The Minns Labor Government will fully fund training for up to half the State's council planners to support the rollout of reforms designed to make planning assessments and decisions system faster and fairer.
Developed in partnership between the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) and the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the NSW Planning Practice Program will help councils apply the Government's recent planning reforms consistently and confidently.
Since 2023, the Government has delivered an unprecedented pipeline of reforms to build more homes in NSW, including through the Transport Oriented Development program, the Pattern Book, and the Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.
The Government has also established the Housing Delivery Authority, Development Coordination Authority, Pre-Sale Finance Guarantee, and last year overhauled the state's planning legislation with the Planning System Reforms Act 2025.
The half day training has been specifically designed for council development assessment officers preparing, reviewing and determining development applications.
It is aimed at shifting planners focus to examining matters that are the most relevant and proportionate for planning proposals and development applications.
The program will also support councils to incorporate reform principles into their assessment processes and team practices, helping them focus resources where they will have the greatest impact in their communities.
The Government will initially pay for 950 development assessment officers with places being offered to all 128 councils across the state.
The training program builds on the Government's partnership with City of Newcastle to roll out the Accelerated Development Assessment Program aimed at speeding up assessment times for low-risk decision-ready projects.
NSW recently recorded its highest number of homes under construction in seven years, leading the nation with more than 80,000 homes currently being built.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government's plan to build a better NSW with more homes, jobs, parks and services, so young people, families and key local workers have somewhere to live and work in the communities they choose.
For more information on the training program visit the PIA website.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:
"Our planning reforms are the biggest suite of changes the NSW planning profession has seen in 50 years, and we are committed to supporting councils to apply them consistently and confidently.
"The intention of the reforms has been to create real, practical changes to get keys in doors faster, and that is what is happening.
"This program empowers councils to make this on-the-ground change in their communities."
Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig said:
"Council planners are the people who have to make these reforms work on the ground. If the State changes the planning system, we have a responsibility to make sure council staff have the practical training and support they need to implement those changes properly.
"This is practical support for councils across New South Wales. Faster decisions are important, but so are sound decisions. We want council planners spending their time on the issues that genuinely require planning judgement, with communities and applicants able to have confidence that the system is being applied fairly and consistently."
Planning Institute of Australia NSW/ACT state manager, Tessa Faucheur said:
"The Planning Institute of Australia is proud to partner with the NSW Government on the NSW Planning Practice Program as part of our commitment to supporting planners throughout their careers.
"This significant investment will give planners more practical skills, contemporary knowledge and tools they can apply immediately in their work.
"Building the capability of the planning profession will support better decisions and help create well-designed, sustainable and thriving communities across New South Wales."
