Public notice requirements

In the making or amending a local planning scheme, where public consultation is required, a public notice must be published. Public consultation provides the public with an opportunity to comment on proposals that may affect their land-use rights.

Public notices are not limited to be in a hard copy newspaper in relation to local planning instruments, Local governments can determine the most appropriate public notification method. A public notice can be published in a way that is likely to be of attention to people interested or affected by the proposed amendments.

For new or amended local planning instruments, public notice considerations include:

• Local Governments can determine how notice must be given. This will ultimately depend on the local government area; the nature of the new or amended instrument and what newspaper services are available in that area.
• If there is a hard copy local newspaper circulating in the locality of the new or amended local planning instruments – this may still be used to publish the notice about the proposed changes to the local planning instrument.
• If there is no hard copy local newspaper circulating in the locality of the new or amended local planning instruments, notice may be given in a way a local government considers in the more appropriate way, this could include:
  • in an online local newspaper for the area;
  • on the local government’s website, or
  • hard copy notice available for access by individuals that may need to be informed of proposed changes to a local planning instrument.
• Notices may also be published in a state-wide hard copy newspaper.