The Minister for Planning, under section 117(2) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) issues directions that relevant planning authorities such as local councils must follow when preparing planning proposals for new LEPs. The directions cover the following broad categories:
- employment and resources
- environment and heritage
- housing, infrastructure and urban development
- hazard and risk
- regional planning
- local plan making.
Directions applying to planning proposals
From 1 July 2009, relevant planning authorities are to exercise their plan-making functions (under Divisions 4 and 5 of Part 3 of the EP&A Act) in accordance with the following directions.
- Directions for planning proposals
List of local planning directions issued by the Minister on or after 1 July 2009
PDF version / 
RTF version.
Note: The directions apply to planning proposals lodged on or after the date the particular direction was issued. They do not apply to a draft LEP received by the Director-General before 1 July 2009 (i.e. pending LEPs).
- Directions applying to pending LEPs
Consolidated list of local planning directions issued by the Minister prior to 30 June 2009 (as amended)
PDF version / RTF version.
Note: These directions apply to a draft LEP received by the Director-General from a council under section 54 of the EP&A Act before 1 July 2009.
Earlier directions
Directions issued by the Minister between 30 September 2005 and 19 July 2007 only apply to draft LEPs that were certified for public exhibition (former section 65 of the EP&A Act) prior to 19 July 2007. Note. Directions issued prior to 30 September 2005 no longer apply to the preparation of LEPs.
04 Apr 07 - Direction No. 31 - Development in the vicinity of Ellalong, Paxton and Millfield (Cessnock LGA)
04 Apr 07 - Direction No. 30 - Implementation of regional strategies
19 Mar 07 - Direction No. 29 - Oyster aquaculture
31 Jan 07 - Direction No. 15 - Flood prone land
30 Sep 05 - Section 117 ministerial directions
Advice relating to current and previously issued directions
The following documents provide advice on current and previously issued section 117(2) directions:
Planning circular PS 09-027 - Implementation of the Metropolitan Strategy - ministerial direction
Planning circular PS 08-002 - State Environmental Planning Policy (Rural Lands) 2008
Planning circular PS 07-008 - New section 117 directions
Revised local planning directions: overview of key changes - includes a comparison of new and previous directions and the effect of the changes (July 2007)
Planning circular PS 07-006 - Implementation of regional strategies - ministerial direction
Planning circular PS 07-003 - New guideline and changes to section 117 direction and EP&A Regulation on flood prone land