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.