A community focussed EP&A Act and new strategic role for councils takes effect

Early community engagement and an elevated strategic role for NSW councils are two of the key changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) that come into effect from today, having passed through Parliament late last year.

The changes, which are the biggest overhaul to the NSW planning legislation in 40 years, will focus on enhancing community participation by requiring planning authorities to prepare and implement community participation plans that detail how they engage with their community.

Deputy Secretary of Policy and Communications at the Department of Planning and Environment Alison Frame, said engaging with the community early in the planning process is essential to delivering the best planning outcomes.

“Planning to accommodate the extra 2.2 million people who will call NSW home over the next 20 years will require clear and transparent engagement with the community,” Ms Frame said.

The new requirements for community participation plans will increase opportunity for community input into local plans and will make it simpler and easier to get involved.

For the first time the Act will also recognise the critical role of councils in strategic planning.

“Each council will prepare a local strategic planning statement that will set out the 20-year vision for land-use in the local area, the distinctive character and values that are to be preserved, and how change will be managed into the future.”

The local strategic planning statements must identify the planning priorities for an area and explain how these are to be delivered. They must also show how the council will monitor and report on how the priorities will be implemented.

NSW Chief Planner, Gary White will be hosting workshops across the State to ensure that everyone can have their voices heard and provide input into the implementation of the updated planning system, including local strategic planning statements and community participation plans.

“By making the Act easier to navigate and understand, communities will be able to fully engage and be part of the process from early on, to help to shape their local areas,” Ms Frame added.

To find out more information on the changes to the EP&A Act that come into effect from 1 March 2018 and to access a consolidated guide, Contact: [email protected]