After significant delay, the Minns Labor Government has finalised Stage 2 of its Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms with no plan to deliver the roads, schools, and essential services needed to support growing communities.
Mark Speakman
Leader of the Opposition
Scott Farlow
Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
Shadow Minister for Housing
Shadow Minister for Cities
After significant delay, the Minns Labor Government has finalised Stage 2 of its Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms with no plan to deliver the roads, schools, and essential services needed to support growing communities.
The Coalition believe that higher-density housing around transport hubs is a sensible way to grow our cities—when it's done right, with proper infrastructure and community input. The Coalition will continue our constructive engagement with the Government to build a planning system that is fit for purpose to support the delivery of greatly needed housing growth.
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said that whilst the Government picked 171 town centres and stations across metropolitan Sydney, the Central Coast, Illawarra and Hunter for additional density, the Minns Labor Government has failed to outline an infrastructure plan to support these communities.
“You don’t build the house before laying the foundation, but that’s exactly what Labor is doing—establishing density without the infrastructure to support it. Labor refuse to commit a single dollar in additional infrastructure funding for the 171 targeted communities as a result of these reforms,” Mr Speakman said.
“Train stations and town centres alone do not make a liveable community. We want to see more homes built, but well-located areas come with upgrades to roads, schools, hospitals and essential public space to support denser communities.
“For local communities to embrace new developments and to make a dent into the housing crisis, the Government must provide the funding to address schools that are already overcrowded, roads that are gridlocked, and local hospitals under strain.”
Shadow Planning and Housing Minister Scott Farlow said that while Labor have now finalised their plan for density, there was no infrastructure plan to support it.
“The Coalition support planned growth around public transport hubs, but Labor’s approach is all density, no infrastructure,” Mr Farlow said.
“Without proper investment in services communities will suffer. It’s vital that these reforms are matched with a supporting plan to ease congestion and improve local services.
“Labor introduced a $12,000 tax on every new home, which has made development less feasible across NSW.
“While Labor’s been happy to collect the tax, they still haven’t outlined a detailed infrastructure plan to show what will be delivered,” Mr Farlow concluded.