NSW Planning System

An Introduction to Planning in NSW

The planning system, including development assessment, addresses a range of environmental, social and economic issues.
 
NSW planning controls are prepared by both State and local government. This has led to a hierarchy of legislation and means there is no one simple document that defines all development for a parcel of land in NSW. The following is a summary of each of the elements of the planning system that regulate land use and development for most development in the Edward River Council local government area.

 

 

NSW Legislation

The overarching legislation for planning in NSW is the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). This is supported by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. This legislation sets the ground rules – powers for Council officers, requirements to submit a Development Application, what needs to be considered when an officer assesses an application etc. 
The EP&A Act also sets out the other levels of the planning system called ‘Environmental Planning Instruments’. These include:

State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs)

SEPPs are planning policies that are written by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and generally apply across NSW. The following list are the main SEPPs used in our local government area, however, other SEPPs may apply:
  • SEPP 64 Advertising and Signage
  • SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008
  • SEPP (Infrastructure) 2007
  • Regional Environmental Plan No 2 – Riverine Land
Local Environmental Plans (LEPs)
  • Deniliquin Local Environmental Plan 2013
  • Deniliquin Local Environmental Plan 2013 Maps
  • Deniliquin Local Environmental Plan 1997
Development Control Plan (DCP)
 
Councils must also consider other State and Federal legislation. Some of these include:
 
NSW legislation:
Commonwealth Legislation:
Note: The planning legislation and environmental planning instruments (including Local Environmental Plans) can be amended or updated at any time by the State Government. It is recommended that you access the most current version by downloading it directly from the NSW Legislation website or use the links on this website.