Major review of Council’s planning documents

Wyong Shire Council is preparing a draft Local Environmental Plan (LEP) to guide development.

See background

Changes to planning reforms by the NSW Government have required every council to formulate a new LEP.

Council is also preparing a Settlement Strategy to support the draft LEP to set up the framework for all land use and development activities in the Shire.

“LEP’s are an integral part of the NSW Planning system,” Council’s Strategic Planner Peta Brogan said.

“They are created by Council’s to help control the form and location of new development, along with protecting open space and environmentally sensitive areas.”

Council is currently operating under an LEP developed in 1991, although that LEP has been subject to 175 amendments in the past 18 years.

“Since the establishment of the Wyong LEP 1991, the Shire has and is now facing a range of different issues and challenges,” Ms Brogan said.

“Developing a new LEP provides a great opportunity to undertake a major review of all Council’s current planning instruments and policies.

“The project will enable Council to establish planning directions for the Shire for the next 25 years and beyond.”

Council, at its meeting last Wednesday, also adopted a Rezoning Requests Strategy allowing Council to consider rezoning proposals which, up to now, have been discouraged by both Council and the State Government.

“The Rezoning Requests Strategy enables Council to prioritise significant employment generating proposals now rather than being incorporated within the Settlement Strategy,” Ms Brogan said.

The Strategy establishes Council’s procedure for the receipt and processing of rezoning requests, including the fee structure, to enable their consideration under the Settlement Strategy.

Proposals may be implemented through the first, or subsequent amendments to Wyong LEP 2011.

Rezoning request can be lodged between April 1 and no later than May 29, 2009 and must satisfy a criteria which can be found on Council’s website www.wyong.nsw.gov.au

“The Settlement Strategy will be aligned with the Central Coast Regional Strategy (CCRS) to ensure planning objectives remain consistent across the three tiers of government,” Ms Brogan said.

“The Strategy will also be consistent with various plans and studies that are currently being prepared by a number of State Government agencies.

“It will consider issues relating to housing, employment and the economy, the environment, infrastructure, transport, natural resources and sustainability.

“The development of a draft LEP and Settlement Strategy is not something Council has done in isolation, and there will be opportunities throughout the process for the community to have input.

“Ultimately, the Department of Planning will oversee the Process and the Planning Minister will have the final say.”

Dependent on the Department of Planning, Council hopes to be able to adopt the new LEP after March 2011 following a period of public exhibition in late 2010.

It is expected the Settlement Strategy will be ready to be adopted by Council in June 2010, after a public exhibition period earlier that year.

Media contact: Cameron Bell (02) 4350 1667

Page last updated: 03/04/09