Council Concerned By Removal Of Neighbour Notification For Development
Published on 07 October 2026
Lachlan Shire Council is encouraging residents to familiarise themselves with changes to development application notification requirements introduced by the NSW Government from 1 September 2026.
Under the new State Community Participation Plan, which applies to councils across NSW, a number of development types are excluded from being publicly notified or exhibited by councils.
Development applications no longer subject to public notification include:
- Bed and breakfast accommodation
- Change of use
- Dual occupancy (up to two storeys)
- Attached dwelling housing (up to 5 dwellings)
- Multi dwelling housing (up to 5 dwellings)
- Secondary dwellings
- Industrial retail outlets
- Rural workers' dwellings
For these types of development, neighbouring property owners will no longer receive notification letters as part of the development application process.
The changes form part of a statewide approach to community participation in the NSW planning system. While Council is required to implement the new requirements, it has raised concerns about the reduced opportunity for residents to be notified about and provide feedback on developments that may affect their neighbourhood.
Lachlan Shire Council Acting General Manager Adrian Milne said community participation remained particularly important in small rural communities.
“Council understands the NSW Government’s aim to provide greater consistency across the planning system. However, we are concerned about what these changes may mean for residents who have previously relied on neighbour notification to find out about development proposed near their property.”
“In communities like ours, local knowledge and community feedback can provide valuable context when development applications are being considered.”
“While Council must implement the State's new requirements, we encourage residents to remain actively engaged with planning matters by regularly monitoring development applications published through Council's available channels.”
Council will continue to assess development applications in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and relevant planning instruments. Development applications that remain subject to public notification under the statewide framework will continue to be exhibited in accordance with the new requirements.
Residents seeking further information about the State Community Participation Plan can visit the NSW Planning website or contact Lachlan Shire Council’s Environment and Planning Department.
ENDS