to consider, the Productivity Commission has released the remaining two in its “Five pillars of productivity” inquiry and an analysis of National Competition Policy.   

The two remaining pillars papers covered skills and healthcare:   

• Building a skilled and adaptable workforce 

• Delivering quality care more efficiently 

They proposed changes to support resources, skills, occupational entry requirements, and health care reform, including:   

• school resources – a national repository for lesson planning materials and increased access to educational technology and AI;  

• skills and qualifications – a national system of credit transfer and recognition of prior learning and incentives to increase work-related training;  

• occupational entry regulations – removing excessive entry regulations, increased entry pathways and streamlined qualifications; regular reviews of occupational entry regulations, and occupational entry regulation reform through National Competition Policy;  

• reform of quality and safety regulation – improving efficiency for care users;  

• reducing fragmentation – fostering innovation through collaborative commissioning; and  

• prevention programs – creating a National Prevention Investment Framework.  

The Productivity Commission recently released an additional report – an analysis of National Competition Policy which focused on regulated standards and occupational licensing, finding that reforms could deliver billions of dollars in saving from Australia’s GDP:   

• between $1.9 billion and $3.8 billion per year (0.1 – 0.2% of GDP); and  

• labour mobility for high-risk licensed occupations (up to $846 million per year, 0.04% of GDP), which includes $51 million – $62 million per year from the electrical trades alone.   

These findings are intended to build upon the reforms that came out of the 2024 National Competition Policy Study, to help make Australia more efficient, and to allow people to live where the work is.   

The focus on skills highlights this important issue at a time when there is an urgent need for construction workers, particularly for class 2 building developments.   

13. Parramatta releases draft Epping Town Centre Master Plan

Redevelopment plans are on the table for Epping, with the release of a draft proposed Master Plan. 

Master Plan boundaries

It does not propose an increase in density from what has already been zoned, with the design guidelines requiring the following: 

The proposals will require further negotiations with private landowners, government, and Transport for NSW, and will be influenced by traffic considerations, so there is still more to be worked out once the Master Plan is approved. 

As part of the rollout, there will be a review of the Council’s Outside CBD Development Contributions Plan 2021, which will allow contributions to infrastructure upgrades to meet additional demand and will be finalised by late 2026. 

Delivery of the project will be staged.  Only three sites will be open to bidding by applicants, as others are under existing or council control. 

14. Victoria to slash more red tape through complying development reforms

15. Spotlight on excellence - Medium Rise Metro Development 

The Ashbury Terraces, Stage One by Coronation Property took out this year’s medium rise metro development award.

Ashbury Terraces Stage One is a luxury residential development in Ashbury, Sydney, featuring 136 apartments and terrace garden homes.

Developed by Coronation Property and designed by SJB and 360 Degrees Landscape Architects, the project blends contemporary elegance with the suburb's historical context.

 Key features include high-end finishes, expansive outdoor spaces, and a central swimming pool. The development emphasises sustainability with solar panels and a comprehensive waste management plan. It caters to diverse market needs, achieving 70% sales within the first 12 months. The project enhances community well-being through thoughtful design and amenities, setting a new benchmark for urban living in Sydney.

Coronation Property's vision and commitment to creating a community-centric development were instrumental in the project's success. Their dedication to respecting the heritage of Ashbury while providing modern amenities and high-quality living spaces set the tone for the entire development. The project team also underwent extensive training, including high-risk workshops and TAFE design compliance programs, to enhance their expertise and ensure the successful delivery of the development. This comprehensive approach to training and development ensured that all team members were well-equipped to handle the challenges of the project and deliver exceptional results.

The collaborative efforts of these key consultants and professionals, combined with innovative construction methods and sustainable practices, have resulted in a high-quality, well-integrated development that meets the evolving housing needs of Sydney.

Ashbury Terraces Stage One not only enhances the local environment but also fosters a sense of community, setting a new benchmark for urban living in the area.

Chair of the Judging Panel, Chris Johnson AM, praised the development:

Worthy praise for a developer and builder helping transform Sydney.

L-R Tom Tang, David Cremona, Aras Labutis, Jordan Faeghi, Harvey Helou

16. Council Watch

We have warned that once one virtue signalling Council tries to go it alone on electrification, more will follow.

The surprise is that Parramatta City Council has followed the path of Clover Moore and the City of Sydney.

In the aftermath of the ICAC raid, a motion by the Greens (who else) was somehow backed in by Labor councillors, and now we have a consultation on a matter that is at the end of the day beyond the scope and control of council.

The only way forward in this matter is a State-wide response, not through individual councils. The Premier and the Planning Minister told the City of Sydney exactly this – so why on earth have Parramatta Labor Councillors followed suit?

We are sympathetic to the comments by a Liberal Councillor who suggested Councils “keep out of the kitchen”.  Too many cooks spoil the broth. Exactly!

Mosman Council

Last week we noted more rumblings of discontent from Mosman-way.

Boomer NIMBY’s are getting increasingly restless, with the small council chambers, full of  angry and predominantly elderly citizens outraged that the State Government was demanding 500 new homes in their LGA, were threatening their windfall property price gains. A sternly worded notice of motion was crafted and agreed to:

Stifle housing supply and the community’s expense – how selfish can you get.

Another council to keep an eye on.

17. Members in the news

*Please note these articles may be paywall protected

“…“… Dubbed Boronia Apartments, it has been developed and will be managed by the community housing provider. The development, designed by Turner Architects, was built by GrowthBuilt… read more…

To read more, click here:            The Urban Developer, 8 August

“…Urban Property Group’s grand masterplan to build close to 1900 homes in the Edmondson Park area has kicked off, with a ceremony on Wednesday revealing 43 3-storey terraces set to be built within 12 months … read more…

To read more, click here:                    The Daily Telegraph, 13 August

…Billbergia’s 28-storey dual-tower project at Sydney’s Willoughby, its first to experiment with the live-work model, has been approved on appeal  … read more…

To read more, click here:                   The Urban Developer, 13 August 

“…A $421-million Holdmark plan would add 72 storeys of housing and convert a 13-storey tower to co-living in Parramatta under the state’s fast-track program …

To read more, click here:   The Urban Developer, 13 August