{"id":88591,"date":"2026-09-05T06:32:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T06:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/88591\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T06:32:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T06:32:16","slug":"aussie-councils-see-red-over-new-neighbour-rule-basic-courtesy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/88591\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussie councils see red over new neighbour rule: ‘Basic courtesy’"},"content":{"rendered":"

NSW homeowners<\/a> could have the house next door demolished and replaced with a two-storey duplex or row of terraces without ever being formally informed, under sweeping new building rules<\/a> that came into effect this week.<\/p>\n

The statewide Community Participation Plan affects some of the most common residential developments<\/a> and has sparked concern from councils about how much say communities will have over changes to their neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n

One Sydney council<\/a> estimates the impact will be enormous.<\/p>\n

Canada Bay Mayor Michael Megna told Yahoo News Australia around 70 per cent of the development applications his council received last financial year would no longer require neighbour notification under the new rules.<\/p>\n

“From this week, a resident could have a DA lodged immediately next door to demolish<\/a> a house and replace it with three terraces or a two-storey dual occupancy, and under the state government’s rules, that resident no longer has a right to be notified or asked for feedback,” Megna said.<\/p>\n

The mayor said councils supported faster planning decisions, but argued notifying the people living next door was an important step in the process.<\/p>\n

“Notifying the person living next door is not red tape, it is basic courtesy and essential planning,” he said.<\/p>\n

Do you have a property development story? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n

What has changed under the new building laws?<\/p>\n

The new statewide overhaul replaces individual council consultation policies with a standardised system across NSW.<\/p>\n

Under the changes, developments considered lower impact and compliant with existing planning controls will generally no longer require public feedback.<\/p>\n

This includes many new homes, demolitions, dual occupancies, granny flats and some medium-density housing such as terraces.<\/p>\n

A Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure spokesperson said the changes would “end confusion” and give communities a clearer way to have their say.<\/p>\n

“The changes are about protecting and promoting participation on the planning issues that matter most and removing consultation that is duplicative or unnecessary,” the spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.<\/p>\n

The department stressed the change does not mean those developments are automatically approved, with applications still assessed for potential impacts including privacy, overshadowing and neighbourhood amenity.<\/p>\n

Developments that exceed permitted height or size limits will still be opened for public feedback.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

New NSW planning rules mean neighbours will no longer need to be formally notified about some common residential developments.<\/p>\n

(Getty)Why councils are concerned over NSW planning changes<\/p>\n

Northern Beaches Council has also raised concerns about the changes, saying a large majority of development applications in the area will no longer require neighbours to be notified.<\/p>\n

The council said this would reduce opportunities for residents to comment on developments that could affect them.<\/p>\n

Canada Bay Council has similarly argued neighbour feedback can identify local issues that may not be apparent from plans alone.<\/p>\n

“Neighbours understand stormwater runoff, tree canopies, traffic, and privacy in ways an architectural drawing simply cannot capture,” Megna said.<\/p>\n

“You do not build better communities by cutting out the people who live in them.”<\/p>\n

However, the state government maintains that the developments being removed from mandatory consultation are considered low impact when they comply with existing planning controls.<\/p>\n

Councils can also choose to undertake additional targeted community engagement beyond the minimum requirements set by the statewide plan.<\/p>\n

NSW isn’t alone, with every other state allowing some developments to proceed without neighbours being formally notified, generally where projects meet existing planning rules or are considered lower impact.<\/p>\n

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