Have your say on our revised Community Participation Plan

Last modified on 13 November 2023

Willoughby community members are invited to ‘Have their say’ on a revised Community Participation Plan, a foundational document that forms part of Council’s over-arching Community Engagement Framework.

The Community Participation Plan sets out how the community can provide feedback on planning decisions and details how and when Council engages with the community across the planning functions it performs under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

Changes to statutory and regulatory requirements, and feedback from community members, has led to the development of a revised and updated plan that seeks to respond appropriately to community needs.

One of the proposed changes is an extended notification area of 200m for high interest development applications, including State Significant Development and development over 35m in height, double the existing maximum notification area. This would apply to developments such as 25 storey buildings in the Chatswood CBD, childcare centres, and remediation works on contaminated land. 

Mayor Tanya Taylor said the plan aims to help the community understand the planning process so they can be better informed on how and when they can provide feedback on decisions that could impact on their future.

“We know that a wide range of Willoughby community members are keen to participate in planning decisions relating to how our LGA grows and changes,” Cr Taylor said.

 “This document sets out how we will notify and engage with our community on these decisions, including development applications or planning proposals to amend land-use zoning or height or floor-space development controls.

“Community participation is an integral part of the planning system and this is your chance to tell us what you think about our existing and proposed future processes.”

While the elected Council sets the policy for consultation regarding planning and development matters, it does not have a role in the assessment and determination of Development Applications.

Rather, this is undertaken independently by Council staff or independent panels such as the Willoughby Local Planning Panel and Sydney North Planning Panel depending on the nature of the development, cost of construction, and number of responses to consultation.

“I encourage members of the community to get online and take a look at the draft document and share your feedback,” Cr Taylor said.

The draft Community Participation Plan is guided by NSW Government legislation and Council’s community engagement principles, which includes supporting inclusive, easy-to-understand, timely and responsive engagement processes.

The purpose of the plan is to provide a document that the community can easily access that sets out Council’s community participation requirements, including minimum mandatory exhibition timeframes.

The exhibition of the draft Community Participation Plan is an important step in the review of Council’s overall Community Engagement Framework, which commenced in mid-2022.

To find out more, view the draft plan, read a report on key changes between the old and new plan, and provide feedback visit https://www.haveyoursaywilloughby.com.au/

Members of the community can provide feedback by filling out an online survey or uploading a submission from 13 November 2023 to 11 December 2023.

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