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ARTICLE · 13 DECEMBER 2017

Changes to NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

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Summary of changes to EPA Act including new types of plans, review requirements of councils and more powers to enforce Act.

AustraliaEnvironment
Alex Collie
Alex Collie
Paul Carroll
Paul Carroll
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The key legislation in New South Wales' planning laws, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ("EPA Act"), was recently amended with a range changes following a public consultation previous covered in this newsletter. The new changes cover a range of areas and include the introduction of new types of plans, review requirements of councils and adds powers in enforcing the EPA Act. Below is a summary of some of the major changes that the amendments bring.

  1. Revisions of the Objects of the EPA Act

The Objects of any act, though generally not substantive law themselves, help indicate how the act should be interpreted. The EPA Act's objects have been slightly reworded, however the key new change in the inclusion of an object to promote good design and amenity of the built environment.

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