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Planning and assessment

Recent planning reforms
The NSW Government has recently announced widespread reforms to the State's planning portfolio. As part of the reforms, all development applications (DAs) previously assessed by the Authority will now be assessed by the Department of Planning.

The proposed changes will take effect on 1 December 2008. DAs can be lodged with the Authority up to this date.

Applications still under assessment at 1 December 2008 will be transferred to the Department of Planning.

Planning and assessment process
In terms of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the Minister for Planning is the consent authority for development identified in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005.

Much of the foreshore area, as defined under the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Act 1998, is included in the SEPP Major Projects, including the Authority's principal precincts of Darling Harbour and The Rocks. In these, and some other areas, development with capital investment value less than $5 million is development for which approval to a development application (DA) is required under part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

Since 1999, the Authority has exercised delegation to process and determine certain types of DAs within the foreshore area. Prior to 1999, both Sydney Cove Redevolpment Authority and Darling Harbour Authority had delegation to determine development within The Rocks and Darling Harbour, respectively.

Under the current delegations from the Minister for Planning and the Director-General of the Department of Planning, the Authority receives, processes, and reports on all DAs and modification applications within its area where the Minister is the consent authority.

Developments with a capital investment value of more than $5 million require the submission of a part 3A application.