---
title: "Statement of environmental effects for a development application (NSW)"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/planning-and-environment/statement-of-environmental-effects"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a12-statement-of-environmental-effects"
area_id: "A12"
kind: "other"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-17"
---

# Statement of environmental effects for a development application (NSW)

> Structured statement of environmental effects for a local development application in NSW, organised around the s 4.15 matters for consideration, with a controls compliance table and a clause 4.6 trigger check.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/planning-and-environment/statement-of-environmental-effects  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-17

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

- Kind: Other. A precedent that fits none of the other kinds.
- Practice area: [Planning & Environment](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/planning-and-environment.md)
- Jurisdictions: New South Wales
- AI level: Yellow. AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-17
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-17 against the 5 authorities it cites, for New South Wales.

## When to use it

Use for local development applications that are not designated or State significant development (which need an environmental impact statement). Check the council's DCP and the current NSW application requirements, which are being standardised.

## How AI may be used

AI may extract controls from the LEP and DCP and draft sections, but every control, numerical standard and site fact must be verified against the current instrument and the plans before lodgement.

**AI may:**

- Extract zone, permissibility, development standards and DCP controls from the instruments supplied, with clause references.
- Build the compliance table by comparing the plans' figures with each control, flagging non-compliances.
- Draft impact sections from consultant reports for the planner or lawyer to edit.

**AI must not:**

- Must not state that a use is permissible or a standard is met without checking the current instrument on the NSW legislation website.
- Must not invent site features, measurements or consultant findings.
- Must not prepare the clause 4.6 written request as final without planner or lawyer review.

**The lawyer checks:**

- The instrument versions used are current at lodgement, including any recent SEPP changes.
- Every numerical figure in the compliance table matches the architectural plans.
- Any contravention of a development standard has a separate written request under cl 4.6 and EP&A Regulation s 35B.
- The statement does not overstate consultant findings.

## Authorities

- [Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) s 4.12 (development applications)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1979-203#sec.4.12)
- [Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) s 4.15 (matters for consideration, including targeted assessment development)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1979-203#sec.4.15)
- [Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (NSW) s 24 (approved form; NSW planning portal) and s 35B (contravention of development standards)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2021-0759#sec.24)
- [NSW Department of Planning, Application requirements (approved by the Planning Secretary's delegate on 28 February 2022) s 1.2 (statement of environmental effects)](https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/application-requirements.pdf)
- [Standard Instrument—Principal Local Environmental Plan cl 4.6 (exceptions to development standards)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/epi-2006-155a)

## Official form

[Official form](https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/application-requirements.pdf)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/planning-and-environment/statement-of-environmental-effects and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*