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After years of debate and consultation, the NSW Government’s landmark Planning System Reform Act 2025 has officially become law, marking one of the most significant overhauls of the state’s planning framework in decades. The reform is expected to reshape how development is approved, how communities engage with planning decisions, and how councils such as Hawkesbury plan for future growth.
The history behind the reform
For many years, NSW’s planning system faced criticism for being complex, slow and inconsistent. Developers and residents alike often struggled to navigate layers of regulation, lengthy approval timeframes and unclear consultation processes. Critics argued the system had become a barrier to timely housing delivery and infrastructure development, particularly as the state grappled with population growth, housing shortages and increasing climate pressures.
Recognising these challenges, the NSW Government launched a comprehensive review of the planning system in 2023, engaging councils, industry groups, community organisations and planning experts. The aim was to create a system that is streamlined, transparent, responsive to community needs and better equipped for future demands.
The outcome was the Planning System Reform Bill 2025, which passed Parliament in November last year and received formal assent later that month. The legislation reflects a push to reduce red tape, speed up decision-making and improve community participation.
Local reaction
Urban planning and development experts say the changes are particularly significant for Hawkesbury, where long-standing planning delays have had tangible impacts on housing supply and infrastructure delivery.
“For the Hawkesbury, these planning reforms are long overdue,” said Troy Myers, of Urban City Group. “Years of delay in updating Council’s 2012 Local Environmental Plan have directly increased the cost of living by constraining housing supply, limiting employment land, and delaying essential community infrastructure.
“West of the Hawkesbury River where the majority of residents live communities are still waiting for adequate access to hospitals, ambulance services, police and fire stations. A modern, streamlined planning system gives Hawkesbury a genuine opportunity to catch up and deliver the homes, jobs and services its people need.”
What the new law means
The Act introduces a suite of reforms designed to modernise planning across NSW. Key features include:
- The establishment of a Development Coordination Authority to provide a “single front door” for major projects
- Enshrining the Housing Delivery Authority in law to prioritise housing supply and affordability
- Expanded complying development pathways to allow certain low-impact developments to proceed more quickly
- A Targeted Assessment Pathway for developments already identified in strategic plans
- A single, state-wide Community Participation Plan, replacing multiple local consultation frameworks
- Updated planning objectives that explicitly reference housing delivery, climate resilience and proportionality
What’s likely to happen first
While the Act is now law, many provisions will be rolled out progressively. Commencement dates will be announced by the Minister through the Government Gazette, allowing councils, industry and communities time to adjust.
Planning experts expect the Targeted Assessment Pathway and expanded complying development provisions to be among the first reforms implemented, with broader changes to community participation and regional coordination following later in the year.
What this means for Hawkesbury Council
Despite the reforms, Hawkesbury City Council will remain responsible for preparing and maintaining its Local Environmental Plan (LEP), the key legal document governing land use and zoning across the local government area.
The LEP determines where housing, employment lands, environmental protection zones and community infrastructure can be located. While the new legislation encourages councils to align local plans more closely with state and regional strategies, the LEP will continue to play a central role in shaping development outcomes in the Hawkesbury.
Council will be tasked with balancing streamlined processes and growth pressures with protecting the area’s unique environmental assets, flood-prone lands and rural character.
Looking ahead
The reformed planning system aims to deliver faster decisions, clearer rules and more consistent opportunities for community input, while addressing NSW’s pressing housing and infrastructure needs.
For Hawkesbury residents, the changes are likely to influence how planning applications are assessed and how the community participates in decision-making. The coming months will see the practical rollout of the reforms, and the Hawkesbury Gazette will continue to keep readers informed as the new system takes shape.
