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Eurobodalla Shire Council Draft LEP Meeting

Tuross residents were invited to a Special meeting of the
Tuross Head Progress Association on July 2nd, 2009
at the Tuross Progress Hall
to hear from Council Staff on how the proposed LEP affects residents of
Tuross and to gain answers to community Questions.

The Council staff presented an overview of the Draft LEP and then answered the specific Community Questions outlined below. You can see the questions below and will find Councils Answeres in Blue

If you would like to see the presentation notes that Council spoke to on the night they are available at this link

There is also an excellent LEP Fact Sheet at this link

 

1. Why must the LEP be put in place before a local Place Statement is discussed and agreed by residents?

Discussion: Ideally there should be a Place Statement for Tuross Head developed with full community consultation. The Draft LEP could then reflect that plan in areas such as height restrictions, densities and ecological considerations.

Council promised they would carry out consultation with Tuross Head community for the development of a Place Statement before doing the LEP. This certainly seemed the correct order in which to do things but it never happened!

Answer:

LEP before Place Statements
•Local Environmental Plan statutory requirement under the Act-provides zoning and development standards and local provisions
•Development Control Plans provide additional controls for development that cannot be contained in the LEP
•Place statements provide a vision about the character of an area -used to inform assessment of development applications

 

2. Why is it called an Local Environmental Plan?
Why isn't there a definition for the word Environment in the LEP list of definitions?

Answer::

Statutory definitions
•Section 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 defines:
–“local environmental planmeans a plan made by the Minister under section 70 that is in force
–“environmentincludes all aspects of the surroundings of humans, whether affecting any human as an individual or in his or her social groupings.”
•Local environmental plans are prepared by councils in accordance with Act and Government Policy to guide planning decisions for local government areas. Through zoning and development controls, they allow councils to supervise the ways in which land is used.

3. What are the expected financial benefits of the LEP under the State Template and who benefits most from this Plan? The State or ratepayers?

Answer:

•Financial benefits will exist throughout the Shire and beyond via:
–Industrial development (additional land at Moruya and Dalmeny)
–Residential subdivision and development
–Commercial development
–Tourism development
–Job creation and growth
•This is facilitated through managed land release, increase building density in strategic areas, and the sustainable management of the environment

4. What are the repercussions to Eurobodalla Shire Council if it decides not to endorse the Draft LEP?

Answer:

•The Minister for Planning can:
–direct Council to complete its LEP within a specified timeframe and process which may use JRPP instead of Council (not Council decision)
–or complete the LEP for Council through the DoP and JRPP (not Council decision)

5. Exactly who decided that the proposed subdivision at the bottom of Anderson Avenue should now have a minimum area of 1500m2 especially in light of their being an active Development Application on this land?

Draft LEP Section 1.8a.1 of the Draft LEP states:

If a development application has been made before the commencement of this Plan in relation to land to which this Plan applies and the application has not been finally determined before that commencement, the application must be determined as if this Plan had been exhibited but had not commenced.

This also seems to go contrary to the Draft LEP Clause (in red authored by ESC) :

Part 4.1 Minimum subdivision lot size [optional]
(1) The objectives of this clause are as follows:
(a) to ensure that subdivision reflects and reinforces the predominant
subdivision pattern of the area,
(b) to ensure lot sizes and dimensions are able to accommodate
development consistent with relevant development controls,
(c) to ensure that subdivision promotes effective land management
practices and infrastructure provision .

Answer:

Mapping anomaly i.e. lot size information not transferred correctly into the map
•The minimum lot size for this land should be 600m2, not 1500m2.
•To be corrected as part of the recommendations in the report on the final LEP to Council post exhibition.

6. Exactly who decided that the height of 11.5m be applied to the R3 Zone adjacent to Tuross Blvde and Evans Road ?

In the Draft LEP 4.3 Height of buildings is listed as [optional]
Clause 4.3. 1 (in Red) is authored by Eurobodalla Shire Council The objectives of this clause are as follows:

(a) to ensure that buildings are compatible with the height, bulk and scale
of the existing and desired future character of the locality.
(b) to minimise visual impact, disruption of views, loss of privacy and loss
of solar access to existing development,


Under the draft LEP the Proposed R3 Medium Density Residential Zone is identified as being in the area along Tuross Blvde between Hawkins and Island View and along Evans Road on its eastern side to he shops and can be seen in this map

THPA requests that this be reduced to I: 8.5m. The Community successfully applied for similar reduction in height for the Urban LEP 1999 and the same reasons apply, i.e. with the “amphitheatre effect of the rising of land from the shopping centre area up to Hector McWilliam Drive, building along the ocean frontage area at that increased height would look totally out of place and hinder views. The Tuross community generally speaking seem quite happy to have a low-key built environment and allow the magnificent surrounding scenery of ocean, lakes & mountains to dominate.

