Draft Great Lakes Local Environmental Plan
(Amendment No 44)
On 14 December 2003 Council resolved to prepare and exhibit a new Draft Local Environmental Plan (Amendment No 44).
Affected areas comprise part of Lot 404 DP 1048133, Lot 80 DP 1063829, Lot 42 DP 1032128 and Sections 6–10, DP 13103, Tea Gardens
DLEP44 DLEP44 map Section 65 Certificate
What is a Local Environmental Plan?
A Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is a legal planning instrument that
establishes the zoning and permissible forms of development for given lands. It
is prepared by Council but has to be submitted to the Minister for
Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources for endorsement and
"gazettal". The Plan takes effect after this formal gazettal.
What does the Draft Plan do?
The draft Plan aims to rezone environmentally significant land within the
Myall River Downs LES study area (west of Tea Gardens) from 1 (a) Rural and 7(a)
Wetlands & Littoral Rainforest to 7(a1) Environmental Protection.
The 7(a1) zone is intended to be applied to land identified by the Land and Environment Court as being of significance to the Squirrel Glider, which is one of a number of threatened species listed under NSW planning legislation. Council therefore has a legislative duty to facilitate the objects of the legislation in respect of ensuring long term protection of critical habitat.
Why has the Draft Plan been prepared?
The Land and Environment Court has identified land at Myall River Downs west
of Tea Gardens as of high importance for the threatened Squirrel Glider and has
imposed major restrictions on any development in the area so identified. The
court-imposed restrictions to protect this habitat were based on the agreed
findings of specialist ecological consultants and are both consistent with and
expand on the findings of the Draft Myall River Downs Local Environmental Study
(2003).
The Squirrel Glider is an important "indicator species" as it uses the same habitat as many other threatened species. It is also hollow dependent, requires suitable foraging resources and adequate linkages with such areas. This places greater emphasis on measures to protect identified squirrel glider habitat within the local area.
Consequently Draft LEP Amendment No 44 has been prepared to:
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ensure an appropriate balance between environmental protection and future development on land known as ‘Myall River Downs’, west of Tea Gardens; |
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provide greater certainty as to appropriate land uses in the area identified as being of high importance for the local squirrel glider population; |
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reinforce the restrictions imposed by the court for the purpose of protecting habitat of significance to the local Squirrel Glider population in perpetuity; and |
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ensure vegetation to be rezoned will continue to provide habitat and food resources for a range of other threatened fauna in the local area (eg. koala, wallum froglet, powerful owl). |
Why is the Draft Local Environmental Plan being exhibited?
Council is required to exhibit all Draft Local Environmental Plans in
accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
1979 and Regulation 2000. This is to give those who may be affected by the Plan
an opportunity to make comment on the Plan.
Where is the Draft Local Environmental Plan being exhibited?
Persons wishing to view the formal statutory exhibition of these draft
planning controls may do so at the following venues and times:
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Council’s Administration Building, Breese Parade Forster between 8.15am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday; |
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Council’s District offices in Tea Gardens between 9am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday |
The draft Plan can also be viewed electronically by clicking on the following files:
DLEP44 and DLEP44 Map
How can I inform Council of my views about the Draft Local
Environmental Plan?
You are invited to make a submission to Council in writing on or before the close of business on Friday, 25th March 2005.
Submissions should be signed and dated. All submissions will be reported to
Council and fully considered prior to deciding whether to implement the draft
Plan.
Submissions should be addressed to:
The General Manager
Great Lakes Council
PO Box 450
FORSTER 2428
Please note that only written submissions or email may be considered by Council. The issues arising from all submissions will be included in officers’ reports to Council on the Draft Plan. This will assist Council in identifying key issues and/or potential impacts relating to the Draft Plan.
Please also note that any submissions received may be included in Council’s Business Papers, which are available to the general public. Public access to the submissions will also be permitted under the Local Government Act or the Freedom of Information Act.
What happens next?
When the exhibition closes, all submissions will be collated and a report
prepared for consideration by Council making a recommendation as to whether the
Draft Plan should be adopted, and any changes that should be made to it as a
result of the exhibition.
How can I get more information?
If you would like more information on the Draft Plan, please contact Alex
Caras on (02) 6591 7351 during office hours or by email at alex.caras@greatlakes.nsw.gov.au.
