The NSW Government is creating a planning system for the 21st century. A planning system focussed on the public interest. A planning system that places people and their choices at the heart of planning decisions about their future. On 14 July 2012, the NSW Government released A New Planning System for New South Wales – Green Paper, a bold step in the development of a new planning system for the State. The Green Paper outlines major changes in five key areas of the planning system, these are: * involving the community early in guiding planning decisions that will shape the growth and future of our cities, towns, and neighbourhoods; * placing much more emphasis on preparing good policies upfront to guide growth and development; * reducing red tape and delay for the assessment of development applications for all types of proposals; * ensuring that infrastructure is planned and delivered to support new and existing communities; * promoting a ‘can do’ culture in the planning system and ensuring that councils and the government are accountable for delivering the results they have committed to; and * providing greater access to information about planning policies, planning decisions, and your rights in the planning process.
http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/a-new-planning-system-for-nsw