Community Participation Plan (CPP, NSW)
Every NSW council's CPP under EP&A Act Schedule 1 sets notification, exhibition periods (14-28 days), site signs, and ads for each development class.
Ask Chalkline about this →A Community Participation Plan (CPP) is the mandatory document every NSW council must publish under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Schedule 1 Part 2, setting out who gets notified for each class of development application, the minimum exhibition period (14 days minimum, often 21 or 28 in larger councils), and whether site signs and newspaper advertising are required. The CPP is layered on top of the EP&A Regulation 2021 minimums; councils can require more public engagement than the regulation sets, but cannot require less. The CPP is the single document a builder reads before lodging a DA to know how the notification will run and how long the timeline will stretch. Verified per EP&A Act 1979 Sch 1 Pt 2 (2026-05-23).
Why every council has its own CPP:
The NSW planning system delegates community participation design to each council so that local conditions (precinct density, historical objection patterns, neighbourhood complexity) can be reflected in the notification rules. A semi-rural shire and a metropolitan inner-city council have very different community-participation needs; the CPP framework lets each council tailor the rules within state-set minimums.
What’s in a CPP:
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Plan policy and objectives | The council’s community-engagement principles |
| Notification matrix | For each class of development (DA, modification, complying, planning proposal): who gets notified, how, and for how long |
| Exhibition periods | Minimum days for online posting and physical notification |
| Site sign requirements | Where required, what size, what content, how long displayed |
| Newspaper notification | Where required (often only for state-significant or larger development) |
| Mailed letter requirements | Who gets the mailed letter (adjoining + adjacent owners, often within a defined radius) |
| Submissions handling | How submissions are recorded, considered, and responded to |
| Stakeholder engagement | Pre-DA stakeholder meetings, late-stage notification, IHAP/RPP referrals |
Typical CPP notification matrix (example from a metropolitan council):
| Development class | Online | Letter | Site sign | Newspaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard residential DA | 14 days | Adjoining + adjacent (within 50 m) | Yes | No |
| Major residential DA (multi-unit, mid-rise) | 21 days | Adjoining + adjacent (within 100 m) | Yes | No |
| Heritage item DA | 21 days | Adjoining + adjacent + heritage stakeholders | Yes | Sometimes |
| State-significant DA | 28 days | All adjoining + community + state agencies | Yes | Yes |
| Section 4.55 modification | 14 days | Adjoining only | No | No |
| Designated development | 30 days | Extended adjoining + state | Yes | Yes |
(Actual periods vary by council; example only.)
Minimums under EP&A Regulation 2021:
The state floor (which councils may exceed):
| Element | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Local development DA | 14 days online + letter to adjoining |
| Designated development | 30 days |
| State-significant development | 28 days |
| Public-priority infrastructure | 30 days |
A CPP that sets shorter than these minimums is invalid and the council must default to the regulation periods.
How to find a council’s CPP:
- Council website → planning department → community participation plan (or “DA process” page).
- Or NSW Planning Portal → council page → CPP link.
- Common file name: “Community Participation Plan 2025” (updated as council reviews them, typically every 3-5 years).
Why builders should read the CPP early:
| Reason | Impact on the project |
|---|---|
| Exhibition period | 14 vs 28 days changes the DA timeline by 2 weeks |
| Notification radius | Wider radius means more potential objectors; consult pre-lodgement |
| Site sign requirement | Builder typically arranges; cost $200-$500 |
| Newspaper notification | Where required, $500-$1,500 advertising cost added |
| Special-class notifications | Heritage, environmental, infrastructure may trigger additional consultations |
Common defects:
- Builder assumes “14 days” without reading the CPP: council actually requires 21; DA timeline understated.
- Adjoining-only notification assumed when 50 m radius required: missed notification → council requires re-notification → 2-4 week delay.
- Site sign not posted within the required window: re-notification required.
- Newspaper ad missed when required: re-notification; if particularly delayed, fresh DA lodgement may be required.
Cross-state equivalents:
| State | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| NSW | Community Participation Plan (this) under EP&A Act Sch 1 Pt 2 |
| VIC | Notification procedures under Planning and Environment Act 1987 |
| QLD | Public notification under Planning Act 2016 |
| SA | Public notification under PDI Act 2016 |
| WA | Public consultation under planning scheme |
Builder takeaway:
- Download the council’s CPP at the start of the DA preparation. Read the notification matrix for your development class.
- Calendar the exhibition period into the project program. 14 days vs 28 days vs 30 days adds 2-4 weeks of waiting per DA.
- Arrange site sign printing and posting in the first week of lodgement.
- Pre-DA stakeholder consultation (where the CPP requires) reduces formal objections later.
Also known as: CPP; council CPP; community participation policy; CP plan; notification policy.
Category: Approvals & DA.
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Last updated: 2026-05-23. Verified: 2026-05-23. Quarterly review for currency.