Arrangements with the Australian Government
Arrangement for assessment of MNES related matters by NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
An Assessment Bilateral Agreement between the Australian and NSW Governments has been in place since 2015, designed to streamline the assessment process for NSW projects that impact on Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
The Assessment Bilateral Agreement establishes a streamlined process for assessments of projects that allows the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment to rely on environmental impact assessment processes of the State of New South Wales in assessing actions under the EPBC Act. This removes assessment duplication, reduces uncertainty, and speeds up decision timeframes.
View the Assessment Bilateral Agreement
Arrangement with The NSW Independent Planning Commission
Arrangement for ‘assessment as a service’ for complex state significant developments that are to be determined by the IPC
DPHI Planning and the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) both have responsibilities for functions under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
The IPC is a standalone decision-making body which acts as a consent authority for complex and contentious state significant development in NSW. It operates independently of the DPHI Planning and other government departments and is not subject to the direction or control of the Minister for Planning, except in relation to procedural matters.
The Memorandum of Understanding between DPHI Planning and the IPC (IPC MOU) establishes how DPHI Planning and the IPC will work together to exercise their respective responsibilities under the Act with an emphasis on quality, probity, timeliness, and transparency.