The Kingscliff community has been active in taking the opportunities offered to them over the years to have input into how their community will be shaped into the future. However, differences between various planning instruments such as the DCP (development control plan) and the LEP (local environment plan) have often left locals frustrated that development applications (DA) went through that didn’t appear to match the community’s preferred outcomes because the planning instruments weren’t consistent.
Kingscliff Ratepayers and Progress Association Inc (KRPA) told The Echo that they ‘welcomed’ the request to prepare a Planning Proposal for the Kingscliff Locality Plan (KLP) and Tweed DCP that was approved by all councilllors at the last Tweed Shire Council meeting.
‘This has been a process of a very long time in the planning and process of council. As many of you will know the Kingscliff community has long called for us to marry up the ideals put forward in the DCP and the locality plan of what the community want to see in their community going forward and get them to be consistent with the LEP (local environment plan) in this zone,’ said Mayor Chris Cherry (Independent) at the meeting.
‘We do have this problem with the expectations in the community and them wanting us to uphold the DCP limits and requirements and to this date, they are not consistent with the LEP. So I think this is a really positive step forward to marry those two controls so that the expectations of the community and the understanding of proponents can be one. I think it will help us a lot in going forward. So I support it.’
Clear expectations
‘KRPA welcomes this opportunity to align the Kingscliff Locality Plan and associated aspects of the Shire’s Development Control Plan with our key planning framework, the Tweed LEP,’ said Peter Newton, president of KRPA.
‘The existing inconsistency between these documents, particularly in relation to building height limits, has caused some confusion within the community over recent years. This alignment will hopefully provide clarity and clear direction for community members, developers and relevant Council staff.
‘This should provide the community with greater confidence that planning decisions for the Kingscliff locality are made consistently, are subject to less interpretation and reflect the community’s vision regarding the fabric, amenity and liveability of our neighbourhoods.
‘As this proposal proceeds, we look forward to an inclusive and thorough community consultation process and were heartened by the Mayor’s confirmation that this would occur. Community expectations are for no less than the comprehensive consultative process that led to the development of the current KLP.’
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