The NSW government has commenced a review of the 17-year-old Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation Act 2000, itself a reviewed version of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). Together, these Acts form the framework for the planning system in the state and provide support for its day-to-day requirements.
The review is a rare opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the contents of the regulation, and to remove outdated rules that slow down the state’s planning system. According to the Department of Planning and Environment, objectives of the review are to reduce administrative burden and increase procedural efficiency; reduce complexity; and to establish and simpler, more modern and transparent planning system.
As an important first step, the government has opened the floor to feedback on the Act, offering stakeholders a chance to have their input on clauses they no longer deem to be relevant. Submissions to the department will be open until 24 November 2017, and can be made either online via the Planning Department website, by direct email, or by writing to the director of legislative updates within the department.
More information and submissions here.
