Keneally tight-lipped on key planning projects

In a speech obtained by The City News, Ms Keneally said her top priorities are to strengthen investment confidence and community trust.

"One of the first things I did as minister was to request a review of administrative processes," Minister Keneally said. "I want to make sure that nothing slips through the cracks."

The former disability and ageing minister would not say how her approach would differ from that of her predecessor. But Ms Keneally has said that reversing Frank Sartor's highly unpopular planning reforms was not an option.

"As one of my first public statements as the new Minister for Planning – let me say this upfront: I will not be moving away from the recently passed planning reforms."

Disputes with local government over planning controls became one of the hallmarks of Frank Sartor's time as planning minister, something Ms Keneally is also hoping to remedy.

A spokesman for the minister said she would be working closely with the City of Sydney to meet the State Government's affordable housing target of 55,000 inner-city homes by 2031.

"The minister is in the process of meeting with a wide range of stakeholders, and looks forward to working with the City of Sydney on a number of key issues," the spokesman said.

Ms Keneally's desire to gain the public's trust had its first setback last week, when she was criticised by the Greens for accepting more than $12,000 in donations from property developers. Lord Mayor Clover Moore has said disclosing donations must be promoted as part of a new culture of transparency within the Planning Ministry.

"This is a sensitive role in a high risk area of government," Lord Mayor Moore told The City News last week. "The Government needs to reverse the disturbing and unnecessary concentration of planning power vested in the minister."

Other key areas of responsibility for Minister Keneally are the Redfern-Waterloo and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authorities. But Minister Keneally is remaining tight-lipped about projects such as Pemulwuy in Redfern and the redevelopment of North Eveleigh.

"With my new Planning and Redfern Waterloo portfolios, I will continue to work closely with other members of the government, as well as with my own departments and a range of key stakeholders to deliver good outcomes for the people of NSW," she said. "While only new to the portfolio, one of the things I am acutely aware of is the need to strengthen our planning ideals to a climate of economic difficulty."