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Planning Proposals

Available Downloads LEP Amendment Guidelines (417kb) Preparing Local Environment Plans (419kb) Preparing Planning Proposals (381kb) Local Plan Making Fact Sheet (347kb) Planning Circular - Commencement of EP&A Amendment (43kb)

On 1 July 2009 the NSW Department of Planning through the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Act 2008 and Amendment (Plan Making) Regulation 2009 commenced a new procedure for the preparation of Local Environmental Plans (LEP) and State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPP).

The amendments also include:

• The abolition of Regional Environmental Plans (REP) from the NSW Planning System, with most current Plans becoming SEPPs from 1 July,
• The introduction of ‘Planning Proposals’ and ‘Gateway’ determinations,
• The ability of Joint Regional Planning Authorities (JRP) to act as the Relevant Planning Authority (RPA) in place of a council or the Minister,
• Tailored specialty reporting and investigations specific to each proposal,
• Ability for the RPA to outline a public consultation process in the planning proposal to suite the specific needs and circumstances of each proposal,
• Limiting State Agency consultation to relevant bodies only,
• Savings and transitional procedures for existing draft LEPs made before 1 July 2009.

For further information on the plan making amendments and how to prepare a Planning Proposal refer to the ‘Available Downloads’ document links on this page.

The State Government’s Planning Reforms and the pressures for increasing redevelopment in the Tweed Shire have required the Council’s Planning Reforms Unit to establish a prioritised system for dealing with the LEP planning proposals and DCP processes related to new major developments. This has occurred through Council’s adoption of the Unit’s works program on 16 June 2009 and the prior adoption on 21 April 2009 of three key strategies aimed at the effective management and resourcing of planning proposals and related planning investigations over the next 3 years, comprising:

1. Enable the Council/Applicant to elect to appoint an external consultancy to undertake the rezoning application/DCP, under the management of Planning Reforms, at the cost of the applicant.
2. Reduce the number of Draft LEP Amendments by combining applications (except large applications) into a single amendment to be commenced once each year.
3. Increase the Fees and Charges schedule to capture full cost recovery for the Council’s resourcing cost associated with rezoning applications and new DCPs/amendments originating externally.

Any persons considering to prepare a planning proposal or requiring further information on the new plan making process should contact staff of Council’s Planning Reform Unit on (02) 6670 2503.