Publication Guide
NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure
The Department of Planning & Infrastructure is the principal government agency responsible for driving sustainable growth in NSW.
Our Structure and Functions
The Department’s structure is described on this website under About Us/Our structure.
In April 2011 the staff of the Hunter Development Corporation, the Central Coast Regional Development Corporation and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority became employees of the Dept of Planning & Infrastructure. Those staff continue to undertake work for these corporations under an arrangement by the Department to supply personnel services.
Also in April the Heritage Branch was moved to the Department of Premier and Cabinet and became part of the Office of Environment and Heritage, and the Office of Strategic Lands was moved from the Land and Property Management Authority to this Department.
The Department supports sustainable growth in NSW. It is responsible for:
- long-term planning for the State’s regions
- driving well-located housing and employment land
- assessing the State’s biggest development proposals, and
- ensuring the planning system is streamlined and effective
We work closely with other government agencies to:
- develop and oversee the implementation of whole-of-government policies and strategies for land use and conservation
- facilitate and guide the orderly integration of land use planning and infrastructure provision
- deliver integrated development assessment and determinations for major development and infrastructure projects, and
- promote community and stakeholder consultation.
Further information about our functions can be found under the Strategic Planning, Local Planning and Development areas of this website.
Our services
Here is a list of some of the main ways in which our work impacts on the community.
- we deliver policies to support the planning system, including those which raise the standard of building and design and consequently, for example, help save water and energy
(see eg Policy and Legislation/Circulars and Guidelines, or /Sustainability Outcomes).
- we release new land for housing and employment-generating development
(see Strategic Planning/Land supply and Management for more information)
- we develop metropolitan and regional strategies which guide planning and development in NSW
(see Strategic Planning/Sydney Metropolitan Strategy and /Regional strategies)
- we publish population projections and analyses
(see Strategic Planning/Population and housing projections)
- we develop strategic planning for infrastructure
(see eg Strategic Planning/Transport planning)
- we deliver state-wide, regional and local planning instruments which detail how land can be used
(see Strategic Planning, Local Planning)
- we deliver urban renewal and centres projects
- we assess state significant sites
- we assess a wide range of major development and infrastructure projects of state significance which deliver jobs and investment to local communities
(see Development)
- we drive continuous reform and best practice in environmental impact assessment and development approvals to protect the environment and make approvals more efficient
(see eg Policy and Legislation/Improving the Planning System)
- we manage and deliver key planning reforms such as the NSW Housing Code and the Commercial and Industrial Code
(see Policy and Legislation/Improving the Planning System)
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we identify, acquire, manage (on an interim basis) and transfer to other government agencies land that is required for planning purposes throughout the Sydney region.
Participating in decision-making
The Department is committed to appropriate consultation with stakeholders and the public. Stakeholders include local government, other government agencies state and federal, industry, peak organisations, community groups and members of the community.
Any member of the public may participate in our policy formulation by writing to the Director General with suggestions or to raise issues. Letters can be addressed to:
23-33 Bridge Street, Sydney NSW 2000
GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001
Tel: 02 9228 6111
Fax: 02 9228 6455
Under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 the Department is required to consult about certain decisions, such as:
- with local councils about the content of proposed new local environment plans
- with public authorities about environmental assessment requirements for major projects
- with the community about environmental assessments of major projects which have been submitted to the Department.
The Department will exhibit major project environmental assessments in its Information Centre at 23-33 Bridge Street Sydney, and on the Department’s website (at Development/On exhibition), will inform relevant stakeholders of those exhibitions, and will advertise them in major and relevant local newspapers. Those advertisements will explain how people can make submissions regarding a major project.
The Department also exhibits other developments, and draft policies and plans.
From time to time the Department runs forums and workshops to seek views on various issues and initiatives, or provide important information and advice for various stakeholder groups, such as council staff, planners, architects, building designers, builders and property managers as well as the wider community.
An example is the extensive consultation which took place across Sydney as part of the review of the Metropolitan Strategy.
You can register to attend an upcoming event by going to Home/Quick Links/Forums and Workshops on this website.
The types of information which we hold
The Department holds the following categories of information:
- strategies, policies, practice notes, guidelines
- correspondence
- records of meetings with external stakeholders and community members
- internal administrative information
- briefings
- other decision-related information such as certificates
- local, regional and state plan-making information
- development applications and associated documents
- development assessments
- submissions, reports
- boards’ and committees’ minutes
- grants, agreements, contracts and related information
- hard-copy and web-based publications.
The types of information we make publicly available
The Department makes much of the information in the above categories available on this website, including the following:
- our annual report
- other documents that are tabled in Parliament concerning the Department
- our Disclosure Log
- our Code of Conduct
- Circulars, Practice Notes, Guidelines
- Facts sheets
- Media releases
- Directions from the Minister
- Application templates
- Metropolitan and Regional strategies and Sub-regional strategies
- Funding programs information
- Local Planning Directions
- Major Project register
- Notices of determination.
