Draft Ecologically Sustainable Development Policy

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At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on Wednesday 27 September 2023 council endorsed to place the Draft Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) Policy on public exhibition for 28 days.

The draft ESD Policy (Attachment 1) has been developed by Council’s planning team to incentivise development that accords with the principals of Ecologically Sustainable Development. The draft Policy aims to incentivise ESD by offering financial incentives if the development can clearly demonstrate that the objectives of the Policy have been met.

The Principals of ESD are embedded in several pieces of legislation, including the Environmental Planning & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act, 1999) which is Commonwealth legislation, the NSW Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act, 1979), which is NSW State legislation, and the Local Government Act 1993 (LG Act, 1993) which is NSW State Legislation that oversees the operation of Local Government in NSW.

Local Government is well placed to ensure the principals of ESD are achieved in the assessment of development. Councils are generally in a good position to be able to assist and lead communities by example, education, regulation and incentives. In the most part, Councils are acutely aware of the need to balance the environmental, economic, social and cultural needs of their community and environment, and generally apply this balance in the assessment of development undertaken within the LGA.

As such Council’s planning team has taken the opportunity to develop the policy in order to encourage and increase the number of developments undertaken within the LGA that accord with the principals of ESD.

Broadly the policy intends to:

  • Provide simple and standard criteria to assess the reduction and/or waiving of fees and/or contributions for development which can clearly demonstrate adherence to ESD principals.
  • Provide a standard procedure for the reduction and/or waiving of fees and/or contributions during the assessment of the development.
  • Allow for the deferral of the payment of monies until such time as Council is satisfied that the development has been physically completed in accordance with the documentation submitted with the application.
  • Determines when payment of fees will be required, should the development not be carried out as proposed in the application.

Submissions are invited and must be addressed to the General Manager, Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale, NSW 2350, or sent by email to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au

Submissions must be received by Monday 6 November 2023.

Please be aware that if you make a submission, other people may have access to your comments. This may be as a result of a report to a Council meeting or as part of an application under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Also, under State legislation, any person making a submission on a Draft LEP amendment must also disclose whether they or an ‘associate’ have made a ‘reportable political donation’ or gift to a local Councillor or Council employee within the period commencing two years before any submission is made and ending when the Draft LEP is determined. Further details including disclosure forms are available on request from Council.


At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on Wednesday 27 September 2023 council endorsed to place the Draft Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) Policy on public exhibition for 28 days.

The draft ESD Policy (Attachment 1) has been developed by Council’s planning team to incentivise development that accords with the principals of Ecologically Sustainable Development. The draft Policy aims to incentivise ESD by offering financial incentives if the development can clearly demonstrate that the objectives of the Policy have been met.

The Principals of ESD are embedded in several pieces of legislation, including the Environmental Planning & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act, 1999) which is Commonwealth legislation, the NSW Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act, 1979), which is NSW State legislation, and the Local Government Act 1993 (LG Act, 1993) which is NSW State Legislation that oversees the operation of Local Government in NSW.

Local Government is well placed to ensure the principals of ESD are achieved in the assessment of development. Councils are generally in a good position to be able to assist and lead communities by example, education, regulation and incentives. In the most part, Councils are acutely aware of the need to balance the environmental, economic, social and cultural needs of their community and environment, and generally apply this balance in the assessment of development undertaken within the LGA.

As such Council’s planning team has taken the opportunity to develop the policy in order to encourage and increase the number of developments undertaken within the LGA that accord with the principals of ESD.

Broadly the policy intends to:

  • Provide simple and standard criteria to assess the reduction and/or waiving of fees and/or contributions for development which can clearly demonstrate adherence to ESD principals.
  • Provide a standard procedure for the reduction and/or waiving of fees and/or contributions during the assessment of the development.
  • Allow for the deferral of the payment of monies until such time as Council is satisfied that the development has been physically completed in accordance with the documentation submitted with the application.
  • Determines when payment of fees will be required, should the development not be carried out as proposed in the application.

Submissions are invited and must be addressed to the General Manager, Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale, NSW 2350, or sent by email to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au

Submissions must be received by Monday 6 November 2023.

Please be aware that if you make a submission, other people may have access to your comments. This may be as a result of a report to a Council meeting or as part of an application under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Also, under State legislation, any person making a submission on a Draft LEP amendment must also disclose whether they or an ‘associate’ have made a ‘reportable political donation’ or gift to a local Councillor or Council employee within the period commencing two years before any submission is made and ending when the Draft LEP is determined. Further details including disclosure forms are available on request from Council.


Page published: 10 Oct 2023, 10:46 AM