The current push for planning reform presents a critical opportunity to look beyond legal instruments alone. While legislative change is necessary, true reform must recognise how people, technology, finance, risk and organisational cultures interact within the planning system to create outcomes. This holistic approach is essential for meaningful improvement.

Our Director, Michael Comninos and Associate Director, Amanda Yeung, were featured in the journal of the NSW Planning Institute of Australia exploring these issues.

Attribution note: This article originally appeared in New Planner – the journal of the New South Wales planning profession – published by the Planning Institute of Australia.

Without infrastructure investment upfront, development stalls and housing delivery is slowed. As of May 2025, the Housing and Productivity Contribution (H&PC) scheme only collects funding from development after approvals, creating a critical funding gap.

A Case for Works in Kind was prepared by Astrolabe Group for the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW, and draws from consultation with NSW Government agencies and key industry and council representatives for how Works in Kind can be a mechanism for more efficient infrastructure delivery.

Aiming to increase housing supply, NSW Planning recently made changes to dual occupancy to expand where they are permitted. We have taken a look at what impact this has made to NSW's housing supply since the reforms were introduced in July 2024.

Read our findings in our research snapshot.

We undertook feasibility assessment of the 37 Transport Orientated Development sites from NSW Planning, with detailed analysis in 11 sub-markets for the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Read more in our research report.

Access to comprehensive, current and climate informed spatial datasets is critical to support evidence-based land use and community planning.

We worked with Central NSW, Hunter and Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisations in a scoping study support the development of data tools for the critical work done by local government.

Read the full scoping report.

We supported the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue bring together learning and insights from its 2024 study tour across East London with a focus on housing and placemaking. The Dialogue hosted a range of sectors from government, business and industry to see what we could learn for Western Sydney and Australia more broadly. Read our insights here.

The Illawarra Shoalhaven “Next Generation” Economic Development Blueprint was formally launched on Friday 28 June 2024 by The Hon. Ryan Park, MP, Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health and Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast.

The Blueprint identifies five “Big Moves” that will transform our region and respond to Sydney’s growth and local needs.   While some moves have a specific geography, all will generate region-wide benefits and beyond. 

See more about our work with the region in the Blueprint.

Innovation Districts are a key driver of economic development in NSW. Their success can directly support the delivery of key NSW Government priorities including job creation, the development of emerging industries, productivity improvement, the provision of housing supply and the creation of jobs where people live.

Read more about our work with the Innovation District Alliance.

At Astrolabe Group, our focus is to deliver positive change for client, place and community by combining
evidence, expertise and a uniquely empathetic approach.

Across 2023 we’ve brought this focus to our work with clients. We’ve had the opportunity to partner with local councils, state and federal government, universities, industry, not for profits, and peak associations.

Read our highlights and impact in our year in review.

Across Australia, housing affordability continues to worsen as market conditions deteriorate, constraining the delivery of new supply. Both the Federal and State government’s have been making moves to increase the supply of housing including social and affordable housing.

Read our work St George Community Housing across research, data and feasibility modelling to develop a position paper on proposed government reforms

Industrial land is critical to Sydney’s productivity and growth. The availability of industrial lands in Greater Sydney has been in decline for decades. We worked with NSW Ports to demonstrate the value of this land use and recommended policy direction to ensure its future.