A new Statewide Community Participation Plan has come into force from 1 September 2026, changing the way councils let the community know about development.
MidCoast Council is the local planning authority responsible for assessing development applications in the MidCoast local government area under NSW planning legislation.
A range of lower-impact development applications no longer require mandatory public exhibition or notification where the criteria in the Statewide Community Participation Plan are satisfied. In general, this includes dwelling houses up to two storeys; secondary dwellings (granny flats); dual occupancies up to two storeys; swimming pools, sheds, pergolas and carports; home businesses and home industries; farm buildings; tree removal on private land; demolition applications; subdivisions creating up to five lots where the relevant criteria are satisfied.
Executive Manager Sustainable Development, Rachel Pleasant explained that Council will continue to assess each development application against all relevant planning controls and legislative requirements.
"Removing mandatory public exhibition or notification for some applications does not mean those applications are automatically approved, or that Council's assessment requirements are reduced," Ms Pleasant said.
"Council will continue to assess relevant impacts, including matters such as privacy, overshadowing, neighbourhood character, traffic, environmental impacts and other planning considerations where they are relevant to the proposal.
"However, under the new statewide requirements, residents may not always receive direct notification from Council about a development application."
Where an application is not required to be formally publicly exhibited or notified, people may still contact Council with relevant information. However, that contact will not be a formal submission made during a public exhibition period and will be considered in accordance with the applicable legislation and Council's assessment procedures.
Anyone who wants to keep informed about development applications in their area can register for MidCoast Council planning alerts at: https://www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/Development/Application-search-and-tracking/Planning-alerts
The reforms are intended to create more consistent participation requirements across NSW and may streamline the assessment process for some lower-impact applications.
"While these reforms change a number of community public exhibition and notification requirements, we will continue to make information available via our website so that you can stay informed," said Ms Pleasant.
