the need for reduced overseas migration 100 days out from the election and a credit squeeze on mortgage and investor lending that have all combined to significantly reduce construction activity and this ahead of the election. It’s time to: coordination between utilities and state’s revenue stream. Now is the time for • Get serious about maintaining and prioritisation of infrastructure delivery political leaders to take a stand, recognise delivering on housing supply targets on major developments (similar to that residential construction has delivered •50,000 new dwellings are needed the former Metropolitan Development enormous prosperity to NSW over recent on average each year to meet Program). years and remains one of the most powerful underlying demand and population • Reinstate Landcom to operate with a drivers of the economy into the future. growth in NSW. charter of bringing affordable land to • Targets already exist in NSW market. Government plans and via the Greater • Reinstate local government caps on HIA’s Imperatives for the 2019 SydneyComssion in district plans– section 94 levies to provide certainty for NSW Election stick to them, hold local governments development and investment. As NSW heads to the polls on March to account on delivery and don’t allow • I nvestigate alternative options to fund 23, it is imperative that the policies of slippage on time frames. residential infrastructure such as state the key political parties are targeted • Continue to review housing supply bonds or tax increment funding rather at ensuring NSW regains its rightful targets for both greenfield and urban than placing all the burden on new position as Australia’s number one state renewal areas. home buyers. economically. A strong, healthy and robust • Support greater diversity in housing • Enable transparent and evidence based residential construction sector typically type – especially medium density (the decision making on the collection and coincides with the peaks in the economic missing middle) and support innovative use of infrastructure contributions. performance of the state. The considerable design and construction practices. • Get serious about improving the economic multiplier effect that new housing • Get serious About Cutting Red Tape efficiency of our Planning system development creates via jobs growth, and Taxes for Residential Building and processes manufacturing and supply of materials and Sector • I mmediately lift all local government professional services cannot be ignored HIA has long argued the case for a exemptions on use of the Medium with every dollar invested in new home committed effort by the state government Density Housing Code. construction yielding around $4 of additional to reduce the cost of red tape and taxation • Drive greater use of complying economic activity. It is critical that the state’s on the residential construction sector. For development and continue to expand political leaders understand these simple example, we know that 43% of the cost of its reach in medium density. facts and ensure their policy positions house and land package in Sydney is made • Expand the use and development of support new housing supply. up of taxes, charges and levies from the e-planning. Our industry is weighed down by three tiers of Government. Even if we focus • Drive down local government approval increasing regulation, delays, uncertainty on those components that do not require time frames and hold councils to in decision making and rising costs that all structural tax reform, there is plenty of fertile account. contribute to making housing less affordable ground to reduce these costs considerably. • Consider a single state or regional DA in NSW than anywhere else in the nation. We want: assessment office to reduce the burden It’s time to get serious about securing • The NSW Productivity Commissioner on councils, focus critical and limited a more consistent delivery of residential be directed to undertake a detailed planning resources, reduce costs and housing supply to meet the underlying review of the regulatory burden approval timeframes. demand of a growing population. Whether and costs with the aim of reducing • Get serious about developing the through home ownership or the provision the reducing red tape, increasing skilled trades force of tomorrow of rental accommodation, NSW needs to productivity and improving housing •Greater government support and maintain housing supply at around 50,000 affordability. recognition of industry based group new dwellings per annum year on year for • All new legislation and regulation training organisations that provide the next 20 years. As we head to the NSW impacting the housing sector to be critical pastoral care and higher State Election the prosperity of NSW is in subject to a public regulatory impact completion rates for apprentices. the balance and the opportunity to regain assessment. • Continue to promote, together with the mantle of the top state relies heavily on • Get serious about the coordinated industry, the construction trades as a securing a strong residential construction delivery of land & residential legitimate and rewarding career path. sector. So it’s time to get serious! infrastructure • I ncrease support for adult HIA has identified five imperatives that • Create a hands on infrastructure apprenticeships and those businesses political parties in NSW need to consider coordination unit to ensure better hiring them. BUILDING NEWS ISSUE 1/2019P7