THE NSW Government is attempting to introduce a statewide approach for how communities have their say on planning proposals.
A draft statewide Community Participation Plan is now on public exhibition.
Currently there are more than 100 different Community Participation Plans across the state, each with its own approach, timeframes and thresholds for consultation on planning matters.
The State Government said this has led to inconsistent consultation practices and confusion for proponents, homeowners, community members and other stakeholders trying to engage with and navigate the planning system.
“Consulting the community is a central part of the NSW planning system and the introduction of a single Community Participation Plan will simplify this and standardise public exhibition and consultation requirements across the state,” the government said in a statement.
“The draft plan reframes NSW’s approach to community consultation by putting the primary focus on strategic planning and major complex development applications instead of sweating the small stuff.
“It proposes longer timeframes for the community to have their say on strategic planning proposals that set out where development should occur and where infrastructure is needed; while reducing the number of low-impact development application types required to be exhibited by councils, speeding up assessment and decision making.”
Key changes include:
● Extending minimum consultation timeframes on significant state-level strategic planning initiatives like the recent draft Sydney Plan and the State Plan from 45 days to 60 days.
● Standardising the process for notification of Complying Development across the state and giving neighbours seven days’ notice before any works begin.
● Making public exhibition requirements clear for different types of local development so that councils do not need to exhibit things like new single or two storey houses or sheds and pools that already meet planning controls.
Councils will still be able to tailor their own community engagement strategies to suit local needs and feed into other council plans and policies.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, “We are encouraging more people to have their say up front when looking at the future of their city, town or suburb by focusing consultation on strategic planning decisions while making the approach to consultation on planning matters clear and consistent across the state.
“We’re taking more than 100 inconsistent and sometimes contradictory plans and bringing them into one clear, consistent approach to give communities a strong voice in the planning system.”
The move has been strongly supported by the Housing Industry Association (HIA).
“The statewide Community Participation Plan will improve the planning system by introducing a consistent approach to consultation on planning matters across all of NSW, adding more certainty for communities and industry,” Brad Armitage, HIA Executive Director NSW.
“HIA fully supports the move to put the primary focus of community consultation on strategic planning and major projects, rather than lower-impact development types such as single dwellings, sheds and pools, already designed to meet planning controls.”
The draft Community Participation Plan and discussion paper are on exhibition until Wednesday 3 June 2026.
To have your say, visit https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/proposed-statewide-cpp
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