Investment Delivery Authority
On September 15 at the National Tech Summit, New South Wales Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, announced the establishment of the Investment Delivery Authority (IDA). The IDA is a new entity designed to streamline and accelerate the delivery of priority investment projects across the state. It will focus on primarily non-residential projects and is modelled on the New South Wales Housing Delivery Authority.
The IDA will operate under Investment NSW, consolidating expertise and resources to overcome common barriers to project execution. This initiative signals a shift towards a more coordinated approach to infrastructure and economic development, aiming to unlock significant economic benefits and improve public services for NSW.
The introduction of the IDA is a direct response to challenges caused by planning approvals, inter-agency coordination and land acquisition. The IDA will build upon the existing mandate of Investment NSW to attract and facilitate investment by actively driving the delivery phase of critical projects.
The IDA is projected to assist approximately 30 large scale projects annually, with the potential to unlock up to $50 billion in new investment for NSW. To qualify for the initial round, projects must be primarily non-residential, valued at $1 billion or more, and directly relate to data centres, technology, renewable energy, or energy security.
Objectives outlined by the IDA are as follows:
Objective 1: Remove barriers to major private investment projects that are not primarily residential and that make a significant contribution to the NSW economy.
Objective 2: Support projects that are commercially feasible, require value-adding interventions and can be assessed quickly.
A detailed outline of the selection criteria to achieve these objectives can be found on the IDA website.
The IDA will work with relevant government departments and agencies to identify and prioritise projects that are critical for the state’s economic growth, job creation and public service improvement, involving a strategic assessment of project readiness, impact and alignment with government objectives.
A key role of the IDA will be to improve inter-agency coordination, breaking down silos and ensuring a unified approach to project delivery. This will involve working with local councils, state agencies and private sector partners.
By streamlining processes and providing dedicated resources, the IDA aims to significantly reduce project timelines. Improved planning, risk management and coordination are expected to lead to more efficient use of public funds and reduce cost overruns with the primary focus to stimulate economic activity and create more employment opportunities across various sectors.
Expression of Interests
The NSW Government is positioned to launch the first round of EOIs within the coming weeks. The initial round will specifically target major projects in advanced technology and energy, including data centres, renewable energy and energy security initiatives.
Additionally, hotel developments exceeding a $200 million threshold are being sought to bolster the state’s visitor economy.
Further details regarding EOI processes and timelines will be released in the coming weeks. The IDA have stated that there will be multiple opportunities for projects to express interest each year with timing and sectoral focus of future EOI rounds to be communicated in due course.
Further Information
For more information, please contact Hawker Britton’s Director John Jarrett on +61 434 384 745.
Additional Hawker Britton Occasional Papers on the activities of the New South Wales Government are available here.