Social impacts are the consequences people experience when a new project brings change.
This can include impacts on the availability and access to education, healthcare, open space housing and recreation facilities. It could also include safety and security, as well as physical and mental health.
The following policies and guidance should be considered in the assessment of state significant projects.
Social Impact Assessment Guideline
The Social Impact Assessment Guideline is required to be applied for all State significant projects that require a Social Impact Assessment (SIA), to deliver a clear and consistent approach to assessing social impacts. The guideline provides a framework to identify, predict and evaluate likely social impacts and propose responses to them as part of the overall environmental assessment.
View the Social Impact Assessment Guideline and supporting resources
Social impact considerations for State significant housing projects
To streamline the delivery of major housing developments, Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) for State significant housing projects require a consideration of social impacts within the Environmental Impact Statement. Only where the impacts are found to be significant will they require an SIA in accordance with the SIA Guideline.
An illustrative case study shows what this consideration of social impacts might look like as part of the EIS.
Case study - consideration of social impacts for housing projects
NSW Government 24-Hour Economy Strategy
This strategy recognises the collaborative and coordinated effort between NSW government, local councils, industry, and communities in building a vibrant, diverse, inclusive, and safe 24-hour economy across the Six-Cities region. Its built around key strategic pillars to provide more integrated planning and place-making, encourage diversification of night-time activities, support industry and cultural economic development and improve connectivity between precincts through safe and reliable transport.
Crime Prevention and the Assessment of Development Applications
These guidelines help councils identify crime risk and minimise opportunities for crime through the appropriate assessment of development proposals, drawing on principles from crime prevention through environmental design.
View the Crime Prevention and the Assessment of Development Applications Guidelines
Voluntary Land Acquisition and Mitigation Policy
This policy describes the NSW Government’s approach for voluntary mitigation and land acquisition to address noise and dust impacts from state significant mining, petroleum and extractive industry developments.
View the Voluntary Land Acquisition and Mitigation Policy
Framework for Securing a VPA Between a Mining Proponent of a Major Development and a Local Council
This framework, prepared by the Mining and Energy Related Councils of NSW and the NSW Minerals Council, provides optional principles and processes that can be used by councils and mining companies when negotiating planning contributions.
Large Scale Solar Energy Guideline
The Large-Scale Solar Energy Guideline gives the community, industry and regulators certainty about the planning framework for the assessment and approval of such projects.
The guideline gives advice on a range of assessment matters including the social impacts of projects.
View the Large -Scale Solar Energy Guideline
View the technical supplement.
View information on the energy policy and assessment framework