Planning Minister Brad Hazzard said he was determined to implement the government’s pledge to scrap the controversial Part 3A of the Planning Act.

As part of that process, 63 projects will be sent to local councils immediately for determination.

A further 102 applications which have already substantially progressed through the existing system will be retained as “major projects” and will go before the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) for approval.

“We are going to continue to encourage major projects which bring tourism, business and investment to New South Wales,” he said.

“This includes major road, rail, mining, manufacturing and hospital projects and other projects of genuine state significance.

“But there are many other projects which do not have state significance and the local community is best placed to determine whether they should proceed.”

Hazzard said a mixture of residential, retail, commercial and coastal applications had lost their major project status.

“These are the ones where the government’s involvement was most contested and it is appropriate that they are first to go,” he said.

“One thing is clear … the process of repealing Part 3A is now firmly in train.”

Hazzard said the arrangements announced today were transitional while a new system of assessing projects of genuine state significance was developed.

“The new system will include more rigorous and appropriate criteria to ensure only those projects of real significance to the state come to the government for a decision,” he said.

Under the new transitional arrangements, which came into force on May 13, new projects that require urgent assessment may be authorised by the Director-General for lodgement with the local council, provided the council is willing and has the capacity to assess the application in a timely manner.

“While we have been able to immediately remove a significant number of these projects, it is unavoidable that some must stay within the existing system pending its legislative repeal,” Hazzard said.

“This is because they had progressed to the point in the process where proponents would have had to make significant financial and resourcing commitments.

“However, I will delegate my Part 3A approval role to the PAC or the department for these and all other classes of projects lodged by private developers.

“The only projects for which I, as minister, will be the determining authority, are those put forward by a public authority. This will ensure a whole-of-government approach on projects which, for example, involve the delivery of major public infrastructure.”

Some minor proposals which have attracted a small number of submissions and which the local council has not objected to, will continue to be determined under delegation by senior officers of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.

The transitional arrangements for commercial, residential, retail and coastal projects will be given effect through an amendment to the Major Development State Environmental Planning Policy.