Approvals are taking too long
“House approvals are taking far too long to get through local councils and exacerbating Australia’s worsening housing and rental shortages,” said Mike Hermon, HIA Executive Director, Planning and Environment.
Current system is buckling
“Planning systems across the country are buckling under the weight of current approvals let alone addressing the necessary 40 per cent increase of housing that Australia desperately needs.
“Under current systems if you submit an application for a new home or major renovation today, you are unlikely to get approval to start this side of Christmas with standard house approvals taking well in excess of 6 months.”
Standard approvals are taking in excess of 6 months
No meaningful change
“All states and territories have recognised that significant planning reform is needed which HIA strongly supports.
“Yet on the ground homeowners and builders are seeing no meaningful change and instead the opposite is occurring. House and apartment approval timelines continue to take longer and getting more complex to obtain,” said Hermon.
National Planning Reform Blueprint
“HIA was encouraged by Federal, State and Territory Governments signing onto a National Planning Reform Blueprint in August last year. This Blueprint aims to support planning systems around the country to implement measures to fast-track approvals.
“However, 12 months on from the Planning Reform Blueprint being issued, we are yet to see the dial on approvals improve,” said Hermon.
“We are yet to see the dial on approvals improve”
“HIA has compiled a Scorecard to assess each state and territories planning systems progress against implementation of the Planning Blueprint measures, however, no state has scored greater than a 3 out of 5 on progressing these key reforms,” said Hermon.
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Bold leadership is needed
“It has been positive to see Governments announce their various intentions to implement planning reforms over the last few months. Though announcements in themselves do not deliver housing outcomes for homeowners.
“Simply put the time for business-as-usual solutions to planning and zoning issues has passed. Instead, we need bold leadership by all tiers of Governments.
“HIA’s Planning Blueprint Scorecard sets out important initiatives to progress the necessary reforms to get shovel ready land delivered faster and ultimately resulting in getting Australians into much-needed housing sooner,” concluded Mr Hermon.
HIA’s Planning Blueprint Scorecard can be accessed here.
