Planning Reform During COVID-19: Stakeholder Perspectives on Reform Initiatives in New South Wales and Western Australia

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 outbreak in Australia led to a period of economic crisis. In response, Commonwealth and State Governments targeted the construction sector for concentrated economic stimulation. Planning systems, and their reform, were identified as levers to stimulate economic activity. This paper explores early COVID-19-initiated planning system reforms in New South Wales and Western Australia. It explores key reforms in each state and provides a comparative analysis of reform objectives, the influence of key stakeholders, reform innovations and possibilities for future reform. COVID-19-induced reforms emerge as both the continuation of the long-term reform agenda and reactionary interventions to immediate economic challenges.

摘要

新冠肺炎在澳洲的爆发导致了一段时间的经济危机。作为回应，联邦和州政府以建筑业作为目标，集中刺激经济。一般认为计划系统及其改革是刺激经济活动的杠杆。本文探讨了在新南威尔士州和西澳大利亚州由新冠肺炎发起的早期规划体系改革。其中探讨了每个国家的主要改革，并对改革目标、主要利益攸关方的影响、改革创新和未来改革的可能性进行了比较分析。新冠肺炎引发的改革既是长期改革议程的延续，也是对当前经济挑战的保守干预。

KEYWORDS:

• Planning reform
• COVID-19
• New South Wales
• Western Australia
• economic downturn

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The body responsible for Commonwealth-State funding agreements.

2 A national development sector peak body/advocate.

3 A NSW-based development sector peak body/advocate.

4 A NSW-based development sector peak body/advocate.

5 The national peak body for planning practitioners.

6 COVID-19 Legislation Amendment (Emergency Measures) Act 2020 No 1.

7 Environmental Planning and Assessment (COVID Development – Construction work days) Order 2020.

8 A nutrition/weight loss company.