A new local environment plan (LEP) is to be considered by Lismore Council on Thursday.
The plan appears to have significant impact on the existing LEP’s environmental protections.
Among other planned changes, if approved the LEP would:
• reduce the extent of the E2 Environmental Conservation and E3 Environmental Management zones by excluding areas that do not have native vegetation of significance
• permit extensive agriculture without Council approval in the E3 Environmental Management zone; extensive agriculture is grazing of livestock, bee keeping, pasture-based dairies and the production of crops or fodder (where for commercial purposes)
• delete the Natural Resources Sensitivity – Biodiversity overlay map (Key Habitat, Wildlife Corridor and Native Vegetation) and a related clause (7.9.)
• replace the Flood Planning Map with a revised map which generally reduces the area that had been shown as flood prone
• permit eco-tourist facilities with the consent of Council in the RU1 Primary Production, RU2 Rural Landscape and E3 Environmental Management zones.
Lismore City Council’s Manager of Integrated Planning, Steve Denize, said, ‘prior to any decisions being made by Council at the meeting, and in acknowledgement of the high level of interest in this project, the community is once again being given the opportunity to provide feedback via an extended 90-minute public access period.
‘There will be 30 slots available on the night, with each person being provided with three minutes to present their views on a maximum of two topics. The slots will be issued on a “first come, first served” basis, so people who do want to make a presentation are invited to get in early to secure a space.’
The Extraordinary Council Meeting will be held on Thursday 10 November at 6.00pm in the Council Chambers, 43 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah. Community members wanting to address Council at the meeting are invited to contact Council’s Customer Contact Centre on 1300 87 83 87.