Answer:

Heights established in response to directions in the ESS -Tuross identified as a large neighbourhood village (B2 and R3 zonings)
•ESS (ED4) apply maximum floor areas and heights to retail and commercial development in the new LEP
•ESS (ED6) increase housing density in areas immediately adjacent to commercial centres to address choice, affordability and aged care needs
•Council staff will review all submissions received about provisions in the LEP and make a recommendation for Council consideration at workshop and preparation of the revised draft LEP

7. Based on strong objection in 1996 will ESC accept the Tuross Community's desire to see this R3 area continues to be restricted to a building height of 8.5m?

Answer:

Heights established in response to directions in the ESS -Tuross identified as a large neighbourhood village (B2 and R3 zonings)
•ESS (ED4) apply maximum floor areas and heights to retail and commercial development in the new LEP
•ESS (ED6) increase housing density in areas immediately adjacent to commercial centres to address choice, affordability and aged care needs
•Council staff will review all submissions received about provisions in the LEP and make a recommendation for Council consideration at workshop and preparation of the revised draft LEP

 

8. The Kyla Recreational area is zoned RE1. Under that zoning will the Tuross Community be allowed to establish not-for-profit community gardens (organised by by a sub-committee of the Tuross Head Progress Association) and be able to hold weekly market tables for the sale of their produce?

Answer:

Yes under the proposed RE1 zoning community gardens and markets are permissible with consent

9. Under RE2 the Draft LEP map identifies the area of the the Tuross Boatsheds. The text for "permissable with consent" within this Zone does not include accommodation yet there is presently a home in this Zoning with the possible intent of three more. Will future residential housing allowed in this Zone?

RE2 Permitted with consent
Boat launching ramps; Boat sheds; Building identification signs; Business identification signs; Car parks; Caravan parks; Charter and tourism boating facilities; Child care centres; Community facilities; Emergency services facilities; Environmental facilities; Function centres; Information and
education facilities; Jetties; Kiosks; Marinas; Moorings; Recreation areas; Recreation facilities (indoor); Recreation facilities (major); Recreation
facilities (outdoor); Registered clubs; Research station; Restaurants; Roads

Prohibited
Any development not specified in item 2 or 3

Answer:

Current 6c1 zoning provides „dwelling houses normally ancillary to other permissible development carried out on the same land?
•The LEP does not include ancillary development in the land use tables as they have the same consent requirements as the principal use
•Where it can be demonstrated that a „dwelling house? is ancillary to the principal use and all other assessment criteria is satisfied, consent can be granted for a dwelling house on this land


10.Why hasn't there been a Place Statement developed (in consultation with Tuross residents) for Tuross Head that clearly describes the parameters of Cultural and aesthetic values such as the Old section of Tuross Head?

Under the Draft LEPs Zone E2 Environmental Conservation describes the Objectives of the zone as being
• To protect, manage and restore areas of high ecological, scientific, cultural or aesthetic values.
• To prevent development that could destroy, damage or otherwise have an adverse effect on those values.

 

Answer:

LEP before Place Statements
•Local Environmental Plan statutory requirement under the Act-provides zoning and development standards and local provisions
•Development Control Plans provide additional controls for development that cannot be contained in the LEP
•Place statements provide a vision about the character of an area -used to inform assessment of development applications

 

11. The Tuross Head Progress Hall is classified as a heritage item. Will the Heritage Bill of June 2009 allow the Planning Minister to overturn this listing to allow the reclassified land to be sold unencumberd by a heritage listing? Would that be Councils recommendation?

Answer:

•Heritage Bill 2009 by and large deals with listing of and delisting of State Heritage Items, Heritage Council composition and Integrated Development, plus some other minor issues
•The only change for Local Environmental Plans is proposed via section 170B:
•Which enables a council to refer a submission about the inclusion of an item as an item of heritage significance in a proposed LEP to an independent hearing and assessment panel established under the Planning Act.

12. Could Council or Council Staff comment on the opinion of the Hon Dr Gordon Moyes MLA in his statement regarding revised Heritage Bill 2009 where he says:
" The laws will add more layers of red tape, cost ratepayers millions of dollars to implement, take decisions away from the local communities and impact upon councils’ ability to provide crucial services. As a result, there is a question over the motivation of the Government’s changes to the planning system. This legislation is being rushed through with disregard to the views of communities, councils and other stakeholders, who will have to live with the implications and the impact of the changes."

