Introduction
Nine months after the release of a Green Paper which heralded
once-in-a-generation reforms to the NSW planning system, the State
government has released the next stage of its planning reforms
package. On 16 April 2013, Minister Hazzard released a White Paper
and two exposure bills, promising a new planning system which is
simpler, more certain and more transparent than the present one,
and which "places people and their choices at the heart of
planning decisions". This legal update examines the key
aspects of the reform package.
Overview
On 16 April 2013, the State government released the "A New
Planning System for NSW - White Paper" (White
Paper) together with exposure draft legislation in the
form of the draft Planning Bill and the draft Planning
Administration Bill (together the White Paper
Reforms). The White Paper Reforms are the third step in
this government's journey to review the planning system,
promising to promote economic growth and
