The NSW Government has adopted a new Statewide Community Participation Plan (SCPP) that now applies to all planning authorities across New South Wales, including councils.
The SCPP was introduced through reforms associated with the Planning System Reforms Act 2025 and replaces council-specific statutory community participation plans for planning matters.
The SCPP came into effect on 1 September 2026 and under the changes, Council will no longer send notification letters or advertise certain development types where they meet the plan’s requirements. These include:
- New single and two-storey houses
- Alterations and additions to existing houses
- Dual occupancies and attached dwellings
- Secondary dwellings, such as granny flats
- Other development types listed in the statewide community participation plan.
During the exhibition of the draft SCPP, Bayside Council lodged a submission with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI).
Council’s submission expressed several concerns including the removal of local discretion over statutory notification requirements, and changes to notification arrangements for complying development that would significantly reduce meaningful community participation.
The draft Statewide Community Participation Plan was on public exhibition for eight weeks between April and June 2026.
While the reforms provide greater consistency across New South Wales and place increased emphasis on community engagement during strategic planning processes, they also reduce the statutory community participation requirements that previously applied to many development applications.
Mayor Dr Christina Curry said
“Council did not support these changes and recognises the community’s strong interest in being informed about development in their neighbourhood,” Mayor Curry said.
