NSW Premier Chris Minns is shaking up the public service to focus on housing, jobs, and infrastructure. 

The Greater Cities Commission (GCC) and the Western Parklands City Authority (WPCA) are to be integrated into the Department of Planning and Environment. 

Kiersten Fishburn, the acting secretary of the department, will oversee the alignment of the GCC's six cities plan and the government's housing targets.

Minns believes that the previous system had “too many agencies reporting to too many ministers” and was failing to deliver enough housing.

By bringing around 350 staff members under the department's umbrella, the new structure aims to streamline the planning system. 

The primary objective is to address the housing shortage, with a projected shortfall of 134,000 homes over the next five years under the National Housing Accord.

The NSW Labor government plans to overhaul planning processes, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and allocate resources more effectively for project delivery. 

According to Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully, the overlapping mandates of the GCC and the department created confusion and blurred accountability. 

The government wants to pool resources to focus on housing, jobs, and infrastructure in alignment with its priorities.

The GCC will continue to assist with metropolitan planning for the Six Cities Region and provide advice to ministers. 

Meanwhile, the WPCA board will guide the development of Bradfield City, economic growth, and investment opportunities in Western Parklands City.

To meet their housing and planning goals, the government has announced seven initiatives, including infrastructure contribution reforms, support for social and affordable housing, market development changes, a government land audit, an expanded role for Landcom, the establishment of an NSW Building Commission, and improvements to renting regulations.