Council CONNECT May 2018 11 Environment & Planning Changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act - Confusion with a “simplified” certification process STEVEN GRIFFITHS / DENNIS LOETHER The most significant changes in recent memory to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (Act) came into force on 1 March 2018. By now, most are getting to grips with, if not entirely enjoying, the new structure and section references of the amended Act. One part of the amended Act causing confusion is Part 6, which consolidates updated provisions on the building and subdivision certification process. It is first worth noting that consolidating certification provisions under one part of the Act is a positive move which improves access to the certification provisions and also makes the certification process easier to understand. The changes The main changes to the certification provisions include: >  Greater clarification of the roles of certifiers (section 6.5) >  A more logical ordering of provisions >  Creation of the following new certificates