To keep professionals up to speed with the major changes to Planning in NSW introduced by former Planning Minister the Hon Frank Sartor, NEERG ran a regulatory overhaul series in 2008 and 2009.Then led by Frank Sartor's successor as Planning Minister, the Hon Kristina Keneally, the anticipated rollout of the planning refor...
Six strategies for improving heritage planning
“I consider it is vital to attend these (NEERG) seminars regularly. Although one is involved in the profession on a daily basis, it is important to connect with a diverse range of colleagues and related professionals. The workshop sessions provided me with some very good feedback on the current values of the professio...
NEERG Seminars Pty Limited
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Bondi Junction NSW 1355
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seminars@neerg.net.au | SEPPs WORKOUT GETTING UP TO SPEED ON SEPPs 1, SENIORS LIVING, 65, 71 & BASIX
Under the major planning reform agenda of the NSW State Government, a number of the SEPPs are or have been reviewed. Our day long seminar dealt with those that are the keys to urban development in Sydney:
SEPP 1 – Development Standards
Draft has been on exhibition but appears to have been scrapped. No new draft or policy yet exhibited.
SEPP – Seniors Living
New policy replaced SEPP 5, includes new access standards.
SEPP 65 – Design Quality of Residential Flat Development
Has been running for 18 months and some results are now being built.
SEPP 71 – Coastal Protection
A relatively new regime is beginning to centralise approvals assessment within DIPNR.
SEPP BASIX – Building Sustainability Index
Changes are being made to energy efficiency and water conservation required of residential buildings.
Chief Judge Peter McClellan of the NSW Land and Environment Court opened the seminar. Advice on the Government’s reforms was provided by the chairman of the ministerial taskforce, Neil Bird. Lawyer Mary-Lynne Taylor spoke about SEPP 1 and its use and the now apparently defunct draft policy.
The new sustainability policy of the Government and its application to development projects and housing was described by environmental engineer Dan Grunbaum and landscape architect Peter Smith. Both speakers also advised on ways to meet the requirements.
Senior DIPNR Policy Officer Susan Sky, who managed the review of and changes to SEPP 5, spoke about the new Seniors Living SEPP. Access consultant Mark Relf detailed many of the difficulties still inherent in the policy and the Australian Standards which are called up by the policy.
Coastal protection and the new DIPNR-based planning approvals regime were the subject of talks by Prof Bruce Thom of DIPNR and Brett Whitworth, a former DIPNR officer, now consultant.
The seminar concluded with a number of talks about aspects of SEPP 65, mainly directed toward the needs of those preparing applications. Speakers included architects Graham Jahn and Kim Crestani, environmental architect Steve King, acoustic consultant Barry Murray, landscape architect Martin Bryant and urban designers Deena Riddenour and Russell Olsson. SEPP 65 still is not well understood by architects, planners and council officers.
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