Renewed NSW focus on approvals process welcome

The NSW mining industry has welcomed the NSW Premier’s renewed focus on the urgent need to reduce ‘green tape’ and duplication in the state and federal planning systems.

“The renewed push by Premier O’Farrell for a streamlined state and federal approvals process is an important step in delivering better economic outcomes for NSW without compromising environmental standards,” NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said today.

“Last year the Commonwealth reneged on their commitment to pursue this important reform. It is now time for all parties to return to the table and get it done.”

 “In the meantime, the NSW Government’s current review of its own planning system is an opportunity to deliver real improvements to approvals processes for major NSW projects,” Mr Galilee said.

 “The current complicated NSW approvals assessment system is holding back our State.  Action is needed to fix this mess which is threatening investment and putting jobs at risk.”

Research conducted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers* has found that delays in the NSW planning system come at a significant economic cost.  The research found that delays of twelve months or more to mining assessment times will cost NSW 29,000 jobs across the State, $10.3 billion in lost investment and $600 million a year in lost mining royalties over the next 20 years.

“The NSW planning system is the State’s biggest roadblock to investment. NSW will pay a high economic price if mining projects continue to be subjected to lengthy assessment delays,” Mr Galilee said.

“To avoid an economic body blow of this magnitude the NSW Government needs to replace the current broken planning system with a more efficient system that provides certainty and consistency for mining projects,” he said.

Contact: Lindsay Hermes I 

lhermes@nswmining.com.au

 I 0409 758 734