Circulars, practice notes, guidelines
Planning circulars
| Note | Purpose | Date issued | ||
| PS 08-005 Planning system options for applicants affected by Beechwood Homes [PDF file] | To explain to local councils an option for dealing with development applicants who are affected by the collapse of Beechwood Homes |
16 July 2008 | ||
| PS 08-004 Amendment No. 2 to SEPP 65 - Design Quality of Residential Flat Development [PDF file] | To advise councils of State Environmental Planning Policy No. 65 - Design Quality of Residential Flat Development (Amendment No. 2) |
14 July 2008 | ||
| PS 08-003 Variations to development standards [PDF file] | The purpose of this circular is to remind councils to complete quarterly returns on variations to development standards using SEPP 1 or similar provision. Also to notify councils of arrangements where the Director-General's concurrence may be assumed | 9 May 2008 | ||
| PS 08-002 State Environmental Planning Policy (Rural Lands) 2008 [PDF file] | The purpose of this circular is to explain to local councils to which State Environmental Planning Policy (Rural Lands) 2008 applies the key planning provisions of the policy and the supporting section 117 direction. The policy applies to the regional NSW local government areas listed in Attachment A to the circular | 9 May 2008 | ||
| PS 08-001 State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 [PDF file] | This circular is to advise councils, State agencies and the public of the key planning provisions under State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007. | 31 January 2008 | ||
| PS 07-020 - Standard instrument for principal LEPs amendment [PDF] |
The purpose of this circular is to advise councils of an amendment to the standard instrument for principal local environmental plans that was gazetted on 14 December 2007. | 19 December 2007 | ||
| PS 07-019 - Certification of draft comprehensive LEPs for public exhibition [PDF] |
The purpose of this circular is to clarify a number of issues relating to the consideration of draft comprehensive standard instrument local environmental plans prior to public exhibition. | 30 November 2007 | ||
| PS 07-018 - Infrastructure contributions [PDF] |
This circular is to provide early advice to local councils, relevant State agencies, the development industry and the community of recent changes to the setting and collection of infrastructure contributions in NSW. | 6 November 2007 | ||
| PS 07-017 Brothels Legislation Ammendment Act 2007 [PDF] |
This circular is to advise local councils, relevant State agencies and the community of the commencement of the Brothels Legislation Amendment Act 2007 | 3 October 2007 | ||
| PS 07-016 SEPP (Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability) 2004 [PDF] |
This circular is to advise councils of the main planning implications of State Environmental Planning Policy (Seniors Living) 2004 (Amendment No. 2). The name of the Principal Policy is now SEPP (Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability) 2004 | 28 September 2007 | ||
| PS 07-015 Review of and subsequent changes to the SEPP (Major Projects) 2005 [PDF] |
This circular is to advise local councils, relevant State agencies, industry and the community of the gazettal of some recent amendments to State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005 | 27 September 2007 | ||
| PS07-014 Amendment no. 3 to SEPP 62 - implications for development that may affect oyster aquaculture [PDF] |
This circular is to advise coastal councils of the planning implications of State Environmental Planning Policy No. 62—Sustainable Aquaculture (Amendment No. 3), gazetted on 8 December 2006, and the NSW Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy relating to developments that may affect oyster aquaculture | 22 August 2007 | ||
| PS07-013 Amendment no. 3 to SEPP 62 - implications for oyster aquaculture development [PDF] |
This circular is to advise coastal councils of the planning implications of State Environmental Planning Policy No. 62—Sustainable Aquaculture (Amendment No. 3), gazetted on 8 December 2006, and the NSW Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy relating to oyster aquaculture development. | 22 August 2007 | ||
| PS07-012 New GIS data requirements for LEPs [PDF] |
This circular is to advise councils of the new standard technical requirements for local environmental plan (LEP) GIS data | 11 September 2007 | ||
| PS07-011 Administration of planning reform fee [PDF] |
The purpose of this circular is to update consent authorities about arrangements for the collection and remittance of the fee to be set aside for payment to the Director-General of the Department of Planning (commonly referred to as the Planning Reform Fee) referred to in clause 256A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. | 23 August 2007 | ||
