Revised plan aims to strengthen community voice in planning matters
AlburyCity has placed its draft revised Community Participation Plan (CPP) on public exhibition, following Council’s endorsement of the updated document at Monday night’s meeting.
The draft revised CPP sets out how the community will be informed about, and invited to participate in, planning matters – including development assessments and strategic plan making. It outlines notification methods, exhibition timeframes, how submissions will be received and considered, and the circumstances under which exemptions may apply.
The update follows a comprehensive review, including input from the community, internal workshops, and best practice research conducted by external planning consultants. The revised plan responds to calls for earlier engagement, clearer language, and more accessible information about how to contribute to planning decisions and how community feedback is used.
Key improvements in the revised CPP include:
- A longer minimum notification period of 14 days for development applications.
- Clearer explanations and simplified language around exemptions and planning processes.
- New options for the public to view plans in person at Council offices.
- Stronger visual design, including graphics and wayfinding features to improve usability.
- A more explicit link between the CPP and AlburyCity’s broader Engaging Albury strategy, while retaining the CPP as a standalone document.
Albury Mayor Kevin Mack said the revised CPP would support more informed and meaningful community participation.
“We’ve heard the need for earlier engagement, more accessible information and greater clarity about how community input is considered. This revised plan is designed to address those needs and continue building trust in the planning process,” Mayor Mack said.
The draft revised CPP will be publicly exhibited for 28 days until 18 August 2025 and be available on the Engaging Albury website, with copies also provided at Council’s Kiewa Street office, the Albury LibraryMuseum and Lavington Library.
All submissions received during the exhibition period will be reviewed and considered before the final plan is presented to Council for adoption.
To view the draft and make a submission, visit: Review of Community Participation Plan | Engaging Albury