Housing & planning · Burwood Council
Some Burwood development applications may lose public notification under new NSW rules
A statewide planning framework began on 1 September, removing notification and exhibition requirements for specified low-impact applications that meet relevant controls.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
Applicants and neighbours in Burwood may face different planning consultation requirements after the NSW Government’s Statewide Community Participation Plan began on 1 September 2026. The framework removes notification and exhibition requirements for specified low-impact development applications that comply with relevant planning controls and do not seek variations to key development standards.
The categories listed in Burwood Council’s draft minutes include certain dwelling houses, dual occupancies, small-scale multi-dwelling housing, secondary dwellings, change-of-use applications, signage, small subdivisions and tree removal on private land.
The plan establishes a statewide framework for planning notifications, public exhibition and community participation. The minutes say it replaces more than 100 individual community participation plans across NSW and introduces standardised consultation requirements and exhibition timeframes.
Burwood Council did not adopt a new local planning policy under this item at its 22 September meeting. It resolved to receive and note the statewide plan’s commencement, along with Council’s implementation and transition approach.
The record does not identify which Burwood applications will first be affected or provide a local timetable for the transition. For a particular proposal, the consultation requirements will depend on its application type, compliance with relevant controls and whether it seeks a variation to a key development standard.
What deserves a closer look
The record distinguishes the statewide framework from a new Burwood policy: under this item, Council noted the plan's commencement and its implementation and transition approach rather than adopting a separate local consultation regime.
The practical effect for a particular proposal remains conditional on its application category, compliance with planning controls and any proposed variation to key development standards.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What timetable will Burwood Council use to implement and transition to the statewide framework?
Which Burwood development applications will first be assessed under the new notification and exhibition arrangements?
Where will applicants and residents find the applicable consultation requirements for a particular proposal?
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The Statewide Community Participation Plan began on 1 September 2026 and applies to all planning authorities under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
For: Cr Faker, Cr Esber, Cr Hull, Cr Wu-Coshott, Cr Yang Against: Nil (Moved Deputy Mayor Pascale Esber/Seconded Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott) (Item 63/26) Implementation of NSW Government Statewide Community Participation Plan File No: 26/44284 Summary The NSW Government implemented the Statewide Community Participation Plan on 1 September 2026 (Attachment 1). The plan establishes a consistent statewide framework for planning notifications, public exhibition requirements and community participation, and applies to all planning authorities under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Item 63/26, summary
Open original minutes ↗The framework replaces more than 100 individual community participation plans and introduces standardised consultation requirements and exhibition timeframes.
The Statewide Community Participation Plan replaces more than 100 individual community participation plans across New South Wales, introducing standardised consultation requirements and exhibition timeframes while encouraging earlier community involvement in planning processes.
Item 63/26, summary
Open original minutes ↗The reform removes notification and exhibition requirements for specified low-impact development applications that comply with relevant planning controls and do not seek variations to key development standards. Listed categories include certain dwelling houses, dual occupancies, small-scale multi-dwelling housing developments, secondary dwellings, change-of-use applications, signage, small subdivisions and tree removal on private land.
A key reform is the removal of notification and exhibition requirements for specified low- impact development applications that comply with relevant planning controls and do not seek variations to key development standards. This includes certain dwelling houses, dual occupancies, small-scale multi dwelling housing developments, secondary dwellings, change-of-use applications, signage, small subdivisions and tree removal on private land.
Item 63/26, summary
Open original minutes ↗Burwood Council resolved to receive and note the plan's commencement and Council's implementation and transition approach.
Operational Plan Objective C.10.1 Deliver strategic, relevant communications which facilitate understanding, dialogue and participation C.11.2 Provide opportunity for engagement with the community to inform Council's decision-making Minutes of Burwood Council Meeting 22 September 2026 This is page 7 of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Burwood Council Meeting held on 22 September 2026 107/26 RESOLVED That Council receive and note the commencement of the NSW Government's Statewide Community Participation Plan and Council's implementation and transition approach.
Item 63/26, Resolution 107/26
Open original minutes ↗The minutes of the 22 September 2026 meeting were scheduled to be submitted for confirmation at Council's next meeting on 27 October 2026.
The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 22 September 2026 will be submitted for confirmation by Council at its next meeting on 27 October 2026.
Closing confirmation notice
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reported from the draft minutes of Burwood Council’s ordinary meeting on 22 September 2026, scheduled for confirmation on 27 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Statewide Community Participation Plan commenced on 1 September 2026.
- The draft minutes record that Burwood Council resolved to receive and note the plan’s commencement and Council’s implementation and transition approach.
- The framework replaces more than 100 individual community participation plans across NSW, according to the minutes.
- Specified low-impact applications that meet relevant controls and do not seek key development-standard variations may not require notification or exhibition.
- The minutes do not identify the first Burwood applications affected or give a local transition timetable.
Why it matters
- People applying for development and residents who may wish to comment on proposals in Burwood could encounter different notification and exhibition requirements, particularly for specified low-impact applications. The draft minutes do not identify the first local applications affected or provide a transition timetable.