Submissions opposing the NSW Government’s proposed changes to Draft Statewide Community Participation Plans close on Wednesday 3 June 2026. Visit HERE

Submit your submission HERE

Despite being presented as reforms to “streamline” planning processes, these changes risk significantly reducing opportunities for genuine community input into planning decisions that directly affect local neighbourhoods.

FOKE is concerned that the proposed changes could allow:

• Removal of Notification for Local Developments: The plan exempts many compliant medium-density projects (like residential flat buildings and shop-top housing) from public exhibition, shutting neighbours out of the feedback process entirely.
• Reduced Exhibition Timeframes: Mandatory exhibition periods for certain State Significant Developments (SSD) and Transport Oriented Developments (TOD) are restricted to just 14 days, which is often too short for communities to review complex documents.
• Loss of Local Discretion: By forcing all councils into a rigid statewide baseline, the plan limits local governments from tailoring their own consultation strategies to address specific neighbourhood character or unique environmental concerns.
• Reduced Community Trust: Mayors and community groups argue that removing these requirements gives the perception that the reforms are designed to fast-track housing targets rather than achieve genuine, meaningful public input.
  
  

Community participation is a cornerstone of good planning. Residents deserve adequate time, access to information, and genuine opportunities to have their voices heard before decisions are made that will permanently reshape their suburbs.

We encourage all members and supporters to lodge a submission opposing these changes before the deadline on Wednesday 3 June 2026.

FOKE Submission Guide:

Better Planning Network (BPN) Submission Guide:

NSW Government document: