Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
Law in New South Wales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 is an Act of the New South Wales Parliament.
| Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Parliament of New South Wales | |
| |
| Citation | Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) |
| Passed by | Parliament of New South Wales |
| Passed | 22 November 1979 |
| Assented to by | Governor Roden Cutler |
| Assented to | 21 December 1979 |
| Administered by | Department of Planning and Environment |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill title | Environmental Planning and Assessment Bill 1979 |
| Introduced by | William Haig |
| Introduced | 13 November 1979 |
| Status: Amended | |
History
In September 2025, Chris Minns' Labor government signalled their intention to significantly amend the legislation, with the legislation now including the government's existing Housing Delivery Authority and a new Development Coordination Authority.[1]
Controversy over part 3A
The Act gained considerable controversy with the introduction of section 3A that effectively allowed the Planning Minister to declare a project as of "State significance" and assume direct approval delegation.[2] Although it was introduced to streamline the planning process and fast track the assessment of large infrastructure projects, a public perception of its misuse was a significant factor in the defeat of the Keneally government.[original research?]
Part 4
Part 4 of the Act includes provisions which allow proponents to lodge development applications to seek consent to carry out development under the Act.[3]: 35