The next step in Byron Shire Council’s attempts to get up a new Local Environment Plan (LEP) is underway after the council announced the new draft will go on public exhibition later this month.
When completed, the LEP will completely replace the existing, much-amended plan dating back to 1988.
There have been a number of contentious issues surrounding the draft LEP, which the state government now requires must comply with a series of templated zones that are to be standardised across the state.
This has led to concerns from residents, particularly farmers, about the rezoning of land and the potential impact on the ways they are permitted to use it. Council have attempted to quell these fears and executive manager of planning, Ray Darney, says there will be an extensive consultation schedule during the draft period.
Mr Downey said the draft plan would be on exhibition for 60 days from Monday September 24.
‘The draft LEP has been prepared under the state template, which aims to introduce a standardised land-use format throughout NSW.
‘This means that the title of the land-use zones will change. For instance, the existing 2(a) Residential zone will in future be generally classified as R2 Low-Density Residential or R3 Medium-Density Residential,’ he said.
Mr Darney said staff are currently preparing a consultation schedule that will provide multiple opportunities for landowners and residents to meet with staff to discuss any concerns they may have about the new draft LEP.
‘A range of maps detailing land-use zones, along with a series of fact sheets outlining what is allowed in each land zone, will be available for the community.
‘The aim of the new draft LEP has been to translate as many land zones as possible to the new template. A primary objective has been to recognise and retain current land-use applications within the new draft LEP.’
Mr Darney stated that local clause 6.15 Coastal Risk Planning has been deleted and land proposed to be zoned E2 within the corresponding coastal areas was deferred as per the recommendation from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure. ‘As a result, the current LEP 1988 will continue to apply to those coastal areas,’ he said.
Byron Shire Council will also be holding a rural landowners’ workshop in early October.
Mr Darney said there had been some concern raised in the media over land uses of rural properties that have a wildlife corridor on their properties.
‘Wildlife corridors are not a zone and are not new. Permitted land uses will be determined by the zoning of the property and is based on existing properties’ uses, regardless of whether any part of the land is located within a wildlife corridor.’
Consultation venues, dates and times will be advised closer to the public exhibition date of 24 September 2012.
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