Investment Delivery Authority to accelerate AUD $50 billion boost
The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the New South Wales Government's establishment of the Investment Delivery Authority, describing it as a significant advance in reducing impediments to private sector investment and improving productivity across the state.
Industry endorsement
Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson stated that the creation of the Investment Delivery Authority (IDA) was the result of sustained advocacy from the property industry, which has called for a dedicated body to ease the path of complex, high-value developments.
"Our members have long called for a body that can clear roadblocks and fast-track major non-residential investment. Backed by AUD $17.7 million in the most recent NSW Budget, the IDA is a win for industry and a clear signal that NSW is open for business," Ms Stevenson said.
The IDA is set to serve as a central point for major projects, modelled on the approach taken by the Housing Delivery Authority. The authority will be responsible for coordinating government agencies, simplifying the approvals process, and overseeing delivery of up to 30 major projects each year. The Property Council highlighted that this could result in as much as AUD $50 billion in private investment annually.
Project focus
Ms Stevenson drew attention to the sectors included in the initial call for expressions of interest, noting the inclusion of data centres, renewables, and hotels. She also outlined the Property Council's view that other sectors should eventually benefit from the IDA's scope.
"We welcome the focus on data centres, renewables, and hotels for the first round of EOIs for the Authority, and the potential to expand its focus to benefit other types of projects in future rounds. Sectors like industrial and retail should be considered so that other growth-enabling investments aren't left behind," Ms Stevenson said.
On the subject of investment thresholds, Stevenson commented on criteria for hotel projects, praising the adoption of a minimum project value for eligibility:
"The AUD $200 million threshold for hotel projects is also a smart move, reflecting the Property Council's calls for more appropriate thresholds that attract genuine investment and support the growth of the visitor economy," she said.
Wider economic context
The Property Council also sees the IDA as part of a broader pattern of recent government initiatives aimed at supporting NSW's economy, such as the Innovation Blueprint and the Future Jobs and Investment Authority announced in the 2025-26 Budget.
"The challenge now is to keep building on this momentum – extending the IDA's remit into enabling infrastructure and large-scale projects in sectors like logistics, retail, industrial and the broader visitor economy will deliver even greater dividends for NSW," Ms Stevenson said.
She argued that by concentrating resources on expediting planning and cutting bureaucracy, the Authority can drive both investment and economic growth.
"By having a dedicated focus on fast-tracking planning assessments and cutting through red tape, the new Authority has the potential to accelerate investment in infrastructure and major developments to drive productivity and economic growth," she said.
Partnerships and the way forward
According to Ms Stevenson, the Property Council intends to maintain a close working relationship with both the Government and the IDA, assisting project proponents and seeking to strengthen investor confidence.
"This is a positive step that will help turn ambition into delivery. The property industry is ready to partner with Government to deliver the jobs, investment, and services our communities need," Ms Stevenson said.
