On 1 October 2011, a new assessment system for projects of genuine State significance will commence in New South Wales.
The State significant assessment system establishes two separate assessment pathways known as State significant development (SSD) and State significant infrastructure (SSI). Projects that fall into these categories are assessed by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.
Two statutory documents have been published to allow the system to commence:
To clearly explain the new system, the Department has also prepared an overview fact sheet.
Other documents:
State and Regional Development SEPP - summary of changes following public exhibition 
State and Regional Development SEPP - submission review
Planning circular - Assessment of State significant development and infrastructure
Planning circular - Determination of State significant applications
Fact sheet - Consolidated assessment process for State significant assessment
Fact sheet - Appeals against the determination of applications
Fact sheet - State significant development (SSD)
Fact sheet - State significant infrastructure (SSI)
State significant assessment system archive
Interim arrangements for projects on strategic agricultural land
The department is preparing Strategic Regional Land Use Plans (SRLUPs) to balance strong economic and resource growth in regional NSW with the sustainable management of natural resources and the protection of agricultural land.
The draft SRLUPs detail the NSW Government’s proposal to apply a pre-development application gateway process to State significant mining and coal seam gas proposals that are located on or within two kilometres of areas mapped as strategic agricultural land.
The department has developed a policy that sets out the interim arrangements for mining and coal seam gas proposals on strategic agricultural land until the draft SRLUPs are finalised.
Policy statement - Interim strategic agricultural land policy for State Significant and transitional Part 3A mining and coal seam gas proposals in the Upper Hunter and New England North West regions
To access further information and documents related to SSD and SSI, follow one of the links below: