Availabilities:

2024 unit offering information will be available in November 2023

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?' Role and Responsibilities of Local Councils. Planning Instruments.

Module 2: Honesty, Procedural Fairness, and Disclosure of Councillors' Interests

Module 3: Funding of Local Councils: Levying Rates: Local Councils' Regulatory and Service Functions: Management of Community Lands

Module 4: The Development Approval Process: Modification of Consents and Planning Instruments; Continuing and Existing Use Rights

Module 5: Local Councils' Enforcement Role

Module 6: Appeals and Judicial Review: The NSW Land & Environment Court

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:
1demonstrate an understanding of the constitution and structure of local government, and the way in which environmental planning instruments are made
2apply environmental planning instruments to an existing or proposed development and explain the process for obtaining local government approval for an activity
3critically evaluate the existing system of planning and emerging challenges
4analyse and apply in any given factual situation the law with respect to the processes of local government decision-making.

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

  1. demonstrate an understanding of the constitution and structure of local government, and the way in which environmental planning instruments are made
  2. apply environmental planning instruments to an existing or proposed development and explain the process for obtaining local government approval for an activity
  3. critically evaluate the existing system of planning and emerging challenges
  4. analyse and apply in any given factual situation the law with respect to the processes of local government decision-making.

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every teaching period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the teaching period.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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