Note that The Heritage Bill 2009 now specifies that a heritage item can be removed under Clause 38 (1) where:The Minister may, after considering the recommendation of the
Heritage Council on the matter, direct the removal of a listing
from the State Heritage Register:
(a) if the Minister is of the opinion that the item is not of State
heritage significance, or
(b) if the Minister is of the opinion that the long-term conservation of the item is not necessary and that either or both of the following apply to the item:
(i) the listing renders the item incapable of reasonable or economic use,
(ii) the listing causes undue financial hardship to the owner, mortgagee or lessee of the item or the land
on which the item is situated.:

Answer:

•Heritage Bill 2009 by and large deals with listing of and delisting of State Heritage Items, Heritage Council composition and Integrated Development, plus some other minor issues
•The only change for Local Environmental Plans is proposed via section 170B:
•Which enables a council to refer a submission about the inclusion of an item as an item of heritage significance in a proposed LEP to an independent hearing and assessment panel established under the Planning Act.

 

13. Does the Eurobodalla Shire Council loose any aspect of its decision making rights to the NSW State Planning Department?

14. At a recent Public meeting the Mayor indicated that an incorrect zoning had been applied to his land however this has since been resolved. Is it possible to resolve anomalies found in the Draft LEP maps outside of the submission process?

Answer:

Staff are receiving submissions on the LEP and also meeting with landowners about the proposed LEP zonings and controls
•Also internal review process necessary given the time lapse in preparation of draft LEP
•Any concerns should be provided in writing as a „request for information? or a „formal submission? before 24 July 2009 –this can be done on line via Council?s website
•Changes to the plan will be recommended to Council-where necessary and/or where supported by additional information

15. With the Heritage Bill 2009 now passed, what effect will that revision have on the content of the Draft LEP template being all of the text in black under Clause 5.10?

Answer:

•Heritage Bill 2009 by and large deals with listing of and delisting of State Heritage Items, Heritage Council composition and Integrated Development, plus some other minor issues
•The only change for Local Environmental Plans is proposed via section 170B:
•Which enables a council to refer a submission about the inclusion of an item as an item of heritage significance in a proposed LEP to an independent hearing and assessment panel established under the Planning Act.

16. If the Coila Foreshore from Anderson Avenue to Coila Bar is mapped as Endangered Ecological Community why is it that Council has this as a Dogs off leash excercise area? Will this classification bring a restriction to having dogs of leash in this foreshore area?

Answer:

The mapping of endangered ecological community in the Biodiversity Lands Map in the LEP does not introduce prohibitions on land use.It is a consideration for new development only, as currently exists or occurs
•The issue of Dogs Off and On Lease areas falls outside the LEP.

17. How is it that a 2 acre property in the old section of Tuross has been identified as Extant Native Vegetation in the Biodiversity Maps when it is a home garden comprised primarily of exotics and noxious plants?

The Biodiverity Maps identify and all land identified affected by the map is then constrained by Development consents that will require thousands of dollars to undertake a Biodiversity Study to satisfy Clause 6.3.4.

Please note: Defintion of Extant: Adjective 1. Still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost. - Antonym: extinct (adj)

This definition implies that the "native vegetation" has always been on this block. Please view this photo for clear evidence that there was no native vegetation on this block in 1933 and that since that date the garden was planted with exotics.

Answer:

The Biodiversity Land Maps are comprised of extant (or existing) native vegetation; derived from vegetative cover mapped from 2006 orthorectifed aerial photographs together with Endangered Ecological Community distribution; derived from existing vegetation datasets and field based floristic sampling.
•In urban areas it is quite possible that heavily vegetated „gardens? have been picked up as existing vegetation.The specific example mentioned has been reported to Council staff and will be dealt with by amending the mapping post inspection.
•The Biodiversity Land Maps will be reviewed in residential areas.

18. Who exactly defined the boundary edges of the Biodiversity Maps in Tuross Head. Are these boundaries able to be adjusted so as to NOT include residential lots?

Does this question the need to see a ground truthing of Councils biodiversity maps in Urban areas.

Answer:

The Biodiversity Land Maps are comprised of extant (or existing) native vegetation; derived from vegetative cover mapped from 2006 orthorectifed aerial photographs together with Endangered Ecological Community distribution; derived from existing vegetation datasets and field based floristic sampling.
•In urban areas it is quite possible that heavily vegetated „gardens? have been picked up as existing vegetation.The specific example mentioned has been reported to Council staff and will be dealt with by amending the mapping post inspection.
•The Biodiversity Land Maps will be reviewed in residential areas.

