Draft plan for community participation

Published on 15 October 2019

MidCoast residents are being urged to have a look at MidCoast Council’s Draft Community Participation Plan that’s currently on public exhibition.

The draft 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 1979.

Council’s Director of Liveable Communities, Paul De Szell, 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.

“This document sets out how long various applications, strategies and plans are on public exhibition for, as well as how we notify our community of those things,” Mr De Szell said.

“Community participation is an integral part of the planning system so I would encourage people to take a look at the draft document and share their feedback.”

The draft Community Participation Plan is guided by Council’s engagement framework principles of accessibility, consistency and transparent decision making.

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

“Decisions can be as small as an upgrade to your neighbour’s house or as complex as a new suburb being planned and built from scratch,” Mr De Szell said.

To find out more and view the draft plan, head to www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/hys or visit Council offices and libraries until November 8.

During this time members of the community can provide feedback via the submission function on Council’s website or through written submissions.