SOCIAL Impact Assessment policies are designed to ensure the consequences of development are considered before projects proceed, helping communities achieve more equitable and sustainable outcomes.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is currently consulting residents on its draft Social Impact Assessment Policy, which aims to identify potential impacts earlier in the planning process and improve development outcomes.
However, for long-term North Haven resident and accessibility advocate Noel Hiffernan OAM, the important question is whether the policy will translate into meaningful change.
While welcoming community consultation, Mr Hiffernan was critical of past outcomes.
“Our Council is good at documents that say the right thing, but this does not always translate into good outcomes for people,” he told News Of The Area.
“Dunbogan Bridge not being part of the Beach to Beach Shared Pathway is a prime example of this.”
Development and new infrastructure can have far-reaching consequences, influencing accessibility, demand for local services, community identity and the way people experience their neighbourhoods.
The region has experienced significant growth, with Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing an increase of approximately 14,000 residents since 2016, representing a 17.7 per cent increase.
Tourism also brings substantial activity, with 1.7 million visitors recorded in 2024, contributing an estimated $277 million in value added to the regional economy.
These growing numbers contribute additional pressure, particularly in light of the area’s ageing population.
Dawn Tindall, founder of sustainable community initiative Circular Hastings, believes the draft policy presents an important opportunity.
“I’ve lived in Port Macquarie for four years and love so much about our community,” she said.
“I love that we can park close to the beach for free and can usually find a free parking space near a shopping centre. “But I have concerns as well. The lack of accessibility for my vision-impaired friends and those in wheelchairs bothers me, as does the traffic at the roundabouts on Oxley Drive.”
She says the chance to provide feedback on the Social Impact Assessment Policy is an important opportunity.
“I want to know how large projects will impact our community before they are approved, including aspects such as community cohesion, accessibility, culture, health and wellbeing, our ecosystem, livelihoods, and the decision-making systems.”
Community submissions on the draft policy close on 23 November. To view the policy and have your say, visit haveyoursay.pmhc.nsw.gov.au/draft-social-impact-assessment-policy-2026.
By Rachael THORPE
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