Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 23 SEPTEMBER 2025

Paving The Way: Five Things You Need To Know About The NSW EP&A Act Amendments

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Contributor
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

We have one of the largest Southeast Asia international law practices, working across the region...

View firm profile
Explore more from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

The NSW Government has introduced a raft of proposed changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (EP&A Act)...

AustraliaEnvironment
Peter Briggs
Peter Briggs
Rebecca Davie
Rebecca Davie
Tom Dougherty
Tom Dougherty
Brigitte Rheinberger
Brigitte Rheinberger
Holly Vaughan
Holly Vaughan
Andrew Mahler
Andrew Mahler
Author LinkedIn connections

The NSW Government has introduced a raft of proposed changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (EP&A Act), in an attempt to clarify planning objectives, streamline assessment processes and fast track approvals. It follows a series of announcements over the last 12 months aimed at delivering on promises to provide more housing. The Government has acknowledged the complexity of the NSW planning system and its role in holding up approvals.

The proposed changes more than tinker with the EP&A Act. They offer potentially significant changes, with a focus on the 90% of development applications in NSW valued under $1 million. As with any changes to a complex system, however, the devil will be in the detail. The supporting regulations remain to be seen.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

EPBC Act Reforms: Consultation On Proposed Regulations To Support Final Tranche Of Reforms

Australia's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has released consultation papers outlining the regulatory framework for the final phase of environmental protection reforms under the EPBC Act. With submissions closing on 13 October 2026 and implementation scheduled for 1 December 2026, these reforms will fundamentally reshape how projects are assessed and approved, introducing streamlined pathways...
AustraliaEnvironment
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Podcast

Corrs High Vis: Episode 62 - Power, Planning & Data Centres - Inside NSW’s New Guidelines (Podcast)

The NSW Government has released a comprehensive data centre policy framework establishing new guidelines for electricity network connections, planning approvals, and environmental standards. These reforms require data centres to contribute to network infrastructure costs, procure renewable energy, and demonstrate demand flexibility while offering streamlined approval pathways for compliant projects.
AustraliaEnvironment
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Article

New South Wales–No Shortcuts On Scope 3: High Court Puts Scope 3 Emissions Back On The Table For Resource Projects

The High Court of Australia has ruled that NSW planning authorities must consider Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions when assessing resource and energy development applications. In a landmark 3:2 decision, the Court invalidated approval for the Mount Pleasant coal mine extension, establishing that consent authorities cannot fulfill their climate change obligations by examining only Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
AustraliaEnvironment
K&L Gates
K&L Gates
Article

UN Special Rapporteur On The Human Right To A Clean, Healthy, And Sustainable Environment Intervenes In Proceedings In An Australian First

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment has made history by intervening in Australian Federal Court proceedings challenging the extension of Woodside's North West Shelf gas project until 2070. The intervention raises critical questions about how international environmental law obligations should inform the interpretation of Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, particularly regarding climate change impacts and heritage
AustraliaEnvironment
Jones Day
Jones Day
Article

OFAC Expands Cuba Sanctions And Tightens Financial And Travel Restrictions

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has implemented sweeping changes to Cuba sanctions, establishing a new regulatory framework that targets foreign persons and financial institutions while significantly restricting previously authorized activities. These measures create potential sanctions exposure for non-U.S. businesses and banks conducting Cuba-related transactions, fundamentally altering the compliance landscape for international financial intermediaries.
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP