Environmental planning and development

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

The Environmental Planning & Development Committee monitors all matters related to environmental planning and development law and represents the Law Society and its members on policy and practice issues arising from it. Our priorities include:

  • Developing and commenting on law reform and legal policy proposals (including preparing submissions, and liaising with government and other stakeholders in this process)
  • Educating the legal profession about changes to the law and providing guidance on practice and other issues
  • Exchanging information about issues arising in legal practice (such as recent case law) that may indicate a legal policy issue or concern

Learn more about committees
Current committee members
How to join a committee

Recent policy submissions

Letter to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure – Discussion paper – A review of land acquisition in NSW – 8.5.24

Letter to NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure - Discussion paper – Statutory Review of the Crown Land Management Act 2016 – 15 March 2024

Letter to LC Ptfo Cttee 7 - Inquiry into planning system and impacts of climate change on environment and communities - 3 November 2023

Letter to Department of Planning and Environment – Planning certificate fees – 19 June 2023

Letter to Department of Planning and Environment – Special flood consideration clause EIE – 14 February 2023

Letter to Department of Planning and Environment – Proposed amendments to the Housing SEPP – 15 December 2022

Letter to Department of Customer Service – Draft Building Bill 2022 - 25 November 2022

Letter to Department of Planning and Environment – Coastal Design Guidelines – 9 September 2022

Letter NSW Independent Flood Inquiry – 21 June 2022

Letter to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – A new approach to rezoning - 7 March 2022

Letter to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Design and Place SEPP - 28 February 2022

Letter to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Large scale solar energy guidelines - 25 February 2022

Letter to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Infrastructure and Education SEPP amendments – 8 February 2022

Visit the Environmental Planning and Development policy submissions archive

2024 Committee list

Ms Roslyn McCulloch (Chair), Ms Angela Penklis (Deputy Chair), M. Bonanno, A. Cahill, B. Charlton, R. Chick, D. Fitzclarence, J. Hewitt, K. Huxley, R. Kandola, A. Knox, M. Macken, L. Morphett, S. Murphy, P. Murray,  J. Sheehan, M. Thomas, S. Urlich, P. Vergotis.

How to join a committee
Law Society Committees have powers, authorities and tasks delegated by the Council. Consisting of dedicated
volunteers, each committee focuses on a particular area of law, pooling together specialist skills and experience in
order to scrutinise legislation, court decisions and other government policies.


There are three broad categories of committees:

  • Regulatory committees – perform statutory duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW)
  • Liaison committees – linked to other professions or organisations
  • Policy committees

By drawing on the insights of committees, the Law Society can meet its statutory duties and act as a major player
in law reform and policy debates.

See the Law Society Committee webpage