State Environmental Planning Policies

These policies are concerned with state-wide land-use issues. They might denote what proportion of the State's land should be set aside for various specified uses such as national parks and provides some protection for some types of land such as coastal wetlands and natural bushland. Although these policies are drawn up by the Department of Planning, they are subject to Ministerial control. It will be his or her choice just how much say the public has in making these decisions.

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Regional Environmental Plans

Regional plans are more detailed than state plans and cover a smaller area such as the Illawarra region but must still be consistent with state plans. The Department must do environmental studies before drawing up such plans and they must allow people to make submissions on the draft plans and the environmental studies. The Department also consults other government bodies that might be affected by the plans. Having considered all the submissions the Director of the Department of Planning can refer the decision to the Minister and the Minister's decision is final. There is no appeal.

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Local Environmental Plans

Local plans are more detailed again covering all or part of the area controlled by a council. They too are subject to environmental studies and public submissions.

The local plan shows intended land-uses by showing zones on the plan. Each zone relates to a category of development such as residential, business, industrial use. Local plans have to be consistent with regional and state plans but the local councils are supposed to be the decision-makers when it comes to approving development in their area unless the development is deemed by the State government to be a matter of state importance.

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