MidCoast Council DA Changes from 1st of August
Important updates are coming to Development Applications (DAs) submitted within the MidCoast region. From 1 August 2025, all planning professionals, developers, and consultants must comply with stricter DA lodgement requirements set by MidCoast Council. These changes are being introduced in response to the NSW Government’s Faster Assessments Program and the Minister’s Statement of Expectations. Both […]
Refinements to SIA Guidance – July 2025 Update Released
The NSW Social Impact Assessment Guidelines for State significant projects have undergone notable refinements in July 2025, building on the February 2023 version and reinforcing the clarity, rigour, and accountability of social impact practice. These changes aim to improve accountability, transparency, and ensure that community wellbeing is a measurable and considered outcome of planning decisions. […]
Can Independent Project Management Deliver Better Governance?
In the complex world of property development and urban planning, strong governance is the difference between smooth project delivery and costly delays. Independent project management (PM) paired with strategic planning advice offers a path to better accountability, transparency, and delivery assurance for clients, consultants, and the community alike. This dual approach creates the necessary distance […]
What’s the Best Way to Manage Land Use Conflict in NSW?
As urban expansion increasingly overlaps with agricultural and industrial activities, land use conflict has become a growing challenge in regional planning. A Land Use Conflict Risk Assessment (LUCRA) is a structured method developed in New South Wales (NSW) to identify and manage potential conflicts between incompatible land uses. LUCRA is especially important in contexts where […]
NSW Planning Laws: Debunking Common Development Myths
In the fast-paced world of planning and development, misinformation is everywhere, especially when it comes to what needs approval, what’s permitted, and how NSW planning laws actually work. Common misunderstandings often lead to costly mistakes, delays, and compliance headaches. That’s why these Planning Myth-Busting series were created: a straightforward guide designed to separate fact from […]
Understanding NSW’s Updated Crown Development Application Provisions
In May 2025, the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure released Planning Circular PS 25-002, updating the framework for Crown development application processes in NSW under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). This circular replaces the previous Circular D6 and provides guidance for councils, applicants, and practitioners on the provisions applicable […]
Case Study: Battery Recycling Facility Project – Major Coordination Experts
Battery recycling has become essential to managing Australia’s growing stockpile of electronic and energy waste. In regions like Port Stephens, planning and building safe battery recovery infrastructure is a complex but vital task. This case study explores the delivery of a battery recycling project—a processing and resource recovery facility in Heatherbrae, NSW—designed to support the […]
NSW 2025–26 Budget: What It Means for Planning Professionals and the Industry
The newly released NSW Budget 2025 signals a continued push to deliver more, faster, and with better-resourced planning systems to support them. Here is Meliora’s snapshot: Planning System Reforms & Funding $253.7 million investment to bolster the State’s planning system, including assessing more development applications and delivering additional State-led rezonings. $20.4 million allocated to improve […]
How Can You Choose the Right SEARS for Your Project?
Navigating the environmental planning process in New South Wales can feel like a maze.. Understanding the difference between iSEARS and project-specific SEARS is essential for any proponent preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). While both serve the same legislative purpose under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, their application, timeframe, and level of detail […]
Case Study: Supporting a Primary Producer in NSW Through Relocation & Resilience
The Market Garden Relocation – North Richmond project centres on a family-run farm, a primary producer in NSW, forced to make critical changes due to worsening flood risks. Operating for years in Freemans Reach, the herb and leafy greens operation had been struck repeatedly by Hawkesbury River flooding. Each inundation damaged crops, equipment, and infrastructure, […]