We will also make available similar information which is not on the website, either free of charge, at the lowest reasonable cost, or at the published cost.
To access information from these agencies, first check the website by clicking on the agency's name above, and then contact the agency using the contact details provided on the website.
The Information Centre provides access to a range of services including information on the Department's programs and regulatory functions, publication distribution and sales, statutory and promotional displays and public registers.
Photocopies of excerpts of publications cost 22c per black and white A3 or A4 sheet, and $2.20 per colour A3 or A4 sheet.
The Information Centre is at 23-33 Bridge St Sydney. You can ring the Information Centre on 9228 6111 or free call 1300 305 695, or email to
information@planning.nsw.gov.au.
More on the Information Centre is available in this website at About Us/Information Centre.
Business as usual access is where a branch or unit has developed a practice of providing certain information as a matter of course proactively or on request. For example, regional offices supply a range of information on request as part of their normal practice.
A significant amount of the information freely available on our website is open access information required under the GIPA Act. We proactively disclose much additional information on our website to inform the public of our activities and to provide help to the public in understanding and implementing government policy.
All this information is free to download.
Proactive disclosure
The Department may release information proactively under the GIPA Act when to do so would serve an identified public interest.
Informal disclosure
Informal requests under the GIPA Act for access to information held by the Department can be made at any time. Access in this way will depend on the nature and extent of the information and is free of charge.
While the Department reserves the right to require a formal access application to be made, the Department will generally view informal disclosure positively where the following criteria apply:
- there is minimal work involved in searching for, retrieving or compiling and deciding on the release of the information
- the information does not contain information relating to third parties which might cause them concern if the information was released
- the information:
- is not in draft form, or in final form but not yet approved
- does not contain confidential information (including commercial information or defamatory material, internal staff disciplinary or grievance matters, or information concerning legal proceedings)
- is not prohibited from disclosure by legislation or copyrighted by a third party other than the State of NSW.
Examples of information which may be disclosed informally under the GIPA Act are:
- documents that have already been made public, or
- information which would not raise any potential public interest concerns against disclosure
Informal requests under the GIPA Act can be made by email or letter to any office listed on the Contact Us page of this website.
Formal disclosure
Depending on the nature of the information, we may require a formal access application. A range of information such as high level government documents, draft documents, internal administrative documents, information concerning third parties, information given and received in confidence, and information that is difficult to locate, may require a formal application for us to consider disclosure.
Formal applications must be in writing, and provide sufficient details to enable the information subject of the application to be identified. A $30 application fee applies.
Formal applications should be directed to:
Public Access to Information & Privacy Unit (PATI Unit)
Department of Planning
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001
Phone (02) 9228 6116, 9228 6597
Fax (02) 9228 6120
GIPA Act application forms may be obtained by contacting the PATI Unit or from the Department’s website
www.planning.nsw.gov.au by searching for ‘GIPAA application form’ and selecting Formal Access.
Processing a formal GIPA application
The PATI Unit will acknowledge the application within 5 working days and provide a decision concerning access, normally within 20 working days. If the processing time has to be extended or suspended, the PATI Unit will keep the applicant informed as to the progress of the application. The applicant may be required to clarify the request and sometimes a request may be referred to another agency if the request is more closely connected to the functions of that agency.
Access to information may be refused if there is found to be an overriding public interest against disclosure. The PATI Unit will provide reasons why the information is refused in a notice of decision. If a request for access is refused, the applicant has rights both of internal review and review by the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) and the Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT). The links to the websites of the OIC and the ADT are:
Additional information about accessing information
More information about accessing information can be obtained by contacting the Office of the Information Commissioner. Contact details are: free call 1800 INFOCOM (1800 463 626), email
OICinfo@oic.nsw.gov.au, or visit the OIC website above.
Charges for Access
Charges for processing a formal GIPA application are set out in the table below. There is a 50 percent discount where people can provide evidence they:
§ hold a Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card
§ are a full-time student
§ represent a non-profit organisation and can provide evidence the organisation is non-profit.
There is also a 50 percent reduction if the information requested is of special benefit to the public generally. In this case the applicant should provide the Department with an explanation as to why disclosure of the information would be of special benefit to the public.
The Department also has the discretion to waive fees and charges, and will consider doing so in appropriate circumstances.
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Nature of Application
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Application Fee
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Processing
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Access to information about your personal affairs, the first 20 hours
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$30
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$30 an hour after the first 20 hours
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All other requests
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$30
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$30 per hour
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Internal review
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$40
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Nil
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Publication Guide date of commencement: 1 January 2011
Date of review: 28 November 2011