On 2 December 2021 the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces released the Minister’s Planning Principles (‘Principles’) which have the following themes devoted to guiding future planning and development in New South Wales:
- Strategic and inclusive planning systems
- Well-designed places
- Natural environment and heritage preservation, conservation and management
- Resilience and hazards management
- Transport and infrastructure
- Safe, diverse and affordable housing
- Competitive and resilient economy
- Resources and renewable energy transitioning
- Protecting and supporting agricultural lands and opportunities for primary production
These Principles will apply through the existing statutory scheme under Part 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (‘EPA Act’). Additionally, the Principles will align with the 11 new State Environmental Planning Policies (‘SEPPs’) created to consolidate and simplify NSW planning policies. From March 1 2022, the 45 SEPPs that currently exist will be consolidated into the following 11 SEPPs:
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021;
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Industry and Employment) 2021;
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Planning Systems) 2021;
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts—Central River City) 2021;
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts—Eastern Harbour City) 2021;
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts—Regional) 2021;
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts—Western Parkland City) 2021;
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Primary Production) 2021;
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Resilience and Hazards) 2021;
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Resources and Energy) 2021;
- State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021.
This consolidation, however, does not introduce new sections or amend any existing SEPPs. The changes predominately re-number prior sections and consolidate prior SEPPs together under a broader SEPP headings. Some savings provisions, however, are not moved across to the new SEPPs.
It is worth noting that currently the Principles are not specifically required to be taken into account by planning authorities under the EPA Act and further reformation is required to achieve this.
