Background

Social impact is a key consideration of the assessment of any Development Application (DA) in terms of the impact of the proposal on the social amenity of neighbouring properties and the locality.

Our Development Control Plan (DCP) doesn't have explicit references to how social impact considerations should be assessed and managed, and ideally, a social impact assessment would provide guidance to applicants on how to meet the social impact requirements set out in section 4.15 of the Environmental Planning and Assesment Act 1979 (EPA Act), and the community on how these issues would be managed.

Scope of the Social Impact Assessment Guidelines

Read the draft Social Impact Assessment Guidelines.

The possible scope of the guidelines is its ability to provide clear guidance around the requirements of Plans of Management for the applications, and inform measures that minimise and mitigate any adverse impacts.

While the SIA guidelines highlight the importance of considering social impacts, their ability to impose a change in the development assessment process is limited due to the EPA Act requirements Council is governed by, and the case-by-case nature of every DA. The purpose of the guidelines would be to manage social impacts and ensure the submitted management plans are robust and adhered to.

Have your say

Let us know whether you think these draft guidelines are useful and constructive within their possible scope, and your ideas for where the document could be improved by 29 August 2021.

You can provide your feedback in the following ways:

Need assistance?

We are committed to making sure you can access the information you need in a format that is right for you. If you would like information supplied in another language or format, please contact us on 9083 8000 or email info@waverley.nsw.gov.au.

Other helpful contacts include:

  • 131 450 to speak with the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)
  • 133 677 TTY/voice calls
  • 1300 555 727 Speak & Listen
  • 0423 677 767 SMS relay




What aspect of the SIA guidelines are you providing comment on? Required
Which of the following best describes you (select all that apply)? Required
How did you find out about this consultation? Required
The following are types of social impact outlined in the guidelines (pgs. 2&3). Let us know whether you agree on their inclusion or not. Required
Definitely agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Definitely disagree
Accessibility: how people access and use infrastructure, services and facilities
Accomodation: affordable housing, displacement, housing choice, universal housing (for life)
Community: composition, cohesion, stability, character, how the community functions and their sense of place
Culture: shared belief, customs, values and stories, language and dialect, connections to Country, land, waterways, places and buildings, respect for culture and significant places. Acknowledge Aboriginal land, heritage and culture..
Health and Wellbeing: physical, social, spiritual and mental health especially for people vulnerable to social exclusion
Livelihood: community capacity to sustain themselves through business/employment; distributive equity of impacts and benefits
Safety and security: graffiti, property damage, offensive language and behavriou, safety of women, young people and homeless
Surroundings: shade, pollution control, access to and use of built and natural environment, asthetic value and amenity
Way of life: how people live, get around, work, play and interact

The survey form is now closed. Thanks for your contributions.