Essential Guides: NSW Local Government Law

Our series of NSW Local Government Guides are comprehensive yet simple to understand guides on how to deal with certain legislation and problems that NSW Local Government and Councils often face.

• Building Information Certificates

  An application for a Building Information Certificate (BIC) is typically made when a building or structure has been erected unlawfully.  Read more.

• Rebuilding after the bushfires: What approvals are required?

  Many of our Council clients will soon be faced with inquiries from people who wish to rebuild following the NSW bushfires.  This simple guide is intended to assist Councils in dealing with inquiries about the approvals needed to rebuild. Read More.

• Temporary Use and Clause 2.8 of the Standard Instrument LEP

  This Essential Guide will assist local councils to apply the temporary use provisions in cl. 2.8 of the Standard Instrument LEP.  Prohibited development can be approved under the Standard Instrument LEP if it will only be temporary. Understandably, however, this is only possible if the development will not adversely impact on the future development of the land or on the residents of surrounding land. Read More.

• Lapsing of a Development Consent

  This Essential Guide provides guidance to councils on maintaining development consent.  A development consent can add significant value to land and can be costly to obtain. It is therefore important to understand when it will lapse. This guide will assist you in determining when this will occur.  Read More.

• Hoarding

  This Essential Guide provides guidance to councils on the options which are available to them under the Local Government Act 1993 (LG Act) to address hoarding in their communities. Read More.

• Acquisition of Land by NSW Councils

  Whilst the NSW State Government has published a number of resources to guide stakeholders through the acquisition process, this brief commentary will discuss the key steps involved and provide some practical guidance for council staff. Read More.

• Stopping the Clock

  This essential guide will look at when the development assessment clock stops and what events will restart it. Read More.

• Investigating Staff Misconduct Complaints (Including Workplace Bullying)

  This essential guide will look at how to best investigate staff misconduct complaints, including workplace bullying. Read More.

• Expert Witness Survival Guide

  This essential guide covers the admissibility of expert opinion evidence and 10 golden rules for giving expert evidence. Read More.

• Delegation of Council Functions

  This essential guide offers an overview of the fundamentals of the delegation and sub-delegation of Council functions under legislation and the common law. Read More.

• Drafting Conditions of Development Consent

  This essential guide addresses how to draft conditions of development consent that are clear, valid and enforceable under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Read More.

• Competitive Neutrality For NSW Councils

  This essential guide looks at competitive neutrality and the importance of creating a level playing field between in-house and external tenderers in a tender process. Read More.

• Development Control Orders Under the EPA Act

  This Essential Guide will assist local councils to determine when it is appropriate to give an order, how to give a valid order, and what to do in an emergency.

• Enforcement of Development Control Orders Under the EPA Act

  This Essential Guide outlines the options available to councils to enforce compliance with a development control order, and the advantages and risks of the different enforcement options available.

For further information about, or assistance with any information contained in these Local Government Guides, please contact Alice Menyhart, Alan Bradbury or Andrew Brickhill on (02) 6274 0999.

The content contained in this guide is, of course, general commentary only. It is not legal advice. Readers should contact us and receive our specific advice on the particular situation that concerns them.