The Minns Labor Government is making it simpler and easier for communities to have their say on planning proposals replacing more than 100 separate plans currently in operation across NSW with a new statewide Community Participation Plan (CPP) from 1 September.
The new CPP will end confusion and give communities a clearer way to have their say on planning decisions, no matter where they live, by standardising consultation requirements across the state.
It reframes NSW’s approach to community consultation by putting greater focus on strategic planning and major complex development applications so that it is easier for people to have their say on the longer-term future of their community.
It introduces 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.
The final CPP was shaped by public feedback provided through over 1000 submissions on the draft plan.
The final plan includes refinements to the list of low-impact development types excluded from notification and exhibition, as well as changes for draft district and regional plans and Local Strategic Planning Statements, recognising the importance of early consultation for long-term planning proposals.
Local councils will still be able to tailor how they collaborate and consult with their communities, with supporting guidance on engagement strategies being rolled out in the coming month.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s landmark reforms to the nearly 50 year old Environmental Planning and Assessment Act which passed through parliament in November 2025 with almost universal support to make the planning system faster and fairer.
For more information or to read the final Community Participation Plan visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/statewide-community-participation-plan.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“The new plan makes it clearer and simpler for people to understand when and how they can have their say on planning proposals.
“By creating one clear statewide approach we’re giving everyone in NSW a fairer way to have their say, no matter where they live.
“We don’t expect people to be experts to make a submission to the planning process but we want to make sure that people can have their say in a clear, simple and easily understood way.
“We have listened to feedback from councils, communities and stakeholders, to deliver a plan which will help create a faster, fairer and more outcomes focused planning system.”
