Assistant Planner / Planner - Byron Bay

Bring your planning expertise to Byron Shire Council

We are seeking motivated planning professionals to join our Sustainable Development team in either a Planner or Assistant Planner role. These positions play a key part in delivering high quality planning services to our community, including pre-lodgement enquiries and acceptance of development applications for detailed planning assessment and reporting under relevant planning policy and legislation.  You will also assist other teams within Council with development related matters as required.

• The Planner role is Fulltime – Grade 9 (Planner)
• Assistant Planner/ Planner is a Fixed term Position to Aug 2026 – Grade 8 or Grade 9 

At Byron Shire Council, we’re proud to partner with our community to protect and enhance what makes this region unique — pristine beaches, a stunning natural environment, a subtropical climate, and a vibrant, diverse lifestyle. This is your chance to live, work and thrive in one of Australia’s most beautiful locations. Our community is a diverse and colourful mix of people and our towns and rural villages have their own distinctive look and feel. Our region has a mix of cultural values, embracing both traditional and alternative lifestyles and philosophies. 

Your responsibilities will include, but not limited to:

• Assess and manage development applications, ranging from simple matters (Assistant Planner) to more complex applications and strategic projects (Planner).
• Provide clear and professional advice to developers, community groups, and internal stakeholders through pre-lodgement enquiries, written correspondence, and customer service channels.
• Support the development assessment process from lodgement through to the issue of consents, ensuring compliance with statutory and legislative requirements.
• Provide face-to-face advice to the public and developers on development control matters, including front counter and pre-lodgement enquiries. (Planner)
• Contribute to the preparation and implementation of planning policies, plans, and environmental assessments.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Council to deliver quality outcomes and excellent service to our community.

• Thorough knowledge of matters affecting the assessment of development proposals and the development and delivery of place plans, including the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 (as amended)
• Experience in environmental assessment of development applications
• Experience dealing with the public, both in person and on the phone, conflict resolution, managing challenging situations and issues
• Experience in the application of Environmental and Local Government legislation.

Assistant Planner

• Possess knowledge of matters affecting the assessment of development applications
• Understanding of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 and the Local government Act 1993 as they relate to development applications
• Understanding and Experience in Land and Property matters as they relate to development including legal property descriptions, easements and restrictions on title, zoning, physical constraints to development and general site suitability issues.   

To be successful in this role you will have: 

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Town Planning or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated experience (Planner)
• Currently studying or recently graduated (Certificate/ Diploma Level) in Town Planning or a related discipline (Assistant Planner)
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Town Planning or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated experience
• Knowledge and experience of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, Local Government Act, and related legislation in assessing development applications, with the Planner role also undertaking strategic plan-making and complex assessments.
• Ability to interpret and apply planning legislation to prepare development assessment reports, specialist technical reports, plans, and policies
• Strong organisation skills with the ability to plan, prioritise, and manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and commitment to providing high-quality face-to-face and written customer service, working collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience in community consultation and engagement, and a commitment to Work Health Safety, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Cultural Diversity principles
• Computer literate, including MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, PowerPoint) and GIS (preferably ArcGIS/ArcGIS Pro)
• Current Drivers Licence.

 It would be highly regarded in addition to the above if you have:

• Experience working in the development industry (eg Private Sector - Consulting, Property, Real Estate or State or Local Government)
• Commitment to and understanding of process improvement and sustainability principles
• Experience in representing as an expert witness in litigation
• Experience with project management.

We offer: 

Full-time positions working 5 days a week - 35 hours per week

• The Planner role is Full time – Grade 9 (Planner)
• Assistant Planner/ Planner is a Fixed term Position until Aug 2026 – Grade 8 or Grade 9 

Opportunity to be part of a fast paced, collaborative, supportive, high performing, outcomes and community focused Sustainable Development team with opportunity for continued growth and progression. 

Salary and Conditions will be in accordance with the NSW Local Government (State) Award with an appointment at a salary in the range of Grade 8: $1,349.61 to $1,563.73, Grade 9: $1,615.14 to $1,871.39 per week full time equivalent (dependent upon skills and experience). 

Partner with an organisation that is taking steps in all areas to reduce our carbon emissions and be an innovative and sustainable council.

Other benefits include:

• Annual salary reviews 
• 12% Superannuation 
• Education and training support
• Flexible work hours
• Attractive salary packaging scheme.
• Employee Assistance Program (4 sessions per year)
• Fitness Passport
• Health and Wellbeing days 

Location:

You will work in Mullumbimby, however Council can require you to work from other work sites as required for operational reasons.

Contact:  Patricia Docherty, Team Leader - CommercialPlanning Team, 02 6626 7035 

Closing date: 10pm (NSW time), Sunday 12th October.  Late applications will not be permitted.

Position Description:  Download - Assistant Planner PD - Here

Position Description:  Download - Planner PD - Here

We believe in diversity, inclusion and equality and are committed to ensuring that our workplaces are a reflection of our community. We recognise the benefits that diversity and inclusion brings, and in turn encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply for our vacancies.

We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to explore new ways of working – including part-time, job-share or working from different locations. Everyone can ask about it.

We strongly encourage applications from people with disability and will provide reasonable adjustments in our recruitment process and in the workplace. If you need an adjustment during the recruitment process, please call or email the contact person listed above, and also advise us of your preferred method of communication. 

Pre-Employment Screening Process:

Reference Checks: Referees will preferably be your current or most recent supervisor and must be able to comment directly on your abilities in a work situation. If you have any objection to this action, your concerns should be raised in your application and be discussed with the Selection Panel.

Functional Health Assessment: If applicable, the functional health assessment evaluates your physical and functional capacity against the physical demands necessary to safely perform the job for which you have applied. Applicable roles are subject to drug and alcohol testing, please note these tests will potentially require the provision of a urine sample, and a positive test will preclude a candidate from employment with Council at that time.  

Background Screening: Background checks verify the information you have provided in your application, and where applicable, also check for relevant criminal history. Checks may also include, for example, a confirmation of your employment history, qualifications/tickets and working with children clearance.

HOW TO APPLY:

Scout Talent has released an improvement to the candidate application experience through the 'Save Application' Feature. As a candidate you can start an application and progressively update the application until they are ready to submit.

You can start an application on the go, from anywhere and return to finish your application via the automatic follow-up email when you have time and the required information at hand. 

You must use your own email address and not one used previously by another person that has applied for a position with Council.

Being mindful of diversity and inclusion we have provided 2 options to apply for the position.

Option 1 - Written Application

You may wish to prepare your responses in a Word document, and then COPY and PASTE into the fields below.  

Step 1: Fill out our online application form below. Once you have completed all the questions, click 'Next'

Step 2: Attach your resume/CV and a cover letter (optional). Once you have attached your document/s click 'Next'.

Step 3: Please review your application and confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to send your completed application.

 You will receive an email to confirm your application has been received. 

Option 2 - Audio File Application

Step 1: Scroll down and review the Questions that you are required to answer. 

Step 2: Record an audio file of your responses and save the file (the file must be in an MP3 format and less than 50MB). Please note that all questions with a drop box or a check box as well as the reference checks details can not be answered via audio file and must be completed below.

Step 3: Fill out the Personal Details section and the questions that can not be completed by audio file on the application form below. For all of the Questions where you are responding via audio file, type the response “audio file”.  Once you have completed all the questions, click 'Next'

Step 4: Attach your resume/CV, a cover letter (optional) and your audio file.  Once you have attached your documents click 'Next'.

Step 5: Please review your application and confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to send your completed application.

You will receive an email to confirm your application has been received.