The Minns Labor Government says it is making it easier to have your say on planning proposals and ending confusion by developing a single Community Participation Plan, designed to give communities a clearer way to have their say on planning decisions, no matter where they live.
The draft statewide Community Participation Plan is now on public exhibition and once in place will introduce a consistent approach across all of NSW. 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 government says 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. For example, right now there can be different approaches on opposite sides of the same street for both community consultation and work notification requirements.
The draft plan 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
- 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 7 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 with planning controls.
Importantly, councils will still be able to tailor their own community engagement strategies to suit local needs and feed into other council plans and policies.
The NSW government says this is is the next step in implementing their legislative planning reforms which passed through parliament in November 2025. They claim that the reforms will make the planning system faster, fairer and more focused on outcomes so it is easier to build homes, attract jobs and enhance the environment.
The draft Community Participation Plan and discussion paper are on exhibition until Wednesday 3 June 2026. To have your say, visit this link.
Community participation
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, ‘A key pillar of the Minns Labor Government’s generational planning reforms is making it easier and clearer about what, how and when the community has its say on various planning proposals.
‘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.
‘The statewide Community Participation Plan means no matter where you live, you’ll know how and when to have your say on development in your neighbourhood,’ said Mr Scully.
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