The community will see fewer development applications up for public comment under new NSW Government planning rules.
The new approach took effect on 1 September, with the Statewide Community Participation Plan replacing more than 100 different local plans used by councils across the state, including Eurobodalla Council's participation plan requirements.
Council's director of planning Gary Bruce says the biggest change is a shift away from consultation on smaller, individual development applications and towards more community involvement in strategic planning.
"The new statewide plan gets the community involved earlier - while rules guiding future development are being developed, rather than after individual applications land on Council's desk. It pushes the importance of documents like our Local Strategic Planning Statement and Development Control Plans as the framework for development," Mr Bruce says.
Under the new process, these strategic planning documents require longer minimum consultation periods, some at 60 days, before they are finalised.
"However, Council will no longer be required to publicly exhibit some developments - houses, dual occupancies and multi-dwelling housing of up to five dwellings - that we would traditionally notify the community about. While residents can still contact Council about concerns with these applications, their comments are no longer treated as formal submissions during the assessment process.
