FAQ

A Community Participation Plan (CPP) is intended to make it easier for the community to understand how to participate in planning matters in NSW. The requirement to prepare a CPP applies to all relevant planning authorities under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act).

A CPP sets out how and when planning authorities will engage with its community on the planning functions it performs. The CPP must also set out the minimum public exhibition timeframes relevant to the planning authority that are provided in Schedule 1 to the EP&A Act.

Planning functions	Minimum exhibition timeframe
Draft Community Participation Plan	28 days
Draft Local Strategic Planning Statement	28 days
Planning proposals for local environmental plans, subject to a Gateway Determination	28 days or (gateway Determination)
Reclassification of land	28 days and a public hearing
Local Approvals Policy – significant changes – new uses added or significant amendment made	14 days
Draft Development Control Plans and Guidelines	28 days
Planning strategies, structure plans or master plans that may result in changes to LEP and DCP through implementation	28 days^
Draft contributions plans	28 days
Draft planning agreements	28 days
Development application – application for development  consent (other than for complying development certificate, for designated development of for State significant development)	14 days*
Development application – application for development consent for designated development	28 days
Development application – application for development consent for State significant development	28 days
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) obtained under Division 5.1	28 days
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – for State significant infrastructure under Division 5.2	28 days

*In certain circumstances, Council may dispense with notification. Notification may be dispensed with, except in relation to heritage items or heritage conservation areas nominated within Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2014, when:

1. Council is of the opinion an amended or substituted application (including applications under s4.55 or s8.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act) varies in a minor respect from the original application that was previously notified

2. Council is of the opinion the development is of a minor nature that will not adversely affect the amenity of adjoining land or the locality

3. The application is for a temporary use as detailed in Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2014 and in the opinion of Council will not adversely affect the amenity of the locality

4. Development is for a new residential dwelling house and/or ancillary development to a house, provided the development:

1. is a maximum of two storey and

2. has a maximum height of 8.5m measured from the existing ground level and

3. the external wall of the building is not built to the lot boundary.

1. Development is for additions to a residential dwelling house and/or ancillary development to a dwelling house, provided the development:

1. is a maximum of two storey and

2. has a maximum height of 8.5m measured from the existing ground level and

3. the external wall of the building is not built to the lot boundary

^ The updates to the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act do not mandate these documents to be part of the Community Participation Plan. However as they relate to planning matters and for transparency, Council is including them.

The draft Community Participation Plan will be on public exhibition for 28 days. You can provide feedback by commenting on the project page or uploading a submission.

Staff will also be onsite at Charlestown, Cardiff and Morisset Libraries during the consultation period to discuss further.