| PS07-010 Heads of consideration for the Minister to appoint a planning administrator or panel [PDF] |
This circular is to advise of the gazettal of heads of consideration for the exercise of power under section 118 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to appoint a planning administrator or panel to exercise the functions of a council where there is unsatisfactory performance in dealing with planning and development matters. | 1 August 2007 | ||
| PS07-009 EPLA Act 2006 and EPAA (Miscellaneous) Regulation 2007 [PDF] |
This circular is to advise councils, relevant State agencies and the community of the commencement of the remaining provisions of the Environmental Planning Legislation Amendment Act 2006 and associated amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. | 18 July 2007 | ||
| PS07-008 New section 117 directions [PDF] |
This circular is to advise councils of new ministerial directions under section 117(2) of the EP&A Act that commence on 19 July 2007 | 17 July 2007 | ||
| PS07-007 New mapping requirements for local environmental plans [PDF] |
This circular is to advise councils of the new standard technical requirements for local environmental plan (LEP) maps. | 17 April 2007 | ||
| PS07-006 Implementation of regional strategies - ministerial direction [PDF] |
This circular is to advise councils of a new Ministerial Direction under section 117 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 that will give statutory effect to the regional strategies finalised by the NSW Government. | 4 April 2007 | ||
| PS07-005 SEPP (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) 2007 [PDF] |
This circular is to advise mining, petroleum production and extractive industries, councils, developers and the community of the gazettal of a policy to regulate mining, petroleum production and extractive industries in NSW. | 22 February 2007 | ||
| PS07-004 Minor amendments to existing use rights [PDF] |
This circular is to advise of minor changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 regarding existing use rights. | 12 February 2007 | ||
| PS07-003 New guideline and changes to section 117 direction and EP&A
Regulation on flood prone land [PDF] |
This circular provides an overview of a new guideline to the Floodplain Development Manual and changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 and section 117 Direction on flood prone land. | 31 January 2007 | ||
| PS07-002 Environmental Planning Legislation Amendment Act 2006 [PDF] |
This circular is to advise local councils, relevant State agencies and the community of the commencement of various provisions of the Environmental Planning Legislation Amendment Act 2006. | 12 January 2007 | ||
| PS07-001 Consideration of draft SEPPs under section 79C of the EP&A Act [PDF] |
This circular is to advise consent authorities that certain draft State environmental planning policies are no longer required to be taken into consideration when determining development applications. | 11 January 2007 | ||
| PS06-020 Changes to the application of s. 94A of the EP&A Act - ministerial direction [PDF] |
This circular is to advise councils and the planning and development industry of recent changes affecting section 94A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. | 6 December 2006 | ||
| PS06-019 Changes to the standard instrument for principal LEPs [PDF] |
This circular is to advise councils of recent changes to the standard instrument for principal local environmental plans. | 4 September 2006 | ||
| PS06-018 Approval to install relocatable and flat-pack homes outside a caravan park or MHE [PDF] |
The purpose of this circular is to clarify for councils, the housing industry and homebuyers the different approval requirements for the installation of two common types of transportable home on land that is not part of a caravan park or manufactured home estate (MHE). It also clarifies which types of transportable homes require a BASIX Certificate and which do not. | 3 October 2006 | ||
| PS06-017 Performance monitoring of the planning system [PDF] |
This circular advises of the new system of data collection on planning and development matters to enable performance monitoring of the planning system by the Department of Planning. | 17 July 2006 | ||
| PS06-016 Commencement and implementation of the EP&A Amendment Act 2006 [PDF] |
This circular advises of the commencement and implementation of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Act 2006, which deals with planning administrators, assessment panels, development corporations, development control plans and contributions plans. The changes took effect from 30 June 2006. | 5 July 2006 | ||
| PS06-015 Spot rezonings [PDF] |
This circular states the Department of Planning's current position on spot rezoning. | 15 June 2006 | ||
