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Key Guidance

Hazards and Risks

Assessment of chemical, biological and chemical hazards and risks

Hazards and risks include chemical, biological, or physical agents that have potential negative impacts on the economy, environment and community. There is a wide range of hazards and risks to be considered as part of environmental impact assessment for State significant projects. These are the responsibility of different government agencies and have different policies that are provided for below.

Hazardous and offensive development

Hazardous industries pose potentially significant risk to human health, property or the environment.  Offensive development may emit a polluting discharge with significant adverse impact in the locality or on likely future development. The following guidance assists in the management of hazardous and/or offensive State significant development.

Hazardous and Offensive Development Application Guidelines

This guideline assists councils and proponents in establishing whether a development proposal would fit into the Resilience and Hazard SEPP policy of ‘potentially hazardous industry’ or ‘potentially offensive industry definitions and hence, come under the provisions of the policy.

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Multi-level risk assessment

These guidelines are intended to assist industry, consultants and consent authorities in NSW to carry out and evaluate risk assessments at an appropriate level.

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Hazardous industry planning advisory papers (paper no. 6)

This document provides guidance on the general approach recommended for hazard analysis. It explains the hazard analysis process and details the requirements for reports to be submitted to government authorities.

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Fire Safety Guidelines

These documents provide guidance on the general approach recommended for hazard analysis from Fire and Rescue NSW. They explain the requirements to be met for safety and hazards.

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Biosecurity

Negative impacts associated with animal and plant pests, diseases and contaminants pose risks to the economy, environment and community. The Department of Primary Industries coordinates the aim to prevent, eliminate and minimise biosecurity risks.

NSW Biosecurity Strategy 2022-2030

This Strategy outlines the best strategies and different roles everyone can play in the effectively mitigating, managing or reporting of potential Biosecurity threats.

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Coastal hazards

Coastal hazards arise from coastal processes. These Coastal Hazards include beach erosion, shoreline recession, watercourse entrance instability, coastal and tidal inundation and coastal cliff instability.

Coastal Crown Land Guidelines

The Coastal Crown Land Guidelines explain how coastal Crown Land should be managed; they apply to the coastal zone.

Coastal Crown Land Guidelines

Coastal Management Framework

The Framework below is a resource from the DPE to support councils through the Coastal management process.

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NSW SES State Tsunami Plan 

The NSW SES State Tsunami plan sets out the preparation, response and initial recovery coordination arrangements for tsunamis. This plan accounts for all tsunami magnitudes and generation mechanisms.

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NSW SES State Storm Plan 

The State storm plan sets out the prevention, preparation, response and initial recovery arrangements for storm activity. It also outlines the responsibilities of agencies and organisations with regard to these functions.

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Dams

There are potential risks from dam failure to public welfare and environmental and economic assets. The NSW Dams Safety Committee responsible for developing and implementing regulation for effective dam safety management to protect life, property and the environment from dam failures. The following guidance should be considered when assessing risk of dam failure associated with a State significant project.

Dams Safety Committee guidance sheets

The NSW Dams Safety Committee (DSC) is the NSW regulator for dam safety. It is responsible for developing and implementing regulation for effective dam safety management to protect life, property and the environment from dam failures. These sheets provide guidance and assistance to all dam owners and stakeholders.

View the Guidance Sheets

Environmental hazards

Environmental hazards result from chemical, biological, or physical agents either from ongoing or previous human activity, or the hazard may be a property present in the natural environment. This type of hazard poses a risk to either human health or to the natural environment.

Health Impact Assessment Guidelines

These guidelines apply to new development projects or upgrades to existing developments, in sectors such as transport, environment, mining and resources, agriculture, energy, waste, housing and planning.

View the Guidelines

Environmental Health Risk Assessment

This is a guidance risk assessment document produced by Environmental Health Australia. They advocate environmental health issues and represent the professional interests of all environmental health practitioners in Australia.

View the Risk Assessment


Land movement

Land instability can result from landslides or landslips or effects of subsidence and pose a risk to safety, property, water quality and the environment in general. The following policy and guidance should be considered when assessing the risks of land movement associated with State significant projects.

Landslide risk management concepts and guidelines

Produced by the Australian Geomechanics Society, this guideline explains the process and limitations of Landslide Risk Management in Australia, whilst providing an updated methodology for landslide risk analysis, evaluation and treatments.

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Geotechnical policy – Kosciuszko alpine resorts

This policy relates specifically to Kosciuszko alpine resorts and addresses structural and geotechnical requirements relating to geotechnical issues.

View the Policy

Plume rise assessments advisory circular

This advisory circular provides information for proponents of facilities generating exhaust plumes, land use planning authorities as well as aircraft and airport operators. This advice is produced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

View the advisory circular

Last updated: 10/03/2025

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