Property Council NSW Executive Director Anita Hugo said the endorsement of 16 projects worth $34.4 billion shows the value of a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to unlocking complex and capital-intensive developments.
"This is exactly what the Investment Delivery Authority was designed to do – bring agencies together, cut through unnecessary delays and give investors confidence that NSW is serious about turning major proposals into delivery," Ms Hugo said.
"The scale of investment endorsed in this first tranche is significant, particularly across energy and the visitor economy, and reinforces the importance of clear coordination at the front end of the planning and approvals process."
The endorsed projects include 14 major energy projects valued at around $34 billion across metropolitan and regional NSW, along with two hotel developments worth $482 million supporting the state's visitor economy.
Ms Hugo said the inclusion of hotel projects was a positive signal for the role of property in supporting jobs, tourism and long-term economic growth.
"Quality accommodation and tourism infrastructure are critical to NSW's competitiveness, so it's great to see major hotel developments recognised as part of this investment pipeline," she said.
Ms Hugo said that the first EOI round attracted 48 proposals worth $136 billion, highlighting the depth of investment appetite in NSW.
"That level of interest shows there is no shortage of capital ready to invest in NSW. The challenge will be to make sure the system can respond efficiently and consistently," she said.
Ms Hugo said the Property Council's 2026-27 pre-Budget submission calls for an expanded remit for the Investment Delivery Authority in future rounds.
"We've long argued for a single front door for major investment, and the IDA is a critical step in that direction," Ms Hugo said.
"While the initial focus on energy, hotels and technology is positive, there is a strong case to broaden the IDA's sector focus to include high value industrial and logistics projects, as well as coordinated support for major Sydney Metro station precinct developments.
"Expanding the Authority's scope would help unlock underutilised land, accelerate enabling infrastructure and support the delivery of housing, jobs and social infrastructure across NSW," Ms Hugo said.
