MidCoast Council

05/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/30/2024 19:52

Have your say on important planning rules

Have your say on important planning rules

Published on 01 May 2024

MidCoast Council is seeking community feedback on a new draft Local Environmental Plan (LEP). A Local Environmental Plan provides the framework and planning controls that guide development in the region.

Currently the MidCoast has three Local Environmental Plans (from the former Council areas) that have different approaches resulting in an inconsistent planning framework across the local government area.

Having one MidCoast LEP will provide a consistent direction on how development in the MidCoast will occur, Council's Director of Liveable Communities, Paul De Szell explained.

"A single LEP will provide more certainty for the community and the development industry and is intended to achieve better planning outcomes."

Mr De Szell said Council had worked with the community, development industry and NSW Government over the past four years to identify existing challenges and means to address them.

"During this time, we have developed a Housing Strategy, a Rural Strategy and undertaken a number of zoning reviews to guide our future direction and have checked in with the community through extensive consultation.

"We have also drawn controls from recently approved Local Environmental Plans across NSW to provide the most up-to-date provisions and have included recent NSW Government reforms.

"All of this has provided the foundation for the draft MidCoast LEP. "

The new draft MidCoast LEP is something that everyone should take some time to check out, as it impacts all land in the local government area.

"All land in the MidCoast has a land use zone, ranging from residential to rural, employment, conservation, recreation and waterways. These zones apply to where we live, work, shop and play.

"Zones dictate what can (and can't) be done in your neighbourhood - from the way the land can be used and the size of lots, to the types of buildings and heights."

Mr De Szell said almost all of our zones are changing in some way, so it is important the community understands the controls in place in their zone and the impact the proposed changes will have.

"In some areas this impact will be very minimal, and may only be a zone name change, with some residential areas changing from a 'general residential' zone to a low or medium density residential zone. This is happening because not all of the current plans used the full suite of zones available and the new draft MidCoast LEP does."

Rural zones are also changing to meet NSW Government requirements and Council is keen for feedback from landholders on these new rural zones.

Residents can find out more by going to Council's website www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/lep

and using the mapping tool available to zoom in on your land or by attending a drop-in session to talk to Council's planners about the impact on your property. These are happening across the region at:

  • Taree: Taree Central Shopping Centre - 23 May 9am-7.30pm, 24-25 May, 9am-4pm
  • Gloucester: outside Art Gallery - 20 May 9am-noon
  • Forster: Stocklands - 30 May 9am-7.30pm, 31 May -1 June 9am-4pm
  • Harrington: Harrington Waters Shopping Centre - 3 June 9am-noon
  • Hallidays Point: Hallidays Point Library - 5 June 2pm-5pm
  • Old Bar: Lauders Real Estate carpark - 7 June 2pm-5pm
  • Bulahdelah: outside IGA - 11 June 10am-noon
  • Hawks Nest/Tea Gardens: Hawks Nest Community Centre - 12 June 3pm-6pm
  • Pacific Palms: community centre, 14 June 3pm-6pm
  • Taree: Envirofair - 15 June 9am-4pm
  • Wingham: outside Wingham Library - 17 June 9am-noon
  • Stroud: outside museum - 19 June 9am-1noon
  • Nabiac: markets - 29 June 8am-noon

Phone appointments with planners are also available by calling 7955 7777 or by registering for a callback at www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/lep