The NSW State Government has recently introduced a Statewide Community Participation Plan. This document outlines a standardised public consultation process across the State in relation to development matters where Council is the decision maker. As a result of the introduction of this document, a number of changes to the way Council notifies Development Applications is to occur.
The primary change in relation to Murray River Council’s process is that the following types of Development Applications are excluded from formal public exhibition:
- Ancillary development to existing residential accommodation (such as but not limited to pools, sheds (including those built on the boundary), pergolas and carports)
- Bed and breakfast accommodation
- Change of use (excluding a change of use to a registered club or pub, and excluding any development that adjoins, or is located on, land in a residential zone)
- Demolition
- Dual occupancy (up to two storeys)
- Attached dwelling (up to 5 dwellings)
- Dwelling house (up to two storeys)
- Multi dwelling housing (up to 5 dwellings)
- Secondary dwelling
- Exhibition home
- Extensive agriculture
- Farm building
- Home business
- Home industry
- Home occupation
- Industrial retail outlet
- Infrastructure facility in the Alpine region10
- Internal and external alterations and additions (excluding residential accommodation)
- Internal and external alterations and additions to existing residential accommodation resulting in no more than two storeys
- Kiosk
- Repair and maintenance of recreation infrastructure, lifting facility, or snow-making infrastructure in the Alpine region
- Roadside stall
- Rural worker’s dwelling
- Signage (excluding where it adjoins or is in a residential zone)
- Subdivision of land resulting in no more than 5 new lots
- Subdivision of land that is subject to an existing development consent for its current use.
- Temporary structure
- Tree removal on private land
- Applications to modify a development consent made under section 4.55(1) of the EP&A Act
- Applications to modify a development consent made under section 4.55(1A) of the EP&A Act
- Applications to modify a development consent made under section 4.56(1) of the EP&A Act with minimal environmental impact
- Applications to modify a development consent made under section 4.55(2) of the EP&A Act where the development the subject of the consent is specified in this Table
As outlined above, a significant number of Development Applications will now not require public exhibition where the public has the opportunity to make a formal submission.
To ensure the community is kept informed of certain developments listed above, Council may still choose to notify adjoining properties for information only. However, under the new processes, any ‘feedback’ received cannot be counted as an official submission to be considered when assessing the DA under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Council will continue to assess each application on its merits against all relevant planning criteria.
If you have any questions regarding these changes it is requested to please visit the NSW Planning website in the first instance.
Visit the NSW Planning website