The NSW planning system will undergo one of the most significant structural changes in a generation from today, with the establishment of the Development Coordination Authority (DCA), to help deliver more homes through a modern, faster, and fairer planning system.
The new one-stop-shop will mean applicants and councils seeking NSW Government input on planning matters receive one coordinated response, instead of being bounced around between up to 22 different agencies.
The DCA was established as part of the Minns Labor Government’s landmark planning reforms, which passed Parliament last year with almost universal support.
Bringing together experts from across government, the DCA will cut red tape and speed up approvals for new homes. Under the current system, when a Development Application is referred to multiple state agencies for advice, each additional referral can add around 100 days to the assessment process.
The DCA will replace this fragmented approach with a single coordinated NSW Government response within 28 days.
The DCA will:
- act as a single point of contact for enquiries on local development and modification applications requiring input from NSW Government agencies.
- issue a single, coordinated response to referrals from consent authorities.
- bring together experts from a broad range of disciplines so issues can be resolved quickly.
- provide specialised expertise and coordinated technical advice on development applications, modification applications and rezonings.
- help resolve post consent issues for large housing projects so construction can start sooner.
The DCA will work within a new statutory framework that consolidates more than 800 dispersed, duplicative and inconsistent requirements across 175 planning instruments into a single list aligned with State priorities. At the same time, we have also reduced the number of triggers for referral by nearly 90 per cent down to less than 50.
The new framework will safeguard important areas like the environment, heritage and bush fire management and prevent unnecessary referrals of DAs to DCA.
Housing under the Minns Labor Government
Housing is the number one cost-of-living concern facing NSW families today and as a result, we have more people leaving our state than coming in. On coming to office, forecasts showed NSW would build just 36,000 homes a year over the next 5 years.
Since then, the Minns Labor Government has introduced the most comprehensive set of reforms to housing in a generation, including the biggest set of rezonings in Australia’s history, including the Transport Oriented Development program, the Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy and the Housing Delivery Authority.
Last year, the Government overhauled the state’s planning legislation with the Planning System Reforms Act 2025 a modern, faster, and fairer planning system.
Housing approvals are up 13.5 per cent this year compared to the previous 12 months and planning approvals are now 30 per cent faster.
The Minns Labor Government is building better communities, with more homes close to transport and infrastructure so people can live in the communities they choose.
For more information visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/development-coordination-authority.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“This is another major improvement for the planning system in NSW. The new Development Coordination Authority will enable a faster and fairer outcomes which support more homes, jobs and better environmental outcomes.
“Homeowners, Councils and other proponents now only have to knock on one door to get the answers they need from the NSW government, ending confusion and unnecessary delays of seeking individual input from up to 22 NSW government bodies.
“This is a commonsense change which forms part of the Minns Labor Government’s landmark overhaul of the State’s planning system aimed at getting NSW building again.”
