The NSW planning system will be overhauled to slash approval times and cut red tape for significant infrastructure projects like schools and hospitals.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes unveiled the new Rapid Assessments Framework on Wednesday, saying it would make the system more timely and effective for "state significant projects".
"Major projects vary in scale, complexity and impact - so we're moving from a one-size-fits-all approach to more tailored assessment process," he said in a statement.
"At the moment, every major project is treated the same as a coal mine where comprehensive and costly environmental impact statements are required.
"Coal mines are still coal mines and assessed as such, but projects should be assessed in a time frame that is proportionate to the impacts."
Among the reforms are a limit on the length of environmental impact summaries, streamlined lodgement processes for applicants, and a plan to cut initial assessment steps for "more straightforward" state significant development projects from 28 days to seven days.
The new system should be implemented by the middle of next year.
