Reforms to planning to fast-track delivery of new public schools and health facilities

The Minns Labor Government is cutting red tape in the planning system today, announcing significant reform to fast-track the delivery of new and upgraded public schools and health facilities by up to eight months.

For too long, upgrades to essential public infrastructure have been hampered by the current planning process, which can take between 12 and 18 months.

Today, the Minns Labor Government has made changes to the Transport and Infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policy (T&I SEPP), which will allow the Department of Education (DOE) and the NSW Ministry of Health to streamline approvals for essential infrastructure works.

The changes allow NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education to deliver new Government infrastructure projects without needing to lodge a development application with the local council or Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure.

In some cases, this is expected to cut between six to eight months from a 12 to 18-month planning process, from preparation of the application to determination.

For health infrastructure, NSW Health will be able to assess alterations and additions to existing facilities, such as a new hospital wing or specialised care facility up to a gross floor area of 30,000m2.

The development of new public schools, including preschools, additions to existing public schools and buildings up to four storeys in height will be allowed without a development application.

It also removes the administrative burden placed on local councils associated with managing the lodgement, exhibition, collating of public submissions and assessment of large planning documents.

Thorough assessments of the environmental impact of projects will still need to be conducted by the Department of Education and NSW Health, along with consultation with communities, councils and other stakeholders before construction can begin.

Non-government schools will be able to access the exempt and complying development pathways, which include additional provisions for the development of teaching facilities within existing or approved schools. For example, under the previous development permitted without consent provisions, non-government schools could only develop a library or classroom that is not more than 2 storeys.

Under the complying development pathway, non-government schools will be able to build such facilities up to a maximum height of 4 storeys, so long as the development complies with certain development standards.

The NSW Government has also made additional development permissible for non-government schools under the complying development pathway, including the development of pre-schools of 50 or more children, demolition of buildings that are not heritage listed and multi-storey car parks.

The reform will make it easier to deliver new schools and school upgrades up to four storeys, or in line with local planning controls, and new and upgraded health facilities. The Minns Labor Government will deliver this essential infrastructure where it is needed most, supporting more homes being delivered across the state.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s comprehensive plan to build a better NSW. Our Government is focused on delivering the essential services the people of our state need, to improve the lives of the people now and into the future, and we build a better NSW for all.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“All children deserve access to high-quality schools in their local area, and the Minns Labor Government is determined to deliver for the families of NSW.

“We are cutting red tape in the planning system so we can continue to deliver for the working families of NSW.

“After making a record investment in public education, we are focused on clearing a backlog of school infrastructure backlog works left after ten years of neglect by the Liberals and Nationals.”

Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park said:

“These reforms go a long way to ensuring that growing communities receive the new health infrastructure that they need and deserve.

“If we can reduce the wait times on these critical projects, that is a great thing for patients and communities.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“These changes to the planning system will significantly speed up the delivery of essential school and health infrastructure in our state.

“As we ramp up the delivery of housing in the state, it’s key that we streamline the delivery of the schools and health facilities our communities rely on.

“Cutting red tape strangling our planning system can only help our community.”