Draft Environment SEPP

The Explanation of Intended Effect for the Environment SEPP was on exhibition from 31 October 2017 until the 31 January 2018.

The NSW government has been working towards developing a new State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) for the protection and management of our natural environment. These areas are important to communities in delivering opportunities for physical health, economic security and cultural identity.

This consolidated SEPP proposes to simplify the planning rules for a number of water catchments, waterways, urban bushland, and Willandra Lakes World Heritage Property. These environmental policies will be accessible in one location, and updated to reflect changes that have occurred since the creation of the original policies.

The Department sought your feedback on the proposed SEPP until 31 January 2018 to update and improve the planning framework in regards to these environmental issues. This is discussed in the Explanation of Intended Effect (EIE) for the proposed Environment SEPP.

Changes proposed include consolidating the following seven existing SEPPs:

• State Environmental Planning Policy No. 19 – Bushland in Urban Areas
• State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Drinking Water Catchment) 2011
• State Environmental Planning Policy No. 50 – Canal Estate Development
• Greater Metropolitan Regional Environmental Plan No. 2 – Georges River Catchment
• Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 20 – Hawkesbury-Nepean River (No.2-1997)
• Sydney Regional Environmental Plan (Sydney Harbour Catchment) 2005
• Willandra Lakes Regional Environmental Plan No. 1 – World Heritage Property.

Changes are also proposed to the Standard Instrument – Principal Local Environmental Plan. Some provisions of the existing policies will be transferred to new Section 9.1 Local Planning Directions where appropriate.

The EIE outlines changes to occur, implementation details, and the intended outcome. It considers the existing SEPPs proposed to be repealed and explains why certain provisions will be transferred directly to the new SEPP, amended and transferred, or repealed due to overlaps with other areas of the NSW planning system.

View the draft mapping related to the proposed SEPP.

View the original maps referred to in Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 20 – Hawkesbury-Nepean River (No.2-1997).

View the original maps referred to in Greater Metropolitan Regional Environmental Plan No. 2 – Georges River Catchment.

View the original maps referred to in Sydney Regional Environmental Plan (Sydney Harbour Catchment) 2005.

Maps for State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Drinking Water Catchment) 2011 can be found on the NSW Legislation website.

Download the EIE document

Download the FAQs

Download the fact sheets

Engagement is now closed and feedback is being considered.

Submissions are now available for viewing.

Published submissions will include your name and the organisation on whose behalf you may be writing. Contact details such as email and postal addresses, and telephone numbers are not published. The Department reserves the right to not publish selected submissions (in full or part).

Please read our privacy statement.

For more information

• For further information please see the Frequently Asked Questions, or phone 1300 305 695
• If you require translation assistance, please call 131 450.

You can also subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates from the Department.