Summary
The State Environmental Planning Policy No 71 - Coastal Protection (SEPP 71) required the Minister for Planning to consult with the Natural Resources Commission before approving a draft master plan for subdivision of land within the coastal zone or waiving the need for a master plan.
Since SEPP 71 was repealed in 2018, we no longer have that statutory role.
SEPP 71 advice
Between 2003 and 2018, we reviewed 326 SEPP 71 related requests (see table) and provided advice to the Minister for Planning. Our advice considered the development proposal's risks to achieving the SEPP 71 aims and objectives, and recommended whether or not we supported the draft master plan or the request to waive the need for a master plan.
Year | Review of need for a master plan | Review of draft master plan | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
2017-18 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
2016-17 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
2015-16 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
2014-15 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
2013-14 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
2012-13 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
2011-12 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
2010-11 | 8 | 0 | 7 |
2009-10 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
2008-09 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
2007-08 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
2006-07 | 52 | 4 | 56 |
2005-06 | 81 | 8 | 89 |
2004-05 | 58 | 11 | 69 |
2003-04 | 21 | 3 | 24 |
Total | 299 | 27 | 326 |
Submission to the planning system review
In November 2011, we provided a submission to the NSW planning system review. Our submission provided an insight on the operation of SEPP 71 and covered other issues relevant to the overall alignment between natural resource management and statutory land use planning.
Progress report on master planning under SEPP 71
In April 2007, we provided a progress report on master planning under SEPP 71. The report highlighted the areas where the aims of SEPP 71 were not being met effectively, including:
- development assessments under the SEPP are not required to consider the development’s impact on NSW’s ability to meet the state-wide targets for natural resources as reflected regionally through the relevant catchment action plan
- the master planning process of SEPP 71 is only triggered for subdivisions. Developers can and do effectively circumvent the master planning requirements by applying to subdivide the land after the consent authority has granted consent for development. Once development consent has been granted, there is limited scope to improve consideration of natural resource outcomes from a development through the master planning provisions.