Bellingen Shire residents will see changes to how they are consulted on local planning decisions following the introduction of a new NSW Statewide Community Participation Plan.
The statewide plan replaces existing council Community Participation Plans and relevant NSW Government agency participation plans, creating a consistent approach to planning consultation across NSW.
The changes provide longer consultation periods for strategic planning proposals, including those determining where future development and infrastructure should be located.
However, they also reduce the number of low-impact development applications councils are required to publicly exhibit, with the aim of speeding up assessments and decisions.
Bellingen Shire Council general manager Mark Griffioen said the statewide approach differed from the council’s previous consultation requirements.
“Under our previous Community Participation Plan, local development applications were placed on public exhibition and adjacent landholders were required to be notified,” said Griffioen.
“While these changes will streamline the development application process and save applicants time and money, the new requirements mean that local development applications such as two-storey dwellings, secondary dwellings, subdivisions under five lots, farm buildings, and additions to dwellings such as pools and carports will not need to be publicly exhibited, nor neighbours informed.”
“However, all development applications will continue to be assessed on their merits, with council continuing to consider all relevant planning matters including privacy impacts, overshadowing, heritage significance, environmental considerations and other applicable planning controls and requirements.”
Councils will retain some flexibility in how they collaborate and consult with their communities.
NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said the statewide plan would make the consultation process easier to understand.
“The new plan makes it clearer and simpler for people to understand when and how they can have their say on planning proposals,” said Scully.
“By creating one clear statewide approach we’re giving everyone in NSW a fairer way to have their say, no matter where they live.”
Further information is available through the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and Bellingen Shire Council.
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