Circulars

What’s new or changing

• The NSW Parliament has passed the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018, which contains a number of amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act).
• These amendments relate to the publication of notices, and enhance efficiency and flexibility for councils by:
  o removing the requirement for certain notices to be published in newspapers
  o allowing councils to determine the method of publication they will use to best bring a notice to the public’s attention.

What this will mean for your council

• The changes will affect the following matters within the Act:
  o leases, licences and other estates in respect of community land (for terms of more than 5 years), section 47
  o advertising of senior staff positions, section 348
  o the alternative use of money raised by special rates or charges, section 410
  o public consultation on proposals to establish alcohol free zones, section 644A
  o the establishment, suspension or cancellation of alcohol free zones, section 644B and 645
  o the publication of notices in the Gazette and elsewhere, section 707
  o the service of notices on persons, section 710
  o a notice of proposal to sell land, section 715.

Key points

• The changes take effect from 1 August 2018.
• Any requirement in the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 to publish a notice in a newspaper continues to apply.
• Councils will be advised of any changes to the Regulation when they occur.

Where to go for further information

• The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018 can be viewed on the NSW Legislation website: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au.

Tim Hurst
Acting Chief Executive