Greater Cities planning group axed by Minns

The NSW Government has scrapped the Greater Cities Commission (GCC) nearly 12 months after deciding Kiama would be a part of a new ‘Illawarra-Shoalhaven City.’

Premier Chris Minns said the decision was made to reduce overlap and duplication of finite public resources, specifically when it comes to planning and building more houses in the State.

“There’s no point having housing targets if you can’t deliver the housing,”

Premier Minns said in a statement. “This is about ensuring we have the right team in place to deliver the housing and infrastructure we so critically need in this State.”

The GCC was established by the Liberal Party, with Labor’s support, under former Premier Mike Baird, and was intended to coordinate planning across the State to identify locations for jobs and houses, as well as setting housing targets for 43 local councils.

The intent was to transform Sydney into a ‘global city’ rivalling California’s Bay Area, Greater London and the Netherlands’ Randstad.

Last year, the commission rebranded to include Wollon-