Urban Taskforce Australia

The Urban Taskforce Australia is an industry organisation representing property development interests in Australia.It has been described in the media as one of the “most powerful lobby groups” in NSW. [http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/attachment.php?id=710] It has also been described as the “sunny face for an often shady business” - offering intimacy with "ministers and senior bureaucrats" and boasts former NSW Liberal premier Nick Greiner and former Labor premier Neville Wran as co-patrons. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/a-little-barefaced-cheek-works-wonders/2007/02/06/1170524093911.html?page=2 A little bare-faced cheek from the right people works wonders - Opinion ] ] It describes its membership as “Australia's most prominent property developers and equity financiers” . [http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au Urban Taskforce Australia | Representing property developers and equity financiers ] ] According to the Taskforce it provides “a forum for people involved in the development and planning of the urban environment to engage in constructive dialogue with both government and the community.” Its mission is to promote: efficient planning and environment laws; quality urban design; increased economic activity; and improved quality of life in urban communities. [ [http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/aboutus.php Urban Taskforce | Representing the property development industry ] ]

History

The Urban Taskforce was founded in 1999 when a number of property developers and equity property financiers decided that they had a different view of the planning system than dedicated fund managers,asset managers and many property consultants. [http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/history.php Urban Taskforce Australia - About Us ] ] Its started as a NSW only group, but eventually became a national organisation. While dominated by property developers and equity financers, its membership also includes “key” builders, architects, urban planners, economists and lawyers involved in the planning and development industry. The membership of the organisation is small –deliberately restricted to no more than 85 member organisations. Apparently this is a deliberate decision to make sure they firmly represent the big players in property development.

Controversy

The Taskforce has not been without controversy. The then Premier of NSW, Bob Carr, launched it in 1999, prompting questions in Parliament. [http://parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/la/qala.nsf/ad22cc96ba50555dca257051007aa5c8/ca25708400173f67ca25704a001dd363!OpenDocument & http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/la/qala.nsf/ad22cc96ba50555dca257051007aa5c8/ca25708400173f67ca25704a001dd353!OpenDocument ] In 2007 the NSW Greens Party gave the Taskforce the dubious honour of a “Bad Developer” award for “most insidious industry lobbying effort” for its campaign to have the planning laws rewritten to remove local councils from decision-making about developments. [ [http://www.sylvia.nsw.greens.org.au/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topictoview=12&tabno=4 Greens MLC Sylvia Hale :: ] ] However the Taskforce said that it did not think councils should be stripped of powers altogether. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/developers-back-planning-powers/2007/11/05/1194117959783.html Developers back planning powers - National - smh.com.au ] ] On the other hand a Greens Member of Parliament cited with approval the Urban Taskforce’s support for a complete ban on donations to political parties. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/democracy-feeds-off-donations-drip/2007/09/30/1191090936579.html?page=fullpage Democracy feeds off donations drip - Opinion - smh.com.au ] ]

Activities

Urban Taskforce claims to have delivered for property developers in 2006/2007. [ [http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/achievements.php Urban Taskforce - About Us ] ] It achievements appear to include a cut in developer levies, [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/developers-levy-being-reconsidered/2007/09/27/1190486482448.html Developers' levy being reconsidered - National - smh.com.au ] ] exempting vast swathes of Sydney’s ‘growth areas’ from threatened species laws, [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/city-growth-put-before-habitat/2007/12/14/1197568264666.html?page=fullpage City growth put before habitat in rush to develop the west - National ] ] , and the release of a government discussion paper proposing a wide range of pro-development planning reforms. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/sartor-law-love-thy-neighbour/2007/11/27/1196036893130.html Sartor's law: Love thy neighbour - National - smh.com.au ] ]

External links

The Urban Taskforce’s website is http://www.urbantaskforce.com.au.

Notes and references