Urban Taskforce Australia welcomes the introduction of a single statewide Community Participation Plan as a move to streamline consultation, ensure consistency, and remove unnecessary consultation for low risk or strategically assessed developments.
Consultation at a council level needs to be focused on changes that affect the broader community, not on relitigating individual development proposals that are already in line with local planning requirements.
The Statewide Plan should not just set minimum timeframes for consultations, but should establish maximum times as well, to prevent over-consultation on individual projects and to ensure adherence to the Objectives of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, specifically to promote:
260603 Statewide Community Participation Plan• the supply, delivery, and maintenance of housing; and
• the proportionate and risk-based approach to environmental planning and assessment.
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