Directions Paper - Western Australian Planning Commission

Directions Paper on the Integration of NRM and Land Use PlanningOnce land has been zoned, provisionsspecifically related to the use and developmentof the zone can assist in managing the potentialimpact of land use on natural resources.This can include requirements relating to theprovision of building envelopes, setbacks towetlands and watercourses, requirementsregarding fire management, stocking rates andrequirements for water sensitive urban design.Some local governments have used zoning asan opportunity for achieving NRM outcomes,such as the protection of vegetation, whilst stillallowing for some form of development (ie. theprovision of lifestyle lots). When using zoningin this way it is important to ensure that theproposed provisions relating to the zone willresult in the outcomes desired. For example, inthe past rural residential development (1-4halots) has been seen as a mechanism to ensureprotection of remnant vegetation (by allowingresidential living in a bush environment withstronger controls on clearing) or as a meansof ensuring improved land managementpractices (encouraging subdivision on landsubject to land degradation and requiringstricter stock management control). Ruralresidential developments can however result infragmentation of bushland through clearing ofbuilding envelopes, bushfire control (provision offirebreaks, and reduction of flammable material),fencing and inappropriate stock management.The lot sizes created as a result of conventionalrural residential developments are insufficient toachieve good conservation outcomes.The introduction of ‘conservation’ themedzones as an alternative means of encouragingprivate land conservation, has recently occurredacross a number of local governments. DC3.4 currently allows for the excision of a singleconservation lot from a rural lot, in order topreserve significant environmental features andremnant vegetation subject to the satisfactionof a number of criteria. The creation of multipleconservation lots however requires a zoningchange.The intent of introducing a ‘conservation’ themedzone relates to the provision of subdivisionincentives to landowners with lots containingsignificant natural features, in return for a greaterlevel of protection and management of thenatural feature. The Shire of Northampton isone such Council considering the introductionof a ‘conservation’ themed zone into their localplanning scheme to achieve conservationoutcomes. In determining whether such a zoneis appropriate it is important to ensure that theprovisions relating to the zone will achieve theoutcomes sought.Shire of Northampton Draft LocalPlanning Strategy– Rural Conservation ZoneThe Shire ofNorthampton, whenpreparing their localplanning strategy,identified a needto provide privateconservation incentivesto protect large tracks of remnant vegetationon private land.The strategy proposed the creation of a ruralconservation zone to;• Promote a positive conservationoutcome whilst minimising the impact ongovernment and community services;• Seek the protection and long termmanagement of native vegetation outsidethe existing conservation reserves; and• Minimise further fragmentation of thenative vegetation and where possiblepromote ecological linkages whereclearing has resulted in the currentfragmentation of the remaining nativevegetation in the Shire.In establishing the circumstances where arural conservation zone may be considered,wider sustainability issues of increasing thepopulation in rural areas and the potentialdemand this may have on government andcommunity services were required to be takeninto consideration.48