The Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (‘EP&A Reg 2021‘) commences on 1 March 2022 with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (‘EP&A Reg 2000‘) to be repealed on the same day. The NSW Government has stated that the…
Proposed reforms to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000: Further Observations
30 Aug, 2021
In an earlier post, we alerted readers that on 5 August 2021 the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) released for public consultation the draft Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (Draft EPA Reg). The Draft EPA Reg is…
ALERT – NSW Planning System Reforms
26 Jul, 2020
The NSW Government revealed the NSW Planning Reform Action Plan (‘Action Plan‘) last week. The Action Plan aims to help boost the recovery of the economy, reduce planning assessment times, reduce red tape and create a user-friendly planning system. Speaking…
The Land and Environment Court has recently considered whether a development control order (Order) was validly issued under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act). This decision provides useful guidance to local councils on a number of the…
Short-Term Rental Accommodation Reforms
19 Sep, 2019
The New South Wales government recently exhibited the draft Short-Term Rental Accommodation (‘STRA’) regulatory framework. The framework is a response to the growing STRA industry, which is estimated to be worth more than $30bn nationally, and seeks to achieve consistency…
As discussed in previous blogs, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (‘EPA Act‘) is about to undergo substantial amendment. The Department of Planning and Environment (‘DPE‘) has recently announced the timetable for the commencement of those amendments, and confirmed that some…
New Primary Production and Rural Development SEPP
28 Nov, 2017
The Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) is currently seeking submissions on proposed changes to the existing planning controls governing primary production and rural development. The proposed changes are set out in the Primary Production and Rural Development – Explanation of…
ALERT – Amendments to the EP&A Act – Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill 2017
25 Oct, 2017
On 18 October 2017, the NSW government introduced the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill 2017 (‘Planning Bill‘) into Parliament. The Planning Bill substantially amends the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (‘EPA Act‘) in a number of important respects. This blog takes a…
Protection of Marine Environments through new Coastal Management Reforms – opportunities and challenges
28 Nov, 2016
As we recently blogged, the NSW Government has released the much anticipated draft State Environmental Planning Policy (Coastal Management) 2016 (CM SEPP) for public comment as part of its broader coastal management reform package (Reform Package). This blog looks at the opportunities under this…
The NSW Government has released for public consultation a draft ‘New Wind Energy Planning Framework’ (Draft Framework) for large-scale wind energy facilities, which aims to increase investment in wind energy in the state, whilst balancing the needs of the community.
The NSW State Budget for 2014-2015 released on 17 June 2014 indicates that $60 million has been allocated for the Local Infrastructure Growth Scheme (‘LIGS‘), down from $99 million in 2013-2014. Given the purpose for which the LIGS was established, it…
Planning Bill in the Balance
28 Nov, 2013
Following its introduction to the Legislative Assembly on 22 October 2013, the Planning Bill 2013 (Bill) faced its first real test on 26 and 27 November in the Legislative Council and was found wanting.