The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has released the draft Statewide Statewide Community Participation Plan (CPP) which seeks to consolidate minimum public consultation requirements for planning matters across NSW.

Proposed NSW legislative planning changes on community consulation requirements for development applications will severely undermine transparency and community involvement, a report by Georges River Council says.

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In April, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) released the draft Statewide Community Participation Plan (CPP) which seeks to consolidate minimum public consultation requirements for planning matters across NSW.

The key changes proposed include:

. Standardising the process for notification of Complying Development and giving neighbours seven days' notice before any works begin,

. Standardising and reducing the number of local development application types that need to be exhibited by councils.

. Extending minimum consultation timeframes on state-level strategic planning initiatives like Region Plans and the State Plan from 45 days to 60 days,

. Introducing a recommended exhibition timeframe of 60 days for local strategic planning statements (LSPS) and 42 days for master plans.

The proposed approach does not limit councils from implementing their own tailored engagement strategies within their communities.

The council's submission supports the intent of the CPP of a consistent, statewide approach to community participation for planning matters.

"However, what is concerning is that the proposed blanket exemptions for the vast majority of development applications from public exhibition is overly broad and will severely undermine transparency and community involvement for higher impact developments like residential flat buildings and shop top housing," the council's report said.

"The draft Statewide CPP provides examples of best practice and minimum consultation requirements. Councils can continue to update or prepare their own bespoke community engagement strategies which go beyond the requirements outlined in the draft Statewide CPP," the report said.

In it's submission to the DPHI, Georges River Council makes a number of recommendations.

These include:

- Expanding the commencement of works notification for CDCs from seven to 14 working days so affected neighbours can have sufficient opportunity to understand the scope of the approved works about to be completed.

- Introduce a post-determination neighbour notification for CDCs to ensure neighbours are aware of future development projects that have received approval.

- Where a DA that includes a request for variation such as building height or lot size, notification is required

- DA development types that are not eligible for a CDC pathway should not be exempt from notification (residential flat building, shop top housing, and home businesses).

- Only low impact change of use DAs within industrial zones are exempt from notification.

Public exhibition of the draft Statewide Community Participation Plan will be carried out by the DPHI.