Ordinary Council Meeting - Hastings Council - NSW Government

PORT MACQUARIE-HASTINGS COUNCIL
attached.
Alignment With Strategic Direction
The site is identified as suitable for future urban purposes in the Mid North Coast Regional
Strategy, the Hastings Urban Growth Strategy and the Urban Growth Management Strategy.
The proposed rezoning is also based on Council's adopted Master Plan for Area 14.
A draft Development Control Plan is currently being prepared for the Area 14 Urban Release
Area in accordance with the requirements of draft Port Macquarie-Hastings Local
Environmental Plan 2011. This draft DCP is proposed to be exhibited separately in
approximately 2-3 months time to provide more detailed policy in relation to Area 14 and will
inform decision making in relation to future development applications.
Consultation
Consultation was undertaken in accordance with the Gateway Determination dated 20/10/2010.
Three (3) public submissions and (1) government agency submission were received during the
consultation period.
Submissions were received from the Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills Progress Associations, which
raised concerns about the cost and provision of infrastructure, the urban form, road upgrades
and traffic, the littoral rainforest, beach safety and acid sulphate soils. The other public
submission was concerned about the impact of stormwater on Duchess Creek. Council has
provided a detailed response to these issues in the attached summary.
Council has also met with the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water
(DECCW) in relation to its submission. The key issue in the DECCW submission is the buffer
to the State Environmental Planning Policy 26 designated littoral rainforest that forms the
eastern edge of the site. The default development exclusion buffer set by that policy is 100m.
A rigorous groundwater and ecological assessment was undertaken to determine the
appropriate buffer to secure the ongoing preservation of that forest. The assessment also
considered the potential impact of climate change and specifically the expected reduction in
rainfall. It was determined that a 40-60metre vegetated buffer with specific stormwater
management systems would provide the best mechanism to ensure its ongoing preservation.
The development will also formalise the access track to Rainbow Beach and provide for the
rehabilitation of a washout area along that track. The littoral rainforest will be fenced to
discourage human intrusion.
Overall it is considered that the development will result in a superior ecological outcome for the
littoral rainforest in this location, while providing additional land for urban purposes generally in
accordance with the adopted Area 14 Master Plan.
Planning and Policy Impact
The rezoning of Area 14-1B would enable the lodgement of project (or development
applications) for residential subdivision, tourist and commercial use.
Financial & Economic Implications
The proponent has offered to enter into a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) to:
• Establish the environmental works and the formalised pedestrian beach access, in
accordance with the Stage 1 Project Application.
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