Unit of Study LAWS2014 Local Government and Planning Law (2025)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit
Credit points

12
Faculty & College

Faculty of Business, Law and Arts
Placement

No

Pre-requisites

LEGL1001 - Legal Research and Writing AND LEGL1005 - Legal Process OR LEGL1004 - Australian Legal System

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: Federal, state, local governments' roles; the NSW legal regime; planning instruments and land zoning

Module 2: Structure of councils; honesty, procedural fairness, disclosure of interests; rates and other funding

Module 3: Councils' service functions; management of lands; "public" vs "private" in rates exemptions

Module 4: The Development Approval process; appeals and judicial review; the NSW Land & Environment Court

Module 5: Modification of consents and planning instruments; continuing and existing use rights

Module 6: Councils' regulatory functions and enforcement roles

Availabilities

Location	Domestic	International
Online	Term1,5	Term1,5

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:

demonstrate an understanding of the constitution and structure of local government, and the way in which environmental planning instruments are made

apply environmental planning instruments to an existing or proposed development and explain the process for obtaining local government approval for an activity

critically evaluate the existing system of planning and emerging challenges

analyse and apply in any given factual situation the law with respect to the processes of local government decision-making.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method

Workshop 1 hour (Weekly)

Tutorial 2 hours (Weekly)

Assessment
Fact Scenario Analysis	60%
Fact Scenario Analysis	40%

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts

Prescribed text information is not currently available.

Prescribed Resources/Equipment

Prescribed resources/equipment information is not currently available.

Prescribed Texts

Prescribed text information is not currently available.

Prescribed Resources/Equipment

Prescribed resources/equipment information is not currently available.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
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