The Chris Minns Labor government released a draft Community Participation Plan (CPP) on April 8 which mandates how it wants public consultation for planning decisions to operate. The single plan replaces local government-specific CCPs, which have varying requirements for the public exhibition of development proposals.

Labor is justifying the changes as necessary to provide “certainty for all stakeholders who interact with the planning system” and “reduce unnecessary consultation”. But the changes are mostly about responding to developers’ demands to cut “red” or “green” tape.

In many cases, the state-wide CPP will reduce the level of public consultation — previously determined by councils — required for certain development types.

For example, for some State Significant Developments, which are usually large-scale and high impact, it is proposing to reduce the minimum public exhibition period from 28 days to 14. 

The new CPP is part of the government’s business-friendly planning reforms, introduced late last year, aimed at fast-tracking developments.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Act 2025 changed planning laws to significantly weaken environmental considerations while retaining corruption risks highlighted by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. It also further centralises decision-making power with the planning minister and a newly-created Development Coordination Authority.

Minns was unequivocal about who the reforms were for, telling big business at the Sydney Investment Summit last year: “We are in the process of making........

© Green Left Weekly