Today’s planners are working within an increasingly complex and overstretched system while trying to deliver sustainable, efficient, and community-focused outcomes. In NSW, however, this challenge is made even more difficult by a planning system that many now consider to be fundamentally broken.
Unless bold reforms and new ways of thinking are embraced, NSW will continue to suffer from crippling housing shortages, stalled infrastructure, and a widening gap between what communities need and what the system can deliver. In this context, the need for innovation, pragmatism, and reform in the planning profession has never been more urgent.
The core of planning still matters
At its best, planning is about balancing competing interests: environmental protection, liveability, heritage, infrastructure, and housing supply. This requires planners to have a solid grasp of design, construction, environmental science, and statutory frameworks, alongside strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
Planners serve as translators and negotiators – working with developers, government agencies, communities, and consultants to move projects forward in a way that delivers long-term public value.
What’s holding us back?
Development approvals in NSW can take a long time and be expensive. What once took months, now routinely takes years – even for relatively straightforward projects. These delays are not just inconvenient; they directly contribute to a lack of new housing, rising costs, and public frustration.
Why? There are many factors, including:
- Excessive layering of specialist studies (traffic, heritage, flooding, ecology, acoustics, and more) that create bottlenecks.
- Reluctance by decision-makers to resolve conflicts between competing interests, leading to paralysis rather than progress.
- NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard) – where vocal opposition from small community groups can derail or delay much-needed developments.
In many cases, developers are pushed to resolve disputes in court, adding more time and expense to already-stretched projects. Public sector planners are under increasing political and community pressure and in some cases lack the tools or policy clarity to say yes.
Time for a YIMBY mindset
One promising cultural shift is the growing visibility of the YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) movement. Unlike the NIMBY approach that resists change and density, YIMBY advocates argue for more housing, smarter infill development, and better urban design as the solution to our current crisis.
Groups like Sydney YIMBY are pushing for a more constructive and future-focused conversation – one that sees growth as essential for equity, affordability, and economic vitality. This is an important shift that should be reflected in how planners approach both policy and project decisions.
Embracing Innovation
While structural reform is critical, there is also a role for innovation. One of the most promising tools is artificial intelligence (AI), which could help ease some of the capacity constraints by automating repetitive tasks like compliance checks and data analysis. This could free up planners to focus on strategy, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement – the areas where human judgment is irreplaceable.
It’s important not to overstate the potential of technology – AI won’t fix policy uncertainty, cultural resistance to change, or the need for stronger leadership in resolving planning trade-offs. We need highly experienced planners to see the continued success of developments.
Written by Ian Stewart, Director, Barker Ryan Stewart
