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Unit of Study LAWS2014 - Local Government and Planning Law (2023)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit description

Examines the crucial role of local government in relation to environmental decision-making, and its powers and functions generally. It provides a comprehensive grasp of planning laws within New South Wales, and provides a critical perspective on these laws. Local government has significant powers over the environment, and additional delegated authority under the Local Government Act 1993.

Unit content

Module 1: The NSW Planning Law Regime – "Who Decides What?" Roles and Responsibilities of Federal, States, and Local Governments. Planning Instruments and Land Zoning.
 
Module 2: Structure of Local Councils; Honesty, Procedural Fairness, and Disclosure of Councillors' Interests; Local Councils Funding: Levying of Rates.
 
Module 3: Local Councils' Regulatory and Service Functions: Management of Community Land; "Public” vs “Private" in Land Use and Rates Exemptions.
 
Module 4: The Development Approval Process: Appeals and Judicial Review: The NSW Land & Environment Court.
 
Module 5: Modification of Consents and Planning Instruments; Continuing and Existing Use Rights.     
 
Module 6: Local Councils' Enforcement Role.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term1,5
Term1,5
Online
Term1,5
Term1,5

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

demonstrate an understanding of the constitution and structure of local government, and the way in which environmental planning instruments are made

apply environmental planning instruments to an existing or proposed development and explain the process for obtaining local government approval for an activity

critically evaluate the existing system of planning and emerging challenges

analyse and apply in any given factual situation the law with respect to the processes of local government decision-making.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Students should have access to electronic copies of the legislation referred to in the Unit, most importantly the Local Government Act 1993, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. Current versions of the Acts and accompanying regulations can be found at < www.legislation.nsw.gov.au > and < www.austlii.edu.au >.

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Access to a computer and reliable internet connection. 

  • Students should have access to electronic copies of the legislation referred to in the Unit, most importantly the Local Government Act 1993, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. Current versions of the Acts and accompanying regulations can be found at < www.legislation.nsw.gov.au > and < www.austlii.edu.au >.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.