| PS06-014 Minor amendments to LEPs using section 73A [PDF] Proforma - Section 73A EP&A Act Submission [RTF] |
This circular provides guidance on the process for amending local environmental plans in accordance with section 73A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. | 12 July 2006 | ||
| PS06-013 Local environmental studies [PDF] |
This circular explains the processes that are used to identify when a local environmental study is required for an amendment to a local environmental plan and the information that is expected from a development proponent to support a rezoning request. | 2 May 2006 | ||
| PS06-012 New transitional arrangements for DCPs [PDF] |
This circular is to advise of an amendment to the transitional provisions applying to development control plan requirements, and to confirm previous advice on the implementation of these requirements. | 5 May 2006 | ||
| PS 06-011 Changes to the public notice requirements for planning agreements [PDF] |
This circular provides advice on a change to the requirements for public notification of proposed planning agreements under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. | 18 April 2006 | ||
| PS 06-010 Changes to the EP&A Regulation regarding major project assessments [PDF] |
This circular advises of minor changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (EP&A Regulation) in relation to the assessment process for major projects | 18 April 2006 | ||
| PS 06–009 Changes to the land acquisition process
for reserved land [PDF] |
This circular is to advise councils, relevant State agencies and the community of changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 regarding the procedure for owner-initiated acquisition of land reserved for public purposes. | 27 April 2006 | ||
| PS 06 - 008 Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006 [PDF] |
This circular provides an overview of the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006 and its implications for preparing local environmental plans. | 03 April 2006 | ||
| PS 06 - 007 Changes to existing use rights [PDF] |
This circular is to advise of changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 regarding existing use rights. | 31 March 2006 | ||
| PS 06-006 Changes to the transitional arrangements for the introduction of new section 117 directions [PDF] |
This circular is to advise of changes to the transitional provision in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 regarding Ministerial directions issued under section 117 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. | 17 February 2006 | ||
| PS 06-005 Local environmental plan review panel [PDF] Fact sheet [ PDF] Instrument of delegation [ PDF ] LEP Pro-forma Evaluation Criteria [RTF] |
This Circular explains the role of the Department’s new LEP Review Panel. It provides advice on new procedures, including the information the Director-General requires from council in notifying the Department (under section 54(4) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979) of council’s decision to prepare a draft local environmental plan. The new procedures come into effect on 22 February 2006. | 16 February 2006 | ||
| PS 06-004 Prohibition of retrospective construction certificates and changes concerning compliance certificates [PDF] [RTF] |
This circular is to notify councils, private certifiers, developers and the community that the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) has been amended to make clear that construction certificates for building or subdivision work cannot be issued after work has commenced, and that the obtaining of compliance certificates cannot be made a condition of development consent. The changes take effect from 3 March 2006. | 13 February 2006 | ||
| PS 06-003 State Environmental Planning Policy
No. 4—Amendment No. 17 [PDF] |
The purpose of this circular is to advise councils, relevant state agencies and industry groups of Amendment No. 17 to State Environmental Planning Policy No. 4 - Development Without Consent and Miscellaneous Exempt and Complying Development (SEPP 4) gazetted on 3 February 2006. | 17 February 2006 | ||
| PS 06-002 Inclusion of Property Vegetation Plans in planning certificates [PDF] [RTF] |
This circular provides advice on changes to the requirements for planning certificates under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. | 10 January 2006. | ||
| PS 06-001 Regulation of camping density in primitive camping grounds [PDF] [RTF] |
This Circular provides further information on the Manufactured Home Estates, Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds and Moveable Dwellings) Regulation 2005 in relation to the camping density provisions that apply to land used for primitive camping grounds. The Regulation commenced on 1 September 2005. | 10 January 2006. | ||
| PS 05-014 State Environmental Planning Policy (Seniors Living) 2004 (Amendment No. 1) [PDF] [RTF] |
