Community (no) Participation Plan September 2026

The NSW Government has implemented a state wide Community Participation Plan which commenced on 1 Sep 2026. This means from now on neighbours will not be notified of any DAs in their immediate surrounds. Approximately 80% of Development Applications submitted to the Northern Beaches Council are now exempt from Notification. Residents will not be notified of new houses, alterations, dual occupancies, subdivisions of up to five lots and small blocks of units their neighbours may intend to build or renovate as a matter of course.

But larger or higher impact developments, such as residential flat buildings, shop-top housing, childcare centres and larger mixed-use projects are not exempt from notification. These DAs will still be notified to neighbours and publicly exhibited but generally only for a minimum of 14 days. The NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Act 2025 has been progressively reshaping development processes across the state, and as of 1 Sept 2026 the reforms specify no consultation with the community on a range of DAs commenced. Northern Beaches Council Planning staff are no trying to figure out what the processes will be for submitting and exhibiting DAs, making DAs available on the website and if the community can make submissions or not.

This single statewide Community Participation Plan, overriding individual Councils processes for Development applications now governs how and when communities are told about proposed developments. Councils have no recourse to the implementation of this Plan which the State Government claims will ensure consultation is clear and consistent across NSW and that everyone has an equal say on planning decisions, no matter where they live. The statewide plan is part of landmark reforms to make the planning system faster, fairer and more focused on outcomes.

• Exhibition timeframes for draft district and regional plans and local strategic planning statements have increased to a legislated minimum of 60 days.
• Residential flat buildings and shop top housing development types will remain subject to a minimum 14-day exhibition.
• Minimum exhibition timeframes have been retained, and planning authorities can extend exhibition timeframes in certain circumstances.
• A refined list of lower impact development types that will not require public exhibition. (approximately 80% of current DA applications to NB Council) This ‘refined list’ (page 24 of the NSW Community Participation Plan 2026 includes but is not limited to
  • Ancillary development to existing residential accommodation (such as but not limited to pools, sheds, pergolas andcarports)
  • Change of use (excluding a change of use to a registered club or pub, and excluding any development that adjoins,or is located on, land in a residential zone)
  • Demolition
  • Dual occupancy (up to two storeys)
  • Attached dwelling (up to 5 dwellings)
  • Dwelling house (up to two storeys)
  • Multi dwelling housing (up to 5 dwellings)
  • Secondary dwelling
  • Subdivision of land resulting in no more than 5 new lots
  • Tree removal on private land