Environmental planning and development

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

The Environmental Planning & Development Committee monitors all matters related to environmental planning and development law and represents the Law Society and its members on policy and practice issues arising from it. Our priorities include:

  • Developing and commenting on law reform and legal policy proposals (including preparing submissions, and liaising with government and other stakeholders in this process)
  • Educating the legal profession about changes to the law and providing guidance on practice and other issues
  • Exchanging information about issues arising in legal practice (such as recent case law) that may indicate a legal policy issue or concern

Learn more about committees
Current committee members
How to join a committee

Recent policy submissions

Letter to Department of Planning and Environment – Special flood consideration clause EIE – 14 February 2023

Letter to Department of Planning and Environment – Proposed amendments to the Housing SEPP – 15 December 2022

Letter to Department of Customer Service – Draft Building Bill 2022 - 25 November 2022

Letter to Department of Planning and Environment – Coastal Design Guidelines – 9 September 2022

Letter NSW Independent Flood Inquiry – 21 June 2022

Letter to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – A new approach to rezoning - 7.3.22

Letter to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Design and Place SEPP - 28.2.22

Letter to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Large scale solar energy guidelines - 25.2.22

Letter to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Infrastructure and Education SEPP amendments – 8 February 2022

Letter to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Proposed Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 – 22.9.21

Letter to DPIE – Proposed New Housing SEPP – 2.9.21

Letter to DPIE – Varying Development Standards – 12 May 2021

Letter to DPIE – Building Business Back Better – 7 May 2021

Letter to Department of Customer Service – Statutory Review of the NSW Strata Schemes Laws – 6 April 2021

Letter to Department of Primary Industries – Options Paper: Agricultural Land Use Planning Strategy – 25 February 2021

Letter to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Proposed Local Character Clause – 29 January 2021

Visit the Environmental Planning and Development policy submissions archive

2023 Committee list

Ms Roslyn McCulloch, (Chair), Ms Angela Penklis (Dep Chair), J. Baldwin,  J. Amy, K. Blunden, M. Bonanno, R. Bullmore, A. Cahill, C. Cai, B. Charlton, R. Chick, A. Davidson, R. James, A. Knox, M. Macken, M. Mallos, J. Sheehan, M. Thomas, S. Urlich, P. Vergotis.

How to join a committee
Law Society Committees have powers, authorities and tasks delegated by the Council. Consisting of dedicated
volunteers, each committee focuses on a particular area of law, pooling together specialist skills and experience in
order to scrutinise legislation, court decisions and other government policies.


There are three broad categories of committees:

  • Regulatory committees – perform statutory duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW)
  • Liaison committees – linked to other professions or organisations
  • Policy committees

By drawing on the insights of committees, the Law Society can meet its statutory duties and act as a major player
in law reform and policy debates.

See the Law Society Committee webpage