Amendment to Bathurst Regional Community Participation Plan 2019 (June 2023 Review)

BACKGROUND

In March 2018, an amendment was made to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) which required all NSW planning authorities, including local Councils, to prepare and adopt a Community Participation Plan (CPP). The purpose of the CPP is to explain when and how members of the community can become involved in development applications and strategic planning initiatives. It does not extend to other community engagement practices by Council. 

Section 2.24 of the EP&A Act requires that community participation plans be reviewed periodically. Given that the last review was completed by Council in July 2021 and that Council’s planning meeting processes were temporarily adjusted over the Covid restriction period, Council has conducted a routine review of the document.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION PLAN (CPP)

The CPP reflects the whole of organisation approach to community engagement, established in Council’s Community Engagement Strategy, and identifies how and when Council will engage with the Bathurst community whilst undertaking its planning functions. The CPP must meet the minimum requirements for community participation set out in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) and relates to the planning functions of Council as set out in Schedule 1 of the EP&A Act.

Importantly, the CPP identifies:

• The types of Development Applications that will be placed on public exhibition and/or notification, how those applications will be exhibited/notified, who will receive notification and the period over which that exhibition/notification will take place.
• The types of Strategic Planning projects (e.g. Land Use Strategies/Studies, Local Environmental Plans, Development Control Plans, Development Contributions Plans, Local Strategic Planning Statement, Community Participation Plans and Master Plans) that will be placed on public exhibition, how those projects will be exhibited, how the community will be engaged and the period over which that exhibition will take place.
• Local stakeholder groups with key interests in certain types of Development Applications or Strategic Planning Projects and Council’s associated notification/engagement procedures.
• Other Planning Documents (e.g. Planning Agreements) that will be placed on public exhibition, how they will be exhibited and the period over which that exhibition will take place.
• How public submissions will be received, analysed, shared and processed in Council’s decision making in relation to Development Applications, Strategic Planning Projects and other Planning Documents.

A copy of the current adopted version of Bathurst Regional Community Participation Plan 2019 (CPP 2019) is available on Council’s website (Community Participation Plan (Am 1)).

https://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/building/planning-controls/plans-and-policies.html 

DRAFT AMENDMENT TO CPP 2019

Based on a routine review of the document and Council’s community consultation procedures during the Covid restriction period, it is proposed that a number of amendments be made to CPP 2019, including:

• Repeal notification procedures relating to Development within the village of Hill End.
• Amend notification and exhibition procedures relating to development within the R3 Medium Density Residential zone (currently only located in the Laffing Waters Master Plan Precinct).
• Introduce exhibition procedures relating to development on land zoned E1 Local Centre within the Laffing Waters Master Plan Precinct.
• Amend notification procedures relating to development on land adjoining a Heritage Item and located in certain rural zones (including RU1 Primary Production, RU2 Rural Landscape and RU4 Primary Production Small Lots).
• Introduce notification procedures for development involving changes to common walls, floors and roofs.
• Include exhibition procedures relating to threatened species development, as required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act).
• Include exhibition procedures relating to Council-related Development Applications, as required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act).
• Amend procedures relating to the holding of a Submission Hearing in relation to Development Applications and Strategic Planning projects.
• Minor administrative changes.

WHERE CAN I READ THE DRAFT CPP?

A complete copy of the draft Amendment to Bathurst Regional Community Participation Plan 2019 (CPP 2019) and an associated Explanation Document is available in the Document Library.

HAVE YOUR SAY

The community can provide feedback on the draft Amendment to CPP 2019.

Submissions can be made to Council in writing between Monday 3 July 2023 and Monday 31 July 2023.

If you would like to talk to Council about the draft Amendment, please contact Council’s Environmental, Planning and Building Services on 02 6333 6211.

To make a written submission:

Complete the online survey below, OR: