Industry has long called for a more efficient, transparent and certain planning system to operate within. These reforms are aimed at achieving this.

The announced planning reforms have four key objectives, including cutting red tape and making e-planning mandatory for metro councils; to supercharge new hubs across NSW to ensure people can live in communities close to their work; fix the uncertainty of developer contributions; and preserve our heritage and promote good design.

Over the past 12 months, the NSW Productivity Commissioner, our state's Economic Blueprint and Nick Kaldas' report into governance in the planning system have all underlined the need for reform to the planning system.

The Property Council has also highlighted the need for change, citing the 50 per cent drop in dwelling approvals since 2016 and ABS figures showing that NSW has shed 36,000 jobs in the past two months. It also showed that the 3.9 per cent unemployment rate in January had climbed to 4.8 per cent in October.

A committed path to reforming the planning and contributions system in NSW will restore jobs to the construction industry and NSW more broadly. It will also address the direct and indirect costs that the NSW planning system adds to the price of each NSW home, deliver better infrastructure more efficiently, provide better outcomes for the community and ensure collaboration across all levels of government, industry and the community.

The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Rob Stokes, will speak on the government's reform agenda at the Property Council's business lunch in Newcastle on December 13.