The Department of Planning & Infrastructure have unveiled the Green Paper – A New Planning System for NSW, outlining the Government’s vision for a more transparent, effective, and efficient planning system for NSW.

By delivering a complete overhaul to the 30-year-old Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the Government is placing community participation at the forefront of the new planning system for NSW.

The new planning system will put community participation at the forefront of planning decisions about how cities and towns will grow and develop. Communities are the best at shaping their future, and the planning system will enshrine in law their involvement in planning for growth and change.

Planning outcomes will reflect the expectations of the community and help make housing more affordable.
From managing agricultural land to reserving land for biodiversity and developing urban renewal sites, the planning system must work effectively and efficiently for all users.

The new planning system will have a strong focus on upfront strategic planning, which involves making evidence-based decisions about how cities and regions will grow over time.

The Green Paper outlines 23 changes which will place NSW back in contention for the leading planning system in the country.

• Development applications (DAs) for swimming pools, garages, new houses, changing a shop’s use and other routine proposals will be considered and dealt with faster by the local council or an accredited certifier.
• Council staff are currently responsible for determining some 97 per cent of development applications. Councillors decide around 3 per cent.
• The legislation has been modified over 150 times to try to keep up with changes in the community.
• Each year there are up to 109 changes to Local Environmental Plans across the state.

Communities have two months to have their say until 14 September 2012.

An online consultation has been set up at www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/newplanningsystem
[1]
Further information can be found at the Department of Planning and Infrastructure website: www.planning.nsw.gov.au [2]

Media contact: Adam Raskall, 0409 565 083