Review Stages

Stage 1              Review Announcement

In July 2011, the Hon Brad Hazzard MP, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, announced that the State Government had asked Hon Tim Moore, former Minister for the Environment, and Hon Ron Dyer, former Minister for Public Works, to undertake a full review of the planning system in New South Wales.
 
Stage 2              Listening and scoping
 
The Review process commenced with an extensive listening and scoping phase, first meeting with a wide range of peak interest groups – across the spectrum – in Sydney. The Panel completed a two month listening and consultation phase, meeting with interested participants in over 40 locations across the state. The Panel sought the community’s views on what should be the broad underpinning principles for new legislation to replace the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
 
Submissions under this phase of the review were accepted until 4 November 2011. Go to the Listening and scoping submissions page for more information.
 
Stage 3               Issues Paper
          
Submissions and comments received in the initial consultation phase were used to produce the Issues Paper titled, The way ahead for planning in NSW?
 
The Issues Paper focused on questions and issues raised at community forums and stakeholder meetings during the listening and scoping phase and was released for public consultation on 6 December 2011.
 
Submissions in response to the Issues Paper were accepted until mid-March 2012. Go to the Issues Paper submissions page to read the submissions received.
 
Stage 4               Review Paper Release
 

After consideration of the more than 600 submissions to the Issues Paper (and earlier submissions), Volume 1 (Major Issues) and Volume 2 (Other Issues) of our Review Paper with recommendations for a new planning system in NSW were prepared and provided to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.

 

On Saturday 14 July 2012 the Minister released the Independent Panel's Review Report, The Way Ahead for Planning in NSW Volume 1 (Major Issues) and Volume 2 (Other Issues), together with the Government's inital response to the Review, A New Planning System for NSW - Green Paper. The release of these papers marks the end of the work by the Independent Panel. 

 
Stage 5               Draft Legislation
 
A ‘white paper’ and draft legislation will be released by the Minister before a bill is submitted to the NSW Parliament. Details of timing will be available on the Department of Planning & Infrastructure website in due course.