As part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSW Government put a number of temporary measures in place to support the State’s economy and jobs.
Earlier this year, the NSW Government agreed to extend temporary COVID-19 regulatory reforms for 12 months, evaluate the reforms and keep those shown to have a net public benefit.
On 9 December 2021, the NSW Government announced the following measures will be made permanent:
- Extended opening hours for businesses including supermarkets. Most businesses in business areas will be able to open from 6am to 10pm with those in industrial zones able to be open for 24 hours
- Businesses will continue to operate 24 hours a day for things like deliveries and non-trading activities in industrial and business zones
- Dark kitchens and food trucks. Allowing dark kitchens to operate in existing commercial kitchens and food trucks to operate at any time (with some restricted times in residential areas)
- Physical copies of planning documents will no longer be required. Councils will have the option to make digital copies available.
- Online public meetings and public planning panels will be made permanent to make it easier for the community to access. Planning panels and the Independent Planning Commission will be given the flexibility to hold hearings or meetings online, in person or as a hybrid of both.
- Digital interviews and questioning – enforcement authorities will be able to continue to conduct interviews remotely via audio link or audio-visual link under various natural resources legislation.
Existing arrangements will remain in effect until 31 March2022.
For further information on COVID-19 response and recovery visit website. https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Policy-and-Legislation/COVID19-response
