UrbanGrowth NSW, which was earlier labelled “Landcom on
steroids” by Planning Minister Brad Hazzard, will not perform many of
the key functions of its predecessor, chairman John Brogden said on
Friday.
“UrbanGrowth will withdraw from retailing land in competition
with the property industry… if you can do it, we will not,” Mr
Brogden pledged in a speech to the Property Council of Australia.
“UrbanGrowth’s role is not to compete with a market that can function and deliver housing.”
Instead, UrbanGrowth would focus on preparing land for the private sector to develop, he said.
“Once consolidated we will add value by – as needed –
rezoning, master-planning and super lotting – wholesaling land into the
market de-risked and ready for housing,” said Mr Brogden.
The creation of UrbanGrowth NSW, an amalgamation of Landcom
and the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority (SMDA), was a key
aspect of the state budget and its focus on turning around the state’s
sluggish housing market.
Other tasks it will perform include seeking surplus government land for housing, even if it meant relocating a public building.
“This might mean for example, relocating an existing Police
Station to another appropriate site in the same suburb or district in
order to release the original site for housing where it has a higher
use,” he said.
The organisation will also take on the task of providing
infrastructure for development sites that are not owned by the
government.
UrbanGrowth will also take on the powers of compulsory acquisition granted to the SMDA by the former Labor government.
Mr Brogden said it was critical that such powers were available to his organisation but stressed they would be used sparingly.
“The power will only be used in exceptional cases where there
is demonstrable public benefit, with proper safeguards, and a fully
transparent process for landowners,” he said.
The organisation hoped to halve the time taken to deliver major housing projects like Green Square, he said.
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/urbangrowth-nsw-will-not-sell-or-build-homes-20120907-25jr4.html