Revised Community Engagement Framework

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Community engagement is the process by which the community participates in and influences Council’s decision-making. Our Community Engagement Framework guides how we’ll inform you and seek your input on decisions about planning, infrastructure and services in the Inner West.



We’ve revised our Community Engagement Framework to include a new section about land use planning and development assessment. The planning process is often complex and hard to navigate. Recent State Government reforms to the legislation aim to increase community participation in planning matters by making the process easier to understand. Section 5 in the Community Engagement Framework sets out how we’ll

Community engagement is the process by which the community participates in and influences Council’s decision-making. Our Community Engagement Framework guides how we’ll inform you and seek your input on decisions about planning, infrastructure and services in the Inner West.



We’ve revised our Community Engagement Framework to include a new section about land use planning and development assessment. The planning process is often complex and hard to navigate. Recent State Government reforms to the legislation aim to increase community participation in planning matters by making the process easier to understand. Section 5 in the Community Engagement Framework sets out how we’ll notify the community about development applications in the local area, and how to make a submission. It also includes the minimum timeframes for public exhibition of planning matters.


Have your say

View the Community Engagement Framework.

Answer our quick survey questions and tell us your thoughts on how we can improve information or opportunities to get involved in planning and development matters.

Feedback closed on 12 November 2019

Read the Engagement Outcomes Report (doc)


What happens next?

The changes to the Community Engagement Framework will come back to a meeting of the elected Council in November. Councillors will consider your feedback before adopting the final document. Everyone who makes a submission and provides an email address will be advised of the decision. The final Community Engagement Framework will be published on this page, and on the NSW Planning Portal.


How else are we improving engagement?

We asked you recently how we can improve engagement overall at Inner West. We’re working through the responses you provided and we’ll report back on what you told us. We’re introducing a new development application tracking website later this year. We’ll monitor how well this helps the community get involved in in planning matters and check back in with you in six months’ time.

  • Council adopts revised Community Engagement Framework

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    29 November, 2019

    At its meeting on 26 November 2019 Council considered community feedback and adopted the revised Community Engagement Framework. In its decision Council resolved to:

    1. Receive and note results of the Draft Community Engagement Framework public exhibition, updated to incorporate legislated requirements for community participation in planning and assessment functions;

    2. Adopt the Draft Community Engagement Framework for publication on the NSW Planning Portal by 1 December 2019; and

    3. Prepare and publicly exhibit for 28 days draft Development Control Plans (DCPs) to remove the notification chapters from:

    • Comprehensive DCP 2016 for Ashbury, Ashfield, Croydon, Croydon Park, Haberfield, Hurlstone Park and Summer Hill (Ashfield DCP)
    • Leichhardt DCP 2013
    • Marrickville DCP 2011

    4. Part 5, Table 2 be amended in the following way:

    a) Section B: Amend 'minimum 5 properties' to 'minimum 10 properties'

    b) Sections C & D: Amend to include "*Minimum 24 properties around the subject site will be notified regardless of the distance from the property"


    Read the Council report.

  • Engagement Outcomes Report

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    15 November, 2019

    Did you provide feedback on our revised Community Engagement Framework? Read the Engagement Outcomes Report (doc).

    The engagement outcomes will be reported to a future Council meeting with the revised Community Engagement Framework. Everyone who participated will be emailed with the date when the matter is to be considered by Council.