Former Newcastle council planning director Garry Fielding will chair the NSW government's new Regional Housing Taskforce.
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Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced on Friday that Mr Fielding would start work immediately, leading a taskforce addressing housing shortages in regional areas.
"With the pandemic transforming the way we live and work, we've seen a noticeable shift in people leaving cities for a sea change or tree change in the regions," Mr Barilaro said.
"But, with that, prices are escalating. This is why we've set up this taskforce to provide independent advice to deliver more housing throughout the state."
Mr Fielding is a former City of Newcastle, Maitland and Woollahra planning director and Hunter Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel chair.
We've asked Mr Fielding to examine the obstacles in the planning system preventing new housing in the regions.
- Rob Stokes
Planning Minister Rob Stokes said Mr Fielding would identify constraints to housing supply, diversity and affordability in the regions and deliver his report to government in September.
"We've asked Mr Fielding to examine the obstacles in the planning system preventing new housing being brought to market in the regions, and to identify solutions that will boost supply and encourage greater housing choice," Mr Stokes said.
"Mr Fielding's recommendations will allow us to partner with willing councils on new ways on planning and deliver more housing opportunities in our thriving regions."
Housing Minister Melinda Pavey said Mr Fielding had a track record of "achieving results in planning".
"For more than 40 years, he has had extensive experience as a town planner at both a state and local level, the latter in senior executive roles in city and regional councils," she said.
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