This circular is to advise councils, developers and the community of the gazettal of an amendment to the Seniors Living SEPP restricting the form of seniors housing permitted on land adjoining land zoned primarily for urban purposes. | 23 December 2005 | ||
| PS 05–013 - Amendment no. 4 to SEPP 71 –
coastal protection [PDF] [RTF] |
This Circular is to advise local councils on the NSW coast that the Minister for Planning has made an amendment to State Environmental Planning Policy No. 71 - Coastal Protection. The councils affected are listed in Schedule 1 of the Circular. | 12 December 2005 | ||
| PS 05–012 - Planning implications of the extension of the NSW Coastal Zone [PDF] [RTF] |
This Circular is to advise councils in the greater metropolitan region of the planning implications for their local government area with the extension of land declared to be part of the NSW Coastal Zone. The councils affected are listed in Schedule | Reissued 22 November 2005 |
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| PS 05–011 - Changes to the arrangements for implementing new requirements for development control plans [PDF] [RTF] |
This circular provides advice on changes to the transitional arrangements for the introduction of new requirements for development control plans. | 9 December 2005 | ||
| PS 05–010 - Requirements for development control plans with the latest planning reforms [PDF] [RTF] |
This circular restates important advice previously provided on the new arrangements for development control. | 9 November 2005 | ||
| CC 05–001 - Department of Planning office contacts and advisory lines [PDF] [RTF] |
The purpose of this circular is to update clients on departmental inquiry services and regional office contacts. | 27 October 2005 | ||
| PS 05-009 - Changes to ministerial directions under section 117 of the EP&A Act [PDF] [RTF] |
This circular provides an overview of the recent changes to ministerial directions about the local environmental plan-making system under section 117 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 | 30 September 2005 | ||
| PS 05-008 - Changes to Part 3 and 4 of the EP&A Act [PDF] [RTF] |
This circular advises of the changes to Part 3 and 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act that commence on 30 September 2005 | 30 September 2005 | ||
| PS 05-007 - Commencement of updated regulation for caravan parks and moveable dwellings [PDF] [RTF] |
This Circular is to inform councils, operators and residents of caravan parks, camping grounds and manufactured home estates, government agencies and other interested parties of changes introduced by the Local Government (Manufactured Home Estates, Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds and Moveable Dwellings) Regulation 2005. | 14 September 2005 | ||
| PS 05-006 - Commencement Part 3A (Major Projects) of the EP&A Act [PDF] [RTF] |
The purpose of this circular is to notify councils, State government authorities, industry and community interests of the commencement of Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) on 1 August 2005. | 29 July 2005 | ||
| PS 05-005 - Reports by the Director General under section 69 of the EP&A Act [PDF] [RTF] Section 69 Report when using delegation [PDF] [RTF] |
This Circular provides councils with advice on the Director-General's requirements for reporting to the Minister under section 69 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and clarifies the circumstances under which amending plans may be prepared. | 19 August 2005 | ||
| PS 05-004 - Development contributions
practice notes [PDF] [RTF] |
This circular is to advise local councils, other consent authorities, the planning and development industry and the community of new practice notes on the administration of the development contributions system under Division 6 of Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. | 8 July 2005 | ||
| PS 05-003 - Changes to the development contributions system in NSW [PDF] [RTF] |
This circular provides councils, other consent authorities, the planning and development industry and the community with an overview of the recent changes to the development contributions system under section 94 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. | 14 June 2005 | ||
| PS 05-002 - State significant development [PDF] [RTF] |
The purpose of this circular is to notify councils, state government authorities, industry and community interests of the gazettal of the State environmental planning policy for State significant development on 25 May 2005. | 27 May 2005 | ||
| PS 05-001 - Occupation certificates and conditions of development consent [PDF] [RTF] |
This circular provides councils and other consent authorities, accredited certifiers and applicants with advice on occupation certificates for buildings. | 22 April 2005 | ||