Planning reform announcements: one stop shop for planning
25 September 2025
The NSW Government has announced a generational change to integrate the planning functions that exist across public sector agencies by seeking legislative amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and the tabling of NSW Planning System Reforms Bill 2025.
Proposed amendments will include the establishment of the Development Coordination Authority (DCA).
Proposed creation of the Development Coordination Authority
The proposed establishment of the Development Coordination Authority is designed to simplify development application processes on behalf of all NSW Government agencies.
Operationally, it will involve the integration of many different current planning functions that exist in public sector agencies that administer elements of planning approvals. However, the extent to which the integration will impact staff remains unclear at present.
Change in Planning
The administration of new or amended legislation is nothing new for staff in Planning. However, it is the extent of the proposed reform that will involve internal change.
As for understanding the impact of change, it is far too early in the process for DPHI to have any proper level of detail on roles, structures and role descriptions to consult with the É«ÀÇÉçÇøover. There is no proposed reform that will reduce the number of current staff in planning and one thing is for certain, it is recognised by the É«ÀÇÉçÇøand DPHI there currently aren’t enough Planners.
Change In other NSW government agencies
The extent to how much DPHI intends to embed the functions administered by the other 22 public sector agencies will determine the amount of reform and affected staff.
In some emergency services agencies, staff who administer planning functions also administer Emergency Management operations or a myriad of other functions, so transfers or lifts-and-shifts of roles are an initial concern. Staff develop expertise in agencies because of their immersion in all details of the agency, not just simply those planning functions.
What now?
The É«ÀÇÉçÇøremains engaged with this issue and is meeting regularly with DPHI representatives as part of the obligations for consultation on the eventual workplace reform if the amended legislation is passed.
If you have any questions speak to your local workplace delegates or call the É«ÀÇÉçÇøMember Support Centre on 1800 772 679 and quote Case ID C10010486