Changes to Business and Industrial Zones  

The Department of Planning and Environment is currently exhibiting the translation of existing Business and Industrial zones into the new Employment zones. 

The exhibition is being held on the department’s Planning Portal for 6 weeks from 31 May 2022 to 8 July 2022 [dates subject to change]. 

This is the implementation stage of a reform that replaces Business and Industrial zones with Employment zones within individual local environmental plans across NSW. Implementation follows the introduction the Employment zones within the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006 in December 2021.  

The department has worked closely with each council to ensure LEPs are amended, consistent with the intent of the reform, while also ensuring the land-use planning outcomes are locally appropriate. After the exhibition the department will be working with councils to finalise implementation ahead of the new zones coming into force on 1 December 2022.  

To view the detail of the exhibition and make a submission please visit the department’s Planning Portal and Employment Zones Reform webpage for general information on the reform process.

If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Planning and Environment on 1300 420 596 or by email at employment.zones@planning.nsw.gov.au