19. Under Schedule 2 Exempt development - Signs what happens in the case of multiple Agents listing the one property or the need to place two panels facing in opposite directions for the passing traffic?

Schedule 2 Exempt development
Real estate signs (advertising premises or land for sale or rent) in residential or rural zones
(1) Must meet the general requirements for advertisements.
(2) Maximum area – 2.5m2.
(3) Must not be illuminated or flashing.
(4) Maximum one sign per premises.

Answer:

Exempt development caters for development with minimal environmental impact
•Signage: where the exemptions are not met a development application must be lodged with Council
•Outdoor Lighting: refers to lighting used on rural residential, commercial, industrial properties eg security, garden, ornamental lighting
•State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Codes) 2008 overrides Council?s LEP provisions

20. Why is it that under Signs – real estate signs (advertising premises or land for sale or rent) in business or industrial zones signs : (3) Must be located wholly within the property boundary yet in Residential this constraint is not considered?

Answer:

Exempt development caters for development with minimal environmental impact
•Signage: where the exemptions are not met a development application must be lodged with Council
•Outdoor Lighting: refers to lighting used on rural residential, commercial, industrial properties eg security, garden, ornamental lighting
•State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Codes) 2008 overrides Council?s LEP provisions

 

21. What does Council mean in its Schedule 2 (1) - Outdoor lighting that reads: Must not be for the lighting of tennis courts or sports fields?

Answer:

Exempt development caters for development with minimal environmental impact
•Signage: where the exemptions are not met a development application must be lodged with Council
•Outdoor Lighting: refers to lighting used on rural residential, commercial, industrial properties eg security, garden, ornamental lighting
•State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Codes) 2008 overrides Council?s LEP provisions

 

22. Schedule 4 Classification and reclassification of public land identifies two parcels of Community Land in Tuross that Council wishes to reclassify to Operational Land from Community Land being:.

Trafalgar Road, Tuross Head Part Lot 27 DP 232394
1 Jutland Avenue, Tuross Head. Lot 131 DP 15425


Will the approved LEP automatically reclassify these parcels or is Council still bound to undertake a specific report to Council on each seeking public consultation?

Answer:

The LEP proposes to reclassify sixteen (16) parcels of public land from Community land to Operational land
•A public hearing into the reclassification of land as required by section 29 of the Local Government Act 1993 will be held Thursday 30 July 2009 at 5pm
•Council will appoint an independent party to preside at the hearing
•Interested members of the public are invited to attend

23. Can Council inform the community as to why it wishes to use the proposed LEP to change the classification of these two properties rather than to wait for a more appropriate time and simply put up a specific report as they have done in the past?

Answer:

The LEP proposes to reclassify sixteen (16) parcels of public land from Community land to Operational land
•A public hearing into the reclassification of land as required by section 29 of the Local Government Act 1993 will be held Thursday 30 July 2009 at 5pm
•Council will appoint an independent party to preside at the hearing
•Interested members of the public are invited to attend

 

24. The Tuross Head Kyla Park Grazing Lands are listed under Schedule 5 Environmental heritage of the Draft LEP. With the shift in power now going to the Planning Minister as a result of the Heritage Act 2009 are these Grazing lots in any peril of loosing their Historic status which has been instrumental in ensuring they remain a community asset?

Answer:

•Heritage Bill 2009 by and large deals with listing of and delisting of State Heritage Items, Heritage Council composition and Integrated Development, plus some other minor issues
•The only change for Local Environmental Plans is proposed via section 170B:
•Which enables a council to refer a submission about the inclusion of an item as an item of heritage significance in a proposed LEP to an independent hearing and assessment panel established under the Planning Act.

 

25. Exactly what line of thought determined that blocks of land adjacent to Monash Ave/Chauvel Cres be restricted to Lot size U of 1500m2 whilst other lots in Chauvel Cres were left as 600m2 ?

Answer:

Mapping anomaly i.e. lot size information not transferred correctly into the map
•The minimum lot size for this land should be 600m2, not 1500m2.
•To be corrected as part of the recommendations in the report on the final LEP to Council post exhibition.

 

26. Natural water-based aquaculture permitted in Tuross waterways. A proposal for a prawn farm in sectioned off area of Coila Lake (1990) did not go ahead because of numerous local concerns (artificial feeding of the prawns could have dangerous impact on water quality in lake, alienation of those carrying out traditional commercial and recreational prawning and of those using the lake for water sports, visual impact of prawn processing activities, etc.) A clause was inserted in the Urban LEP 1999 stating that no aquaculture would take place in Coila Lake or other ICOLLS in the Shire.
Definition of “natural water-based aquaculture” does not make it clear that no artificial feeding would take place. Can the clause in the Urban Plan 1999 be reinforced ?

Answer:

Tuross Lake is zoned W1 Natural Waterways –mandatory objectives include:
–“To protect the ecological and scenic values of natural waterways”
–“To prevent development that would have an adverse effect on the natural values of waterways in the zone”
–“To provide for sustainable fishing industries and recreational fishing”
•Natural water based aquaculture is permitted with consent in W1 zone

27. RE1 zone – many public reserves are in urban areas but are natural bushland or natural foreshores. Considering the Riparian and Wetland mapping around Tuross, and strategies in the Estuary Management Plan to rehabilitate foreshores and revegetate where necessary, the RE1 zone does not appear to cover the management requirements for many of these reserves. We are very pleased to see the 4th dot point referring to the need to manage RE1 according to any plan of management. However, many reserves are inadequately protected under a generic plan of management.
a) Are there any other zones which could be applied to some public reserves where only passive recreation would be appropriate and conservation management is more important?
b) If not, we would like to see some commitment noted in the Plan that Council will carry out further work to determine better protection under the LEP for those areas mentioned in (a) above.

Answer:

The existing public open space zone 6a1 has been generally transferred across into the new LEP as RE1
•Council is currently preparing a Biodiversity Strategy and Open Space and Recreation Strategy which examine these lands
•The recommendations of these strategies will be used to inform the LEP review (3-5 years) and justify zoning changes to these lands where appropriate


Below is the Tuross Progress Association comment of the meeting:

The Tuross Head Progress Association held a meeting on the 2nd July 2009 to consider issues arising from the Eurobodalla Shire Council’s draft Local Environment Plan (LEP). Four councillors and the General Manager were present with planning staff from the Council.

A presentation was made to the meeting on the planning process followed by a review of the 27 questions that had been identified in the draft by local residents as requiring a response. The planning staff addressed the queries and explained that the planning process was driven by the State Government’s Planning Department timeframe and template for the local environmental plans. It was also advised that the plan template that was black letter was not discretionary insofar as local council powers were concerned however, those parts of the template that were red letter were within the powers of council to make a decision. In this regard the height limit as proposed for the Tuross Boulevard, Hawkins Road area was a height at the discretion of the Council.

The reason for the 11.5 metre recommendation was put as being in sympathy with the concept that higher density residences were appropriate for the proximity to community services such as exists in village centres. When queried as to why a change of policy would have prompted an increase to this level when the matter had previously been argued in 1999 to have an 8.5 metre limit, the reply to this was that in 10 years circumstances could have changed.

The objections that are raised to this approach are:

1 There has been no place statement prepared for Tuross Head and to create a planning rule without this first step is to put the cart before the horse.

2 Since the last plan there have been developments in the area within the 8.5 metre range that has substantially upgraded the quality of property and in some specific cases intensified the ratio of residence to the site.

3 Any proposal that involves 11.5 metres and the increase in the site ratio footprint would be a substantial deviation from the current streetscape.

4 A planning process that places the highest level of property development at the lowest point of the street line in the topography of the Tuross Head village does not appear to reflect a good planning approach. The coastline of NSW is littered with poorly thought through building developments that once in place are irreversible.

5 It is in this same context that the R3 zoning is inappropriate. The higher density development behind the village shops and the complex’s failure to sell is an example that calls out for a proper place statement before irremediable action is taken.

6 The maintenance of 8.5 metre limit is within the power of the Council and does allow for some future review when the next LEP is developed. The future LEP and the current draft should recognise the unique nature of the Tuross Head village and not seek to impose a flawed regime. Sydney is not Moscow circa 1950 and therefore in Eurobodalla there should be no rush to conform to a one size fits all template especially when it does contain at this time the option for the local council’s authority to be used for the local benefit. In view of the points raised it is believed that the draft as it currently stands for this issue should not be adopted especially when there is the absence of the plan statement and any decision that was prompted by a rush to conform to state planning timeframes drives for a flawed outcome.

At the meeting anomalies in the draft LEP were identified and the planning staff indicated that the redraft would take them into account. The revised plan will be re-exhibited before going to council for adoption.

It is also observed that the continued quality improvement in residences along the Tuross Boulevard has created increased rate revenue to council and any downgrading of the quality of property would be inimical to council returns.

E. T. (Ted) Williams Secretary, Tuross Head Progress Association 6th July 2009

 

If you would like to have your say on the Draft LEP there is an online forum set up at this link where you can lodge your comments. Comments are moderated so please keep them civi and on topic. Comments may also be edited prior to publication to improve grammer, spelling, intent and to remove bad language, names or intended disrepect..

The Draft LEP - Have your say