The State Plan is anoverarching policy document that focuses on 6 key areas of action: transport, supporting business and jobs, education, healthy communities,environment, stronger communities, keeping people safe and better government.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING ACT 1979:

 

Aims to encourage:

• the proper management, development and conservation of natural and artificial resources, for the purpose of promoting the social, economic and environmental welfare

•  the promotion and co-ordination of the orderly and economic use and development of land,

• the protection, provision and co-ordination of communication and utility services,

• the provision of land for public purposes,

• the provision and co-ordination of community services and facilities,

• the protection of the environment, including native animals and plants and their habitats

• the provision and maintenance of affordable housing,

• increased opportunity for public involvement and participation in environmental planning and assessment.

 

REVIEW OF THE NSW PLANNING SYSTEM 2012/2013:

(Currently in White paper stage of development and implementation)

 

Major Transformative changes include:

• Increased community participation at the start of the planning process and participation on an ongoing basis guided by a ‘Community Participation Charter

• A change in planning delivery culture; a restructure to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure increased monitoring of performance of state and local government– outcome focus, facilitative, can-do culture.

• A more streamlined development assessment system, moving to a ‘performance based system’, 80% cent of all developments of various descriptions, are proposed to be complying or code assessable within the next five years.

• A major revision of the existing developer contributions system, closely aligned with broader land use planning, and planning and delivery for housing and employment. Local infrastructure plans – removal of cap, 3 year timeline for expenditure of collected funds, but more limited range of contribution types

• Increased penalties for non-compliance with building regulation and compliance