Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025

In September 2025 the Minns’ State Government announced major changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025.

The changes have been framed as a requirement to increase housing supply through the cutting of ‘red tape’. I suggest reading Nicole Gurran’s work on the repackaging of this little nugget of neoliberalism, but in the meantime, here is a quick text assessment of the changes to the objects of the Act.

Of note (for me) are the removal of the existing object “to protect the environment” and the removal of “community” from “increased community participation”. Just who is it that they want to participate?

Feel free to share with credit and message me if you’d like a PDF.

Other proposed changes of note:

• Reduction in minimum exhibition time for State Significant Development proposals to 14 days (down from 28)
• Removal of references to developments on bush fire prone land (while inserting an object related to climate resilience)
• Removal of need for Planning Minister to consult with Environment Agency Heads when considering developments under various sections of